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Dylan Raiola addresses Kirk Ferentz, Phil Parker partnership existing longer than he has

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Dylan Raiola knows Iowa has a history of elite defensive play in the Kirk Ferentz era. The freshman quarterback also understands it stems from the long partnership between Ferentz and defensive coordinator Phil Parker.

That partnership dates back to 1999 when Parker joined Ferentz’s initial coaching staff with the Hawkeyes as the defensive backs coach. Parker would assume the DC role in 2012 and has since led some prestigious units in Iowa City.

Just how impressive is that continued partnership? At his Tuesday press conference, Raiola admitted Ferentz and Parker have been rolling out elite defenses longer than the QB has been alive.

“Their head coach and DC have been together since before I was even born,” cracked Raiola. “Obviously a lot of experience. They play very sound, they play very well together. With it being the last game, you can see them kind of get better and progress each week. We’ll have to be ready for anything they have for us.”

While Parker’s unit is another strong defense, the 2024 version of the Hawkeyes has produced a few cracks at times. The Hawkeyes are just 6th in the B1G in total defense at 311.7 yards per game.

However, the challenge for Raiola, especially as a freshman, will be avoiding the negative plays. The Hawkeyes are tied for the B1G lead with 16 interceptions on the season, and a key turnover at the wrong moment could flip the Black Friday showdown.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.