Special teams
In order to keep themselves in games, Iowa is a force when it comes to special teams. They are consistently top five special teams unit in the country year in and year out (thanks Levar Woods).
They are not a flashy team, and they rarely blow opponents out. Instead, the Hawkeyes grind out victories with a systematic approach.
Playing “complimentary football” allows Iowa to pin their opponents deep in their own territory with a punt, and let their defense create a short field for their offense. Iowa might be the only team in the country that campaigns for their punter to be a Heisman candidate (queue the Tory Taylor highlights).
A key to this special team’s renaissance could be using their starting defenders, such as Butkus Award-winning linebacker Jack Campbell, and first-team All-Big Ten defensive back Cooper Dejean.
Tory Taylor 58 yd punt downed on the 1 #ToryTaylorForHeisman pic.twitter.com/OsK7xtrwfI
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) November 12, 2022
Many teams are afraid to use their star players on special teams, but the Hawks find it a key part of their game plan.