LeVar Woods
University of Iowa
Special Teams Coordinator
On where special teams stand at this time:
“We have a good group of core players. As a matter of fact, I think we have a really good group of core players, particularly some older guys who are leading the way. We also have some younger guys who are pushing quite a bit. From a specialist standpoint, we know where we are going with our punter. The kicking competition is still wide open, with both kickoffs and field goals. We got a little taste of that today. Then return game, I think we have got a start on it so far.”
On who is standing out in preseason camp:
“The guys that really stepped up, Terry Roberts. I think everyone knows his story. Also with Logan Klemp, he has taken a step forward. Same thing with [Jay] Higgins. He’s taken a step forward. I think we all got a chance to see Kyler Fisher quietly over the last couple of years. He is a really, really good football player for us. Some of those other guys that are stepping into that fold, Dallas Craddieth, I think, is making a little push. TJ Hall is a freshman I think that could see some good time, and then also Brenden Deasfernandez. All those guys have done a really good job so far.”
On whether Iowa has depth in the return game:
“I do, and that is kind of unique to say, given the situation last year that we were in. However, I feel like we have depth. We have some younger guys that haven’t gotten the opportunity. I talk about [Cooper] DeJean and Arland [Bruce], already. I think Alec Wick is in the mix. I think Kaden Wetjen is in the mix. There are some freshman in the mix, with TJ Hall and Kaleb Johnson.
“These are guys that haven’t had the opportunity, and at some point, they are going to have the opportunity for us to know who they are and see what they are about. It reminds me of back in 2017 when I first started. We didn’t know who the returner was, who was this No. 6, Ihmir Smith-Marsette? Who is No. 21, Ivory Kelly-Martin? We didn’t know who they were either to start, and then we put them in and bang, things took off. I think we are in a good situation; we just need reps and game experience.”
On whether Xavier Nwankpa factors into the return game:
“He does, he’s in the mix. I don’t think he is quite ready for that yet, but I think that kid is a good football player, as well. I think over the next few months and over the course of the year you are going to see a different kid.”
On the place-kicking race:
“Right now it is [Aaron] Blom and Drew [Stevens]. They are both neck and neck. Statistically, they’ve each missed one, so I think it’s too close to call right now. We will keep going the next few weeks. We will put them in some situations tomorrow, which will be fun. If they’re up for the challenge, it will be fun. The next couple weeks, we will see where it shakes out… I think both are capable, or they wouldn’t be here. Once we decide who it is, and it may be a split-duty situation, as well, because I think they are both capable. I’m excited to see where they are at as they’ve both been working really hard.”
James Allan | Associate Director, Athletic Communications | The University of Iowa
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Office: 319-335-9411 | Cell: 319-530-5792 | [email protected] | Twitter: @jcallan04
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