The Iowa football team will be expected to contend for the Big Ten championship next season and coach Kirk Ferentz says how some new linebackers perform will go along way toward determining just how successful 2006 will be.
Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge are both headed to the NFL, Greenway was taken in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings and Hodge was a third round selection of the Green Bay Packers. Ferentz says its tough to lose two great players, but he says he’s more concerned about the loss of their leadership than he is about losing their tackles.
Ferentz there are new linebackers who are vying for the chance to step up and play. He says there are five players in a heated contest to win the spots. Ferentz says it is never easy to replace players like Greenway and Hodge but it happens ever year, and he thinks they have the guys to step up.
The Hawkeyes open the season September second at home against Montana.