By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – You never know for sure what goes on behind the scenes, but it seems almost certain that Iowa defensive tackle Nathan Bazata is one of the most respected players on his team, and deservedly so.

Undersized and lightly recruited coming out of high school, the 6-foot-2, 287-pound Bazata is the latest in a long line of over-achievers who have played under Kirk Ferentz at Iowa.

Bazata hardly looks the part, but in his case looks are deceiving because you don’t start for three seasons at any position, let alone defensive tackle, by accident or because the coaches like you.

You do so because you’re tougher than peanut brittle is on teeth, because you’re fundamentally sound and blessed with good instincts and because you bust your butt every day in practice.

Bazata is all of those things.

His consistency and effort is easy to overlook with Iowa struggling heading into Saturday’s game against Minnesota at Kinnick Stadium.

But if the Hawkeyes (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten) are to get back on the winning track, it’ll take Bazata’s senior leadership, on and off the field, to help get it done.

He’d be reluctant to say that because Bazata hates to talk about himself if it has anything to do with individual praise.

He’ll talk about how being smaller than most Big Ten linemen actually helps him in some ways, or about other football-related matters.

But shift the attention to his prowess in the trenches and Bazata struggles to find the words. It’s never about him as he showed while talking about his performance in last Saturday’s 17-10 overtime loss at Northwestern.

And the only reason he talked about it is because he was asked.

Bazata had six tackles against Northwestern, including 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss.

“I’m really not worried about individual,” Bazata said. “I’m just kind working and whatever I can do to help the team.

“This weekend I kind of fell into stuff with the (defensive) ends doing their job. So it just kind of worked out.”

Junior defensive end Parker Hesse smiled when told about Bazata’s self-evaluation. Let’s just say Hesse wasn’t surprised.

“That’s the type of guy he is,” Hesse said. “That’s just another reason to love him.”

Hesse had no problem talking about Bazata’s impact and value to an Iowa defense that has allowed just 21, 17 and 17 points in the three losses this season.

Hesse seemed to enjoy telling reporters why Bazata, a native of Howells, Neb., means so much to him and the team as a whole.

“Nate Bazata is an unbelievable football player the way he approaches things,” Hesse ssaid. “Mentally, just how he anticipates plays and blocks from opponents and just his effort is something that it’s really fun to play with him. It’s fun to watch him on film, both in practice and on Sundays after games.

“He’s just a guy that elevates the level of us when our hands are down in the dirt next to him.”

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Some of what Bazata lacks from a physical standpoint he makes up for with grit and toughness.

Of course, it helps that he can anticipate plays, but at some point the warrior mentality takes over in the trenches and it becomes a battle of wills, pain tolerance and tenacity.

A former standout wrestler in high school, Bazata is used to winning individual battles. He uses some of that wrestling knowledge to gain an edge, and is a disruptive force when healthy. 

Bazata was hobbled by a lower leg injury last season, but still played in all 13 games with 10 starts, alongside former All-Big Ten defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson, who now plays for the Minnesota Vikings.

Bazata has started all seven games this season at defensive tackle and leads all of Iowa’s defensive linemen with 26 tackles.

“We’re so close if you look at our losses,” Bazata said. “Just one play away whether it’s in the first half or second half. Are you going hard every time and doing your job?

“That what it comes down to.”

In other words, it comes down to being dependable and accountable.

Bazata has been both since arriving on campus in 2013, along with being unselfish, determined and humble.

He has been the ultimate teammate as Hesse so gladly described.