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Former Hawkeyes star returning to Iowa to finish degree

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

A former Hawkeyes football star is returning to the University of Iowa to complete his degree.

Wednesday evening, Brandon Snyder announced through his Twitter account that he’d be returning to Iowa City to finish his Exercise Science degree. After he completes that, the former Hawkeye wants to get into coaching football at the college level.

“Life update: I will be heading back to Iowa City to take my last 7 credits of my Exercise Science degree to add onto my Entrepreneurship degree,” Snyder wrote. “After that, I plan on getting into coaching college football so if anyone has any connections [let me know].”

Snyder played three seasons at Iowa and was a star safety during his time. He started in all 13 games in 2016, recording 85 tackles and three interceptions. He played in 13 games as a freshman in 2015.

Snyder’s 2017 season was hampered by injuries. He played in just one game that year, but had a huge impact in Iowa’s win over Illinois. He recorded an 89-yard pick-six in his lone appearance.

Due to the injuries he sustained in the 2017 season, Snyder’s path back to becoming the starting safety was more difficult than expected. The competition at his position tightened up and there was a possibility he wouldn’t have the same role with the Hawkeyes as he had in previous seasons.

Snyder wanted to be a full participant his senior year, making the emotional choice to walk away from the Hawkeye football program and transferred to South Dakota State to round out his playing career.

In his lone season with the Jackrabbits, Snyder racked up 58 tackles, two interceptions and two pass break-ups. SDSU finished the year 10-3 and made a trip to the FCS Playoff semifinals, playing rival North Dakota State for a trip to the national championship.

The Jackrabbits were defeated 44-21.

Snyder had 99 tackles and four interceptions in 27 career games at Iowa.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB