University of Iowa Football

Media Conference
Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Kirk Ferentz
KIRK FERENTZ: Good afternoon. Just start out with a going and did a really good job. They're a 1-0 football
couple comments about Saturday and then we'll look team just like we are.
forward to this coming weekend.
I think the biggest thing right now, it's the first time
Obviously pleased to be 1-0, and right now our big we've hosted them, and earliest Big Ten game we've
focus is on trying to improve and seeing if we can played in the last 20 years, so it's going to be a little bit
develop here in week 2, and we're going to need to do different, and the biggest thing is they're playing well
that certainly. Miami played a really tough first half, put right now. I think if you look back last year, they really
a lot of pressure on us last Saturday night, and pleased finished strong. They played four of their five opponents
with the way our guys stuck in there and regrouped at at the end of season, all five of the last opponents were
halftime and came out and played a much better really good football teams, and four of those games
second half. Looked a little bit more efficient out there. really they played very well.
The other good thing is that we got to play a lot of They clearly made progress last year. I think that
players, and that was by design, and I think -- one thing carried over into this season. And now as you look at
about a first game, you learn a little more about their football team, they're a little bit different in some
yourself, and that's a good thing. Again, saw a lot of regards with the new quarterback that transferred. He
positive efforts out there, and then also in any game played a good game the other night, threw the ball all
you get learning opportunities, and hopefully we saw over the place and threw the ball really well. They've
some things on Sunday that we can get better at and got two skilled running backs that I think are as good
try to carry that as we move forward. as anybody has got in the conference, but those guys
are really dangerous players, and they've got good skill
All in all, pleased to start out that way, and now we'll guys outside, as well.
move forward.
They play a 3-4 front, so that's going to be an
I forgot to mention captains last week, so I'll try not to adjustment for us. We don't see a lot of that, so that's
do that again, but we have the same four guys; Nate on going to be a big thing for us this week. And all of their
offense; OJ and Kristian on defense; and then Brady specialists are back, and they're a good special teams
Ross, special teams captain. outfit, and they have been for quite some time. We've
got our hands full in that regard, as well.
Injury-wise last week, we had two guys not dress, two
guys on the two-deep, Banwart and Julius Brents were All in all, the biggest thing right now is we've got to
both out. Brents is going to be out for a couple weeks. move forward. The cliche about week one to week two
Cole has got a shot, I think, this week, so we'll just see is only true if you practice well and really do a good job
how this week goes, but he worked today and looked with your preparation. That's something we did well last
pretty good, so that's good news. week. Now the challenge is to try to do that again this
week.
Then had two injuries in the game that both players are
going to miss some time. Moss came out with a leg We've got a couple practices under our belt, good start
injury, and he's going to be out for a while. Riley is so far, but we certainly have a lot of work to do right
probably going to miss four to six weeks, and then the now before the week is out and before we're ready to
good news with Alaric is it was a sprain. So the bad play the game on Saturday.
news is he's going to miss a couple weeks, but he will
not be with us for the next two games, that's for sure, I'll close out by thanking our fans one more time. It was
and we'll just assess it as we go along. So that's the a great crowd in Kinnick. Great to have a sellout in the
status right now. opener, and night games are always great in there, but
the environment was really tremendous. Appreciate the
Moving on to Rutgers. They played a good game the fans adding to the atmosphere, and hopefully we'll
other night, started a little bit slow, but they really got have the same thing on Saturday. Certainly a little bit

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mode of operation for early morning kickoff, but all good example of it.
regardless, we're anxious to get out there and get
playing. Q. Was a big part of getting him here Reese
Morgan?
Q. What has Kyler Schott done to kind of slide up KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, absolutely. Reese kind of has a
the depth chart so quickly? pulse on things, and ID'd Kyler as one of the guys we
KIRK FERENTZ: He's practiced and prepared well. should look at.
He's done it kind of quietly. He did a lot of good things
last year, but really has improved physically. He's a little Q. When you look at walk-ons like Kyler, is the fact
bit more mature now, been around the program a little that they're a wrestler, does that open your eyes?
bit longer, and he's one of those guys that I don't want Does that kind of move them ahead in line a little?
to call him nondescript, but he's not flashy, but if you KIRK FERENTZ: It doesn't hurt. We mentioned Reese.
watch him closely, he just does a lot of things really I think all of us kind of followed during wrestling and the
well and consistently, and he's certainly done that this same thing going to the state track meet or the Drake
August. He really had a good month of practice and relays, whatever, just watching guys compete and how
was very consistent. He's also a versatile guy that can they do when they maybe need a big throw or need a
move around and doesn't seem to affect him at all. big moment, how they react that way. Any kind of
success like that always goes on a guy's resume or
Q. Do you plan to continue to rotate offensive doesn't.
linemen this week?
KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, we were planning to do that Q. You commented on Mekhi before, but he
anyway, and then we were forced to do it maybe a little seemed more confident in that opening game.
bit more than the plan was calling for with AJ coming What do you notice on him?
out. We're certainly going to be short him. We may get KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, I think that's what we saw
Cole back, maybe not, we can't count on that, but yeah, during the course of last season. To me -- he looked
we'll keep rotating guys around. like he kind of had a different gear was the Penn State
game last year. I thought that was the first time where it
The good news is I thought Kyler played well, Ince looked like he was starting to get comfortable, and then
came in and played well, both the Paulsens played he just kept getting better during the rest of that
their best football since they've been here. So the trick season. And did the same thing in spring, as did Toren,
for us right now is to keep pushing forward and see and they carried it right through camp. He's a real
these guys improve. confident guy right now, certainly knows a lot more
than he did a year ago about what we're doing and
Q. Kyler doesn't seem overwhelmed by the moment what his role is, that type of thing. He's a delightful
at all. He seems relaxed. Is that how he plays, too? young guy, humble, hard-working, team-oriented type
KIRK FERENTZ: It's kind of how he's been since he's player.
gotten here. He was on the scout team initially, like
most first-year guys and young guys, and he just kind Q. Have you ever sent an assistant coach to Key
of fits in, gets along well with his teammates, and he West, Florida, to find a player?
works hard. The biggest thing he's given himself, he's KIRK FERENTZ: No, but I'm sure we'd have plenty of
worked hard and his body is a little bit more better able volunteers if I asked.
to stand up now to competing against good players.
He's done that all camp long, so it's great to see. Q. That's a tough place for a kid to be found. You
guys found Mekhi finally at --
Q. Was the big thing he was lacking coming out KIRK FERENTZ: He actually found Western. That's
just height? Height was the big thing everyone how it all worked. And then Kelvin saw him up in the
questioned. bowl game a year ago November, December, right
KIRK FERENTZ: We thought he was a good height -- there in that Thanksgiving or post-Thanksgiving
he did a lot of good things in high school, competitor in weekend. KB saw him, really liked him that day and
a couple sports, but I don't know how I'm going to made a note of it and just told me about it, and we
stand here and say any of us saw this coming, but he's ended up having an opening because of a medical
just quietly ascended, did a good job in the spring. situation, so that's how one thing led to another. So just
Lattimore is a tough guy to block, and he probably filing away information sometimes is a good thing.
blocked him as well as anybody we have during the
course of camp. I'm not saying he won every battle, but Q. Last season in the season opener Nate seemed
he certainly did a lot of good things. Sometimes you to struggle; 11 of 23 a year ago, but this past week
just have to believe what you see, and I think he's a he was 21 of 30, 200-something yards, three

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touchdowns. What kind of improvement did you certainly did, he played his best game since he's been
see from Stanley from week one a year ago to week here, and that's really encouraging for us.
one this past week?
KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, it's probably the same Q. Rutgers had some skill position guys that
discussion as Mekhi. I think any time a player has an showed in the UMass game that can be dangerous.
opportunity to go out and play 12, 13 games in a Is that a little concerning for secondary work?
season, hopefully you're learning, not only playing but KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, first of all, the quarterback,
you're learning, and gaining confidence through that that's -- I'll have to go back and look, I think that's the
experience. And then the next step is to take that and most yardage they've gained over the last two years,
transition it into improvement, just kind of like I'm last year and this year in one game, but that gives them
hoping our team will do this week. It's kind of the same a new dimension. I'm sure that's why he won the job,
thing, same process. with all due respect to everybody else there. And both
their backs are just really good players. They're a little
Nate works at it so hard, he's extremely conscientious bit different, but they're both really good. No. 2 is a
that way, and he's got good mental toughness. He's a really dynamic player, can do a lot of different things,
good football player. We're hoping to see that. and they use him in a lot of different ways, and then
Hopefully this is his most productive and enjoyable No. 1, he runs hard and runs like he's mad at
season of his career. somebody. He just goes really hard. We're going to
have to tackle him. And that's not easy to do. He's a
Q. You said a few times in off-season that you want very physical, tough guy.
to see Nate have more fun and loosen up when he
plays. Did you see any progress in that season They've got some good receivers on top of that.
opener?
KIRK FERENTZ: I hope he was having fun the other Q. With Alaric and the bye week coming up, are
night. He was playing pretty good, so that sure helps, you confident at this point you would get him back
and something I'd never know about. for Middle Tennessee?
KIRK FERENTZ: We'll just have to see. We'll see. I
He was out there in total control of the game, I thought. think it's realistic, but everybody heals differently, and
Really did some nice things. Stats could have been the good news is it doesn't look like we're looking at
even a little bit better, but most of those throws are surgery, so that's a good thing, and just hopefully he
down the field, we're not just throwing the ball out into goes a little faster than everybody hopes or thinks, that
swing routes or tunnel screens and things like that. We type of thing. But we can't count on him. We'll just see
threw one of those, I guess, but he's throwing the ball how it goes. But I think it's realistic to think he'll play
down the field and probably could have helped him out this year for us.
a little bit with another catch or two. That might have
been a good thing. Q. I know it's a small sample size, but Cody Ince
and Justin Britt, looking back at the tape how did
Q. It may be kind of strange considering what he you feel those guys did?
did in the spring, but Tristan might have been the KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, that was one of the pleasant
unsung hero the other night, flipping from side to things that happened, I think, because you never know.
side. It's not an easy transition footwork wise, yet it Those guys, it was the first time they've been anywhere
seemed almost seamless. What did you think of his playing real football in college, so I thought they both
performance? reacted really well, and that's a positive surge for them.
KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, knock on wood, he did a good They did some good things, and they'll see some
job sliding in and then Levi slid out to the tackle things -- even though they didn't play a lot, they'll see
position and didn't seem to be affected, either. That's some things they can get better at, too. But I thought it
one benefit of having guys that have played. Both was a good start for both of them. And on the sideline,
those guys have been in the program and they've they seemed like they were doing fine. They weren't all
played a little bit. But not every player is capable of just totally star struck.
doing that, too. I'll qualify it by saying that.
Q. Britt had surgery, major surgery less than a year
But I thought he clearly played his best game since ago. What's that say about his focus and just his
he's been here. It's kind of the same discussion with healing powers and everything?
Nate, Mekhi. You get a guy who's played for a year or KIRK FERENTZ: I just kind of made mention that we
two, hopefully they're accelerating their level of play were looking at the tape from this morning and really
and just looking a little bit more comfortable out there he hasn't played football since '17 if you really want to
and a little bit more natural in their play. And he talk about playing serious football. To me it's amazing

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that he's -- A, he did as well as he did in camp, and have injury issues and things are going to pull them off
he's doing a good job right now in practice. A couple the field and somebody has got to be ready, and that's
circuits blown, but that's about what you'd expect for just kind of the way it goes. In our sport we have so
younger guys especially. It all starts to add up a little. many players involved that it's just natural and the
nature of the game.
But I mentioned back during the recruiting thing, I sat
down with him in December I guess it would have been You know, there's two things you can do: You can just
at his school. He's just a really impressive guy. He wallow and worry about your problems or you can just
impressed us in camp a couple years ago, and the say, hey, it's an opportunity for somebody to step up
more you learn about him, the more you really like and go, and that's what we're counting on. We need
about him. He's a tremendous young guy. that every week.

Q. This game in week two, how does that affect the Q. The consistency with that message, was the
way you guys plan out the eval and kind of the conditioning part of that intentional, just having
rotation going forward because this is the earliest those guys all ready and just thinking that way?
you've played a conference game? KIRK FERENTZ: There's certainly things that are just
KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, it is different. They're fundamental to our game, and that's certainly one of
significant. Any time you're in a conference game it's a them. I think it's really important that the players
significant thing. You only get nine of those, you get 12 understand that things are going to happen. You never
games total but nine conference games, so that's really know what the adversity is going to be in a season or a
important. It's kind of like to me, the month of week, but typically something happens every week
September especially is just about really focusing on where you have to make an adjustment and try to
trying to improve and pull things together, tie up the improvise a little bit so if people aren't conditioned to
loose ends, those types of things. And I'm sure they're do that, it could be problematic for sure.
fighting the same battle, though. It's their second
game, as well, so it's even footing for both teams. But Q. With Kaevon, I think you only had one Cash
it's a significant game. Every game is significant, and formation in on defense, and even the second
we're just racing against time. That's really what we're quarter you kind of cut it off after that first drive.
doing. I'm sure they're trying to do the same thing. Was it just kind of trying to narrow what was going
on on the field? Was there a reason you decided to
Q. Do you like it? cut it out?
KIRK FERENTZ: No, I'd rather play our non-league KIRK FERENTZ: Part that and then part is personnel
games to me personally, but nobody asks for my driven, too, how they play us. This week, I don't know.
opinion. I'm not waiting for them, either. That's just the These guys play a lot of personnel groups we're going
way it is, so we'll play them. to have our normal personnel out there too I'd imagine.
You try to figure out what's the best way to defend it.
Q. I think it's in two years, so who knows what Part of that's what they're doing, part of that's where
everybody is doing then, but you're supposed to we're at. You always want to get your best guys out
start the season against Indiana -- there to have a chance to defend what they're doing.
KIRK FERENTZ: You guys are way ahead of me on But I think you'll probably see them mix it up as we go
that one. I don't even know who we open with next along.
year, nor do I care at this point.
Q. There were mistakes probably by first-year guys
Q. In terms of hearing next man in, I think Jermelle who were out there for the first time. Did you feel
Lewis 2002 I think I heard about 40 times down like they were -- did they do what they needed to do
stairs today. Is that all conditioning for you? Is that and now they could correct it, or are there issues
sort of a little bit of psychology? that are beyond --
KIRK FERENTZ: It's just a reality. It's a reality of our KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, especially defensively. You
sport, at least. First of all, just for full disclosure, pretty know, if you look at their two scoring drives, we gave
sure I stole that from the Broncos. I think that was their up a couple big plays, I think three in the two drives.
deal with their running backs and all that stuff. Some of that goes back to communication, just a better
Everything we do in coaching is stolen, and I'll admit to understanding of what technique we need to be
that. playing. It's not good that it happened, but if there's a
positive, if we'll learn from it, I guess, is the best way to
But it just made sense, and like I said, it did start back say it. Hopefully we'll do that so we don't get caught in
in the early days, and it just makes sense. One thing some of the situations that are hard to defend and you
about a season, typically you're going to have guys that end up giving more yardage up than you want to.

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 quite frankly, but he did. He was determined, and he's
Like any team, you want to make your opponent work a going to be just fine.
little bit if you're playing defense, and we gave up a
couple easy plays that aren't going to be good for us if He will be an engineer graduate, and I think job
we keep doing that. placement is about 98.9 percent or 99.8 percent, I
guess I've got my numbers backwards, so he's going to
Q. Kaevon said today that he was thinking he was be gainfully employed when he's done playing football
going to play basketball in college up until about and that's great. But to me I think that probably spoke
late December of his senior year when you guys to what he's all about as much as anything he's done
got involved. You guys take a lot of chances like on the football field, but he's done a lot of good things
that, but can you think back to his recruiting? Was on the football field, too, and it was great to get a
that Phil Parker who started zeroing in on him? He turnover the other night and it was great to see him get
said his life changed after that. that pick. That was really good, and even better we
KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, that's Phil's area converted it into points. That was good football there.
geographically to recruit, and he does a good job of
researching and finding players he thinks would fit with Q. Do you have any freshmen that you've decided
what we do and the way we do things, and then are full-season guys yet?
Kaevon came on -- I think when I went out there it was KIRK FERENTZ: I kind of alluded to it last week. Our
January so I think we had already made the decision mindset right now, the offensive guys, they're on the
that we were full speed ahead on him. You look at his fast track, those four guys. We haven't changed our
football tape, there wasn't as much evidence maybe as thoughts on that. And then defensive, we're just kind of
you watch him on the basketball court, on a good team, doing that right now on defense.
a really good basketball team. We felt like he was a
sharp guy that was a good athlete that showed enough Q. Is Goodson ahead of Martin, Kelly-Martin?
aggression and physicalness on the field, and then just KIRK FERENTZ: He's not ahead of him, but he's in the
a matter of like are you willing to make that transition picture for sure. My guess is we're going to need all
and work hard and learn how to play the game. four of those guys, and we like all four. And we like
Shadrick Byrd, too. He's been a good addition, and
Q. Could Toren end up being sort of a pseudo- there's nothing about him not to like based on what
fullback out there? he's done thus far.
KIRK FERENTZ: I doubt that. He'd probably go on
strike if that happened or threaten to quit, but no, it's Q. LaPorta got in a couple of goal line situations. Is
just a joke. To play fullback for us, that means like he kind of -- in some ways is that to balance out the
basically you're relinquishing all rights to touch the ball. classes, you lost two out of your top three?
KIRK FERENTZ: Yes and no. And it's probably the
So no, he's not making that transition. We have some same discussion as I just mentioned Saturday. Josiah
good prospects coming up. We've really liked Brady has really done a good job, too. Who knows, by the end
Ross at that position and we've got some good young of the year, we'll see -- we're just going to keep
guys coming up, I think three good young guys. watching guys in practice and if they elevate their play,
he may be in the Army, too; we'll see what happens.
Q. OJ is a kid that had the first interception the But Sam started out pretty good in camp and has done
other night, first of the season. He's a captain, kind a nice job, so we'll just keep bringing him along. I think
of been in and out of the lineup. How proud are you we're going to need at least four if not five, so we'll just
that he's been able to stick with it and accomplish play it week by week.
what he's done?
KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, it's all out there for him right Q. I think Oliver ended up with about 10 snaps. Do
now. This is his senior year. You hope guys play their you see that going up this week and beyond?
best every year of their career and certainly their senior KIRK FERENTZ: Well, we'll play it week by week. But
years. I think I'm probably going to violate the Buckley that whole group right now, it's kind of like, you know,
amendment here, but I've told the pro guys the most not that we're there, but I think we have a much
impressive thing about his whole career, his dad is an healthier group than what we've had in the past
engineer, and he was determined and is determined to certainly and more numbers, too. The good news is
be an engineer, graduated as an engineer from Iowa, that'll keep all those guys from getting run ragged and
and he had a rough go initially. I mean, he got beat up hopefully bring the best out of all of them.
pretty good in that classroom. It's tough to do both. It's
not for everybody certainly. What he was going Q. Seemed like your running backs just really ran
through, I wasn't sure he was going to stick with that with a lot more efficiency, their vision kind of

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matched their footwork. In what ways do you think
they made strides along with what Derrick taught
them in the off-season to accelerate some of their
--
KIRK FERENTZ: I think it's just what you said. No
position is just go out and play. There are things you
learn at every position certainly, and Derrick does a
great job with those guys. It kind of goes back to the
conversation about Stanzi, too. Just playing does a lot
of good for you, so you play and then you see it on film,
and I think next time you hit the field, hopefully you're
more decisive in everything you do, quicker and more
decisive, faster. I think that's the same thing for backs,
and I think both Mekhi and Toren have made big jumps
that way over the past 12 months, and the other guys
are coming right along, too.

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