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Iowa football: Freshman Julius Brents is top-five corner in the nation

By Andrew Wade

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 06: Julius Brents #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes congratulates teammate Riley Moss #33 on an interception during the fourth quarter of the game on October 6, 2018 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Iowa defeated Minnesota 48-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 06: Julius Brents #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes congratulates teammate Riley Moss #33 on an interception during the fourth quarter of the game on October 6, 2018 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Iowa defeated Minnesota 48-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Julius Brents was the cream of last year’s recruiting crop for the Iowa football program. Now, in just his first year, he is showing why.

Julius Brents is a true freshman from Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, but you wouldn’t know he was a true freshman if you’ve watched him on the field the last few weeks. The young Iowa football player has quietly been one of the top corners in the nation. Granted, he has only started two games, but those two games have come against sneaky good receiving cores from Minnesota and Indiana.

Due to injuries to starters Matt Hankins and Michael Ojemudia, Brents received his first career start in Iowa’s first road game against Minnesota. Despite both former starters being active for the game against Indiana, Brents, yet again, started at the corner spot. So far the results have been pretty darn good for the former four-star recruit.

In fact, he’s been so good, it might be difficult for Kirk Ferentz to go back to either one of Hankins or Ojemudia.

Against Minnesota, in his first career start, Brents shut down his side of the field and according to Pro Football Focus graded out as the second best Hawkeye for the day. His grade of 78.2 landed him on Pro Football Focus’ Defensive Team of the Week for week six.

He capitalized on his second opportunity to start for the Iowa football team by having another outstanding performance against talented quarterback Peyton Ramsey and the Indiana Hoosiers passing attack.

These two games combined with his spot appearances in the first four games of the season have given him enough snaps to qualify for Pro Football Focus’ cornerback rankings. Spoiler alert, he grades pretty well.

Compared to all other Power-5 corners, Julius Brents is allowing the second fewest yards per coverage snap at just .23 yards. He is second only to Michigan’s David Long, who happens to be a junior.

Recently, the Iowa football program has had a knack for developing corner talent. First it was Desmond King, and then it was Josh Jackson. Is Julius Brents next? So far, the results are pretty good.

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