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Iowa football: Five observations in Senior Day win over Illinois

By Andrew Wade

IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 23: Tight end Nate Wieting #39 of the Iowa Hawkeyes rushes up field during the first half between defensive backs Stanley Green#7 and Sydney Brown #30 of the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 23, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 23: Tight end Nate Wieting #39 of the Iowa Hawkeyes rushes up field during the first half between defensive backs Stanley Green#7 and Sydney Brown #30 of the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 23, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 05: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines is tackled by Kristian Welch #34 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the third quarter at Michigan Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 10-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 05: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines is tackled by Kristian Welch #34 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the third quarter at Michigan Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 10-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Kristian Welch playing well

While the Iowa football team didn’t completely collapse in Kristian Welch’s absence this season, it clearly has been improved by his return. And it’s making it hard to imagine that last year he didn’t even start out at the Mike linebacker spot.

Despite missing three games, he is the Iowa football team’s leading tackler with 69 tackles after collecting a team-high 12 tackles today. And save for a close pass interference call, he played nearly a flawless game against Illinois which included some momentum-changing plays.

The main one being the forced fumble on quarterback Brandon Peters midway through the fourth quarter that got the Iowa football team the ball back.

He then finished off his last game at Kinnick by taking down Illinois’ backup quarterback for the final play of the game.

With Welch not in the lineup, the Iowa football team allowed it’s two highest points allowed totals. With him in the lineup, they’ve stopped the offensive attacks of Penn State, Minnesota, and Illinois with relative ease.

Next. 30 greatest Hawks of all-time. dark

Given his play this year, I think there’s a real chance he could be invited to the 2020 Senior Bowl.

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