Iowa players react to VandeBerg injury
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Senior Matt VandeBerg has gone from being Iowa’s leading receiver to now just a leader.
That was the somber news from Tuesday’s press conference where members of the Iowa football team talked about being without one of their key players.
VandeBerg suffered a broken foot in practice on Monday. He is out indefinitely, leaving Iowa searching for answers at a position that already was struggling heading into Saturday’s homecoming game against Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium.
VandeBerg leads Iowa with 19 receptions for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Iowa’s other receivers have combined for 15 catches for 190 yards two touchdowns.
“I feel bad for Matt,” said Iowa senior quarterback C.J. Beathard. “Obviously, he was a big part of the offense, a big part of this team. But more than anything, I just feel bad for Matt and his family. Our prayers are going to him and his family during this tough time.
“But we’ve done a good job of having the next-man-in philosophy. Matt will be missed. But it’s just an opportunity for another person to get in there and show what he can do and play well for us.”
Senior running back LeShun Daniels expects VandeBerg to still play a key role for the team.
“It’s tough,” Daniels said. “With him not being out there, it’s just a different feeling because he’s a big-time player for us. But I think of his leadership. He does an excellent job of getting everyone going, not just the receivers, but everybody on the offense, making sure that everybody is doing their right job.
“Without him being out there, it’s just going to lead to more opportunities for other seniors to step up and other people on the offense to step up.”
Sophomore Jerminic Smith and senior Riley McCarron are listed as the starters at the two receiver positions on the current depth chart.
Sophomore Jay Scheel also should have an expanded role without Vandeberg, while junior Jonathan Parker is now healthy after being out for about six weeks with a foot injury.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday that an appeal for a medical hardship would be made on VandeBerg’s behalf.
The rule says a player can’t participate in more than 30 percent of the games during a season to quality for a medical hardship. VandeBerg is right on the threshold after playing in four of 12 games.
Former Iowa defensive end Drew Ott had his medical hardship appeal denied by the NCAA last season after appearing in six games.
“We’ll certainly appeal it,” Ferentz said. “It’s not by the letter of the law. I think the law is 30 percent. It’s all happened fast. We really haven’t had a lot of time to discuss it or research it, but I think it’s just 30 percent. If my math is correct, we’re right at like 33 and a third. I won’t even try to predict. But hopefully there will be some leniency there.”
Ferentz acknowledged that VandeBerg would be missed, but Ferentz refused to call the situation at receiver a crisis when asked if star defensive back and return specialist Desmond King might see some action at receiver.
“This is hardly a crisis stage,” Ferentz said. “We’re all really sorry that Matt got hurt, don’t get me wrong, I’m not minimizing that. But hey, we’re going to play. We’ve got to play.”
Some other possibilities at receiver include sophomore Ronald Nash, true freshman Devonte Young and redshirt freshman Ryan Boyle, who switched from quarterback to receiver in the spring.
“Anybody can figure in,” Ferentz said when asked about Boyle’s status. “Whoever does well in practice will get an opportunity, certainly.”
Desmond King singled out the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Nash when asked which young receivers he thinks could step up in VandeBerg’s absence.
Ferentz also spoke highly of Nash, a Sioux City native who transferred to Iowa after playing his freshman season at Iowa Western Community College.
“He came here last year, pretty much worked on the scout team and what have you, in the spring got some work, but every phase he’s gotten better and really has got better since the start of camp,” Ferentz said of Nash. “He’s gotten a lot of work since we got started, just hasn’t had a lot of game activity. But I think we’ve seen his confidence grow. He’s a big guy with good skills. Hopefully it’s his time.”
Ferentz said there are no plans to move junior running back Derrick Mitchell Jr., back to receiver. Mitchell came to Iowa as a receiver, but switched to running back before 2015 spring practice.
Mitchell is now healthy after missing the last two games with an injury.
"He’s back practicing," Ferentz said."Yesterday and today, he practiced full speed, but in the backfield."
Sophomore receiver Adrian Falconer, on the other hand, is injured and questionable for Saturday’s game against Northwestern.
"Last week he was out, he’s out right now, out as in not participating with us," Ferentz said of Falconer. "He’s with the trainers. He has been in the six or seven guys. But the last couple weeks he’s been out. So hopefully we’ll get him."