And with pointed posture and a no-nonsense approach, A.J. Edds really does have the look and demeanor of a statesman.
With the graduation of Mike and Mike — Humpal and Klinkenborg — Edds, a junior from Greenwood, Ind., will assume the office of leader of Iowa’s linebacking corps this season.
It’s a role he takes on gladly.
“He’s always been that mature guy,” position coach Darrell Wilson said. “He came in that way. He’s really embraced it. He’s taken that role, and he understands what he’s got to do.”
Edds started at outside linebacker every game last season, finishing second on the team with 80 tackles, including 3 1/2 for a loss of yardage.
Edds actually came to Iowa as a tight end but quickly made the conversion to the defensive side of the ball and was one of three true freshmen to see the field in 2006. The 6-foot-4, 244-pounder, whom Kirk Ferentz has compared to former Hawkeyes All-American Chad Greenway, even started a game that fall, recording five stops in a blowout win against Purdue.
Last year, playing alongside proven guys like Humpal and Klinkenborg made the transition to regular seem almost easy. Now, Edds is the man, and a handful of others competing for playing time in the middle and on the weakside will be following his lead.
“Naturally, the team and coaches are going to look at me for more of a leadership role this year, and I have to embrace that,” Edds said. “I’ve been out there. So, when I say something, guys listen.”
The Hawkeyes do return some experience to the unit.
Sophomore Jacody Coleman played in nine games as a true freshman in 2007, starting and recording five tackles in Iowa’s upset of No. 18 Illinois. He’s in a neck-and-neck battle with Bettendorf native Pat Angerer for the middle linebacker job.
On the weakside, sophomore Jeff Tarpinian is slotted as the starter, but he’s missed significant time in camp and might be getting passed over by Jeremiha Hunter, a sophomore who looked very good in Saturday’s open practice.
Those competitions will continue through next week.
There’s no doubt, though, who will be the leader.
That would be The Governor.
| Position breakdowns | |||
| Saturday: Special teams STORY I GLANCE | |||
| Sunday: Defensive backs STORY I GLANCE | |||
| Today: Linebackers | |||
| Tuesday: Defensive line | |||
| Wednesday: Offensive line | |||
| Thursday: Receivers/Ends | |||
| Friday: Running backs | |||
| Saturday: Quarterbacks |
Jebus wrote on Aug 18, 2008 12:30 PM: