Iowa Football: Josey Jewell & The Hawkeye Defense Dominate In Week 1

It didn’t take long for the Hawkeyes captain and leader linebacker Josey Jewell to assert himself as one of the best players in college football in 2017. It happened right away during Iowa’s 24-3 win over the Wyoming Cowboys.

Heading into the game, there was a small sense of anxiety amongst Iowa fans about facing one of the projected top picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, in Cowboys quarterback Josh Allen.

But, at no point did Wyoming get into the red zone at Kinnick Stadium, and for the most part the Hawkeye front seven imposed their will.

Jewell who was on nearly every preseason watch list for his position, and nationally for top defensive individual awards, lived up to the expectations on the first Saturday. Jewell, and his fellow senior linebacking mates Ben Niemann accounted for a staggering 38 tackles on the afternoon. Amongst the three, they all ended up finishing in the top 5 in tackles individually in the Big Ten for the week.

Jewell alone produced 14 total tackles, 2 sacks, and had his mitts on an interception, but couldn’t come home with it.

The Decorah, Iowa native briefly flirted with the NFL after the Outback Bowl, but the chances in the first few rounds could increase greatly with efforts like the week 1 production.

For his efforts, Jewell was named the National Walter Camp Defensive Player Of The Week. With the scouts from numerous NFL teams present to see Josh Allen, it could show more ‘eyeballs’ that Jewell is among the country’s best, and that the Hawkeyes have one of their all-time greats.

Credit to Hawkeye Nation For The Postgame Interview With Jewell:

Other Defensive Standouts

Other Defensive Standouts

• With the 1 game suspension of cornerback Manny Rugamba, the Hawkeyes needed Josh Jackson to step up. The redshirt junior Texas native played his best game in the black & gold. Jackson intercepted Allen, which pretty much put the ‘game on ice’. His 41 yard inception return was the second longest in the conference on the weekend behind Badger Joe Ferguson’s 99 yarder.
• Highly touted true freshmen AJ Epenesa got a sack in his first collegiate game. The ‘blue chip’ Epenesa showed why he was one of the most decorated high school players to come to the Hawkeyes in the Kirk Ferentz era.