Hawkeyes Football: Three Stars From Week Two

Matt VandeBerg

7 Rec, 129 Yards, 1 TD

Matt VandeBerg is one of the most underrated wide receivers in the nation. After leading the Hawkeyes in receiving a season ago, he’s gotten even better over their first two games in 2016. He doesn’t garner the same media attention that other receivers in pass-heavy offense do, but VandeBerg showed how special of a talent he was during the Hawkeyes week two victory.

He followed up a solid week one performance with arguably the best game of his Hawkeyes career. VandeBerg caught seven passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. He also flashed his versatility with a 25-yard run on an end around. If he can continue to prove that he’s a reliable option on the ground, it’ll be a huge addition to the Hawkeyes offense.

Besides the fact that he put up gaudy numbers against Iowa’s biggest rival, VandeBerg had the two best catches of the night. The first came on his touchdown reception when C.J. Beathard threw a dime to him in the end zone. VandeBerg had to leap over his defender and catch it with his arms wrapped around the cornerback.

It put the Hawkeyes up 21-3 and seemingly ended any hope of a comeback for the Cyclones.

After the game, VandeBerg won again. He proposed to his girlfriend, Laura Bulanda, and she said yes. Not much better timing than following the game of your life against your biggest rival.

Matt VandeBerg will have plenty of great games, but the highlight catches paired with productivity through three quarters may not be matched again this season. He has definitely proven that he’s more than capable of being the leading receiver on the team and is one of the best wide receivers in the Big Ten. A couple more highlight plays and big weeks, and VandeBerg could start getting national recognition.

Next: C.J. Beathard