The season hasn’t officially started, but the Iowa football team already has a few guys banged up. Here’s the impact of that going into Saturday’s game.
When the Iowa football team released their opening game depth chart, there were a few notable absences and changes on the team. At guard, last year’s starter Cole Banwart was no longer on the first team, Julius Brents was nowhere to be found, and neither was Shaun Beyer.
It turns out, each of those guys has been banged up throughout camp, and it could have an impact on what happens on the field Saturday.
Cole Banwart was in a walking boot last week, and as of now, Kirk isn’t sounding too optimistic about him playing Saturday.
He had this to say during yesterday’s press conference.
"The only guy in the two-deep right now that I would say is doubtful would be Cole Banwart. We’ll see how that goes, but right now I’m not optimistic that he’ll play based on practice this morning."
What that means is the entire interior offensive line will be starting their first game for the Iowa football team. This is exciting, and also potentially worrisome. The Miami RedHawks have a stud interior defensive lineman in Doug Costin, and with a brand new interior o-line, that will be something to watch out for Saturday to see how they handle Miami’s top player.
Shaun Beyer has apparently been injured throughout camp, but has been back the past week. According to Kirk he is expected to play Saturday, but the injury may have cost him the number two tight end spot, which is now occupied by Drew Cook.
Last but not least, Julius Brents is not on the two-deeps, and according to Kirk he was banged up throughout camp, but when he pressed on about Brents status for Saturday, it didn’t give me a ton fo confidence in Brents situation as of now. I, for one, expected Brents to contend for a starting corner spot, but it sounds like Brents, partly due to injury, legitimately didn’t win the backup corner spot either.
List as the 3rd and 4th corners are Riley Moss and starting cash DJ Johnson. Kirk did say that there is a decent chance the corner depth situation changes when referencing Brents. He even referred back to two great former Iowa football players in Ricky Stanzi and Pat Angerer.
"I think back to ’08 where Angerer and Stanzi were both second team, and by the end of the month, they were starters and the rest was history."
If Brents is healthy, and the Iowa football team gets up to a big lead, we could see him get some playing time or if Moss continues his up and down performance from last year, we could see Brents accelerated into the lineup.
Outside of those three though, there aren’t any major injuries, at this point, that should impact the game Saturday against Miami, and hopefully, it stays that way after the game ends as well.