Stars Of The Game: Iowa Football 3, Florida Gators 30

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Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Josey Jewell

It’s hard to say anyone on a defense that allowed 109 rushing yards, and for Jordan Scarlett to rush for 94 yards on 6.7 yards per carry, played well against the run, but Josey Jewell was the closest thing to that on Iowa’s defense.

He led the game with 10 tackles and also had one for a loss. Although, Jewell did have some uncharacteristic missed tackles. He left his mark mostly against the pass, though.

Jewell recorded one of Iowa’s three sacks and also had a pass deflection. Iowa only had three pass deflections as a team against Florida.

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Jewell’s sack ended the half for the Gators. Florida was at midfield and had a chance to possibly get into field goal range with a quick strike, but Jewell made sure Iowa had a fighting chance in the second half by keeping the game at 10-3.

Leading the team in tackles is nothing new for Josey Jewell. He finished the season leading Iowa in tackles for a second straight year. His 10 tackles gives him 124 on the year, just two shy from his mark in 2015.

Jewell also finished 2016 with a career-high nine pass deflections to go along with six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Josey Jewell is one of the best linebackers in the nation, and he was one of the only Iowa players to show up on January 2. Iowa giving up a 46-yard run to Scarlett and an 85-yard screen pass to Mark Thompson doesn’t do justice to how well Jewell played.

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Even if Iowa’s defense allowed 30 points for just the fourth time this season, Jewell acted as the anchor they needed in the middle of the field.

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