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Everything Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said at his weekly press conference
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After surviving a slow start, Iowa is now one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten heading into Week 5.
The Hawkeyes have won their last two games by a combined score of 84-14.
Ferentz led off by talking about two players who have helped spur on this momentum: Quarterback Spencer Petras and pass rusher Zach VanValkenburg.
🗣 KF: "Spencer (Petras) has done a good job. He has led our team and is learning quickly. Spencer has a good feel and grip on things. He will get better with experience." #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) November 17, 2020
🗣 KF: "Zach Van Valkenburg is a really good story, a great individual. He takes a mature approach and has a great work ethic. Zach is respected by everyone on the team. Happy to see him get recognized this week by the Big Ten." #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) November 17, 2020
Moving along to the upcoming game vs. Penn State, Ferentz named the captains for Iowa’s matchup with the Nittany Lions:
According to Coach Ferentz, the captains this week are Matt Hankins, Chauncey Golston, Nick Niemann, Tyler Linderbaum, Mekhi Sargent, and Keith Duncan. #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) November 17, 2020
Penn State is 0-4 this season after falling to Nebraska last week, but Ferentz thinks PSU is better than what that record says.
KF: "Penn State is a very talented team, they have talent at every position. They're better than their record shows."
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) November 17, 2020
KF on PSU's 0-4 record: "It just doesn't add up, we've watched the film and it's just doesn't add up."
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) November 17, 2020
KF on not overlooking 0-4: "All you have to do is look at the film and you'll be reminded."
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) November 17, 2020
Penn State benched starting quarterback Sean Clifford during last week’s game in favor of backup Will Levis. As it turns out, Ferentz recruited Levis out of high school and says the Hawkeyes were his first Power 5 offer.
KF on Will Levis: "We had him in camp here, I think we were his first power 5 offer. It comes to no surprise that he's become a good football player."
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) November 17, 2020
Ferentz also addressed a number of injury concerns:
🗣 KF: "Coy (Cronk) started working yesterday. Hopefully he will be able to help us, but we will know more in the next couple days." #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) November 17, 2020
John Waggoner is not expected to play this week per Kirk Ferentz.
Coy Cronk has started working again in practice as well
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) November 17, 2020
KF says Jack Heflin will be fine after an elbow injury last week.
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) November 17, 2020
Iowa and Penn State kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.