Iowa Football: 2017 post-regular season position grades

Another position Iowa is usually dominant on is the defensive line as it’s no secret they rely on the trenches more than most in college football. The Hawkeye roster has a plethora of defensive ends such as the “Twin Towers” of Matt and Anthony Nelson, who both stand at 6-foot-8, Parker Hesse, who has contributed since his freshman year, and A.J. Epenesa, a former five-star recruit from Edwardsville, Illinois. Defensive coordinator Phil Parker regularly rotated defensive ends to keep fresh legs on the field.

However, the Hawkeyes were not particularly deep at defensive tackle as only two players had any playing time before the start of the 2017 season. Cedrick Lattimore and Nathan Bazata were the regulars at the defensive tackle position as well as Matt Nelson making occasional appearances on the inside as well. At times the interior struggled to get pressure on the quarterback, which occasionally proved to hurt the defense, but once again, another solid year on the defensive line.

Worst Game:

The Iowa defensive line was physically dominated by the stout offensive line of Wisconsin from start to finish. The Badgers pounded away at the Iowa front, rushing for a grand total of 247 yards and two touchdowns on 49 total carries. The front four was able to get some pressure on Alex Hornibrook in the first half, but were very much worn down by the second half as the Badgers continuously punished them on the ground.

Best Game:

Iowa’s season opener against Wyoming proved to be the best performance by the defensive line in the 2017 season. The Hawkeyes were able to constantly get pressure on the Cowboys star quarterback Josh Allen, sacking him three times and Brady Rieff hauling in a late interception to seal the ballgame. A.J. Epenesa also made great contributions in his first collegiate game, recording his first sack.