ORLANDO — Goodbye Joe Milton III, hello Nico Iamaleava.
Milton, Tennessee’s starting quarterback for all 12 regular-season games, announced Wednesday his plans to opt out of the Citrus Bowl. The Hawkeyes are instead expected to face Iamaleava, a true freshman who will be making his first career start.
Iamaleava arrived at Tennessee with much acclaim. 247Sports gave him a five-star rating and ranked him as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class. He appeared in four regular-season games as a backup and went 16-for-26 with a touchdown.
“We’ll prep the same way,” Iowa defensive lineman Deontae Craig said. “Our coaches do a great job, no matter who’s back there, what personnel they run out with. … They have the hard part of figuring out what to do, but I know come Jan. 1, we’ll have a good plan and be ready to go.”
This is not unfamiliar territory for the Iowa defense. Last year, Kentucky quarterback Will Levis opted out of the Music City Bowl. The Hawkeyes instead faced then-true freshman Destin Wade, who went 16-for-30 with two interceptions and took five sacks.
Brian Allen is ‘sponge in the film room’
Asked about younger players on the defensive line who have stood out during bowl prep, Craig pointed to Caden Crawford, Brian Allen and Chase Brackney.
Allen also was among the players who had an impressive showing at Iowa’s Kids’ Day open practice in August.
“He’s an extremely hard worker,” Craig said of Allen. “He’s a sponge in the film room. He’s always asking questions, always trying to figure out little things he can do better.”
Allen, a redshirt freshman, has another three years of eligibility after this season.
“I’m definitely excited to keep seeing his growth,” Craig said. “He wants it, and I know he’s going to go get it.”
Luke Lachey has been ‘tremendous leader’ in TE room
Luke Lachey has not physically been able to contribute to the Iowa offense since his season-ending injury in Week 3, but that has not stopped him from contributing in other ways.
Addison Ostrenga — Iowa’s third-string tight end at the beginning of the season before moving up to first-string after Lachey and Erick All’s injuries — said he has “learned a lot” from Lachey and All this year.
“The biggest thing I’d say is just working hard every day in practice, not taking for granted the little things,” Ostrenga said.
Lachey in particular has been a “tremendous leader” for Ostrenga dating back to the Sun Prairie, Wis., native’s recruiting visit at Iowa.
"Ever since then, we’ve had a great relationship,“ Ostrenga said. ”He’s just been a great leader and role model for me.“
As Lachey mentors Ostrenga off the field, Ostrenga’s on-the-field results have blossomed. The second-year tight end is tied for the team lead with 29 receptions despite missing two games with an injury.
Kaleb Brown’s new hobby
When Kaleb Brown is not catching footballs or running drills in practice, one might see him in Orlando with a camera in hand.
Brown has started his own “vlog,” or video blog, on YouTube.
“My life is good,” Brown said. “It’s always good. God is always good to me. So I just feel like I can showcase it, get around some of the guys, pick up the camera and show some of the things that people may want to see.”
Brian Ferentz makes trip to Orlando
Iowa’s soon-exiting offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz made the trip with the team to Orlando — a sign he will likely coach the Iowa offense in the Citrus Bowl.
Interim athletics director Beth Goetz — Brian Ferentz’s official supervisor because of university nepotism rules — made it clear in her October announcement of his firing that he would remain employed “through the bowl game.”
However, there was some uncertainty about whether Brian Ferentz would choose to coach the bowl game, depending on the speed of his ongoing job search.
“We’ll know with certainty next week,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said last week. “But he’s got to worry about himself right now, too. … If he gets a job tomorrow, I don’t expect him to be here. If he is, I may have to visit with him about that.”
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