By Tyler Devine

IOWA CITY, Iowa – If Matt Hankins and Josh Jackson end up having more in common than physical stature and home state Iowa fans will be elated.

Jackson and Hankins both stand 6-foot-1 and weigh 192 and 175 pounds, respectively, and are both Texas natives.

Hankins, a true freshman, is slated to make his first career start at cornerback on Friday against Nebraska in place of struggling sophomore Manny Rugamba.

Hankins played the better part of the second half in Iowa’s loss to Purdue on Saturday after Rugamba and sophomore Michael Ojemudia had trouble containing Purdue receiver Anthony Mahoungou.

Jackson, a junior, made his first career start in the Outback Bowl last season and is now a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award. He also leads the nation with seven interceptions and 24 passes defended.

With Iowa struggling to find a compliment on the other side of the field from him, Jackson thinks that Hankins is up for the challenge.

“I think (he’s ready),” Jackson said. “He’s been preparing really well behind us and watching us. I think when it’s his time he’ll be ready to suit up. That’s what you have to do, when your name is called you have to be ready.”

Not only are Jackson and Hankins from the same state, but Jackson’s hometown of Corinth, Texas is just ten miles from Hankins’ hometown of Lewisville, Texas.

Jackson said the two have bonded over being two of just three Texas natives on the Iowa roster.

“We have a bond, we’re cool,” Jackson said. “We’ve got the same little lingo and things like that.”

Making the transition from high school to college is difficult without having to put the time and effort in to being a part of a Big Ten football team.

By all accounts, Hankins has taken the transition in stride and come along quicker than expected.

“It’s actually pretty difficult,” Jackson said. “I think he’s doing a good job of being mature in that role and coming in and just trying to learn the defense and get better each and every day. I think he’s doing a really good job with that. 

“He knows the defense really well. He can still obviously get better, everybody can always get better. For where he’s at right now I think he’s really advanced.”

Hankins finds himself in rare company starting at cornerback as a true freshman.

Only four other true freshmen have started in the secondary under head coach Kirk Ferentz.

Rugamba, Desmond King, Benny Sapp and Bob Sanders all did it before him.

Ferentz believes that Hankins has the right attitude to make his first start in a rivalry game on the road.

“It’s not so much what he showed in the (Purdue) game but it’s what he’s been doing since he got here,” Ferentz said. “He’s a guy who has just come in and worked hard. He’s got a good air about him, not cocky but he’s a confident guy. 

“He doesn’t seem overwhelmed in any regard. He’s been doing well in practice and we hit some bumps on Saturday and just felt like we’d give him an opportunity to get in and play.”

Injury report: Ferentz indicated during his Tuesday press conference that sophomore strong safety Amani Hooker will miss his third straight game on Friday due to a leg injury.

The 6-foot, 210-pound Hooker has started five games this season and ranks fourth on the team with 44 tackles.

Senior strong safety Miles Taylor, who Hooker replaced after Iowa’s third game, has started the last two games in place of Hooker.

“The only thing, on injuries, it doesn't look like Amani Hooker, he still hasn't responded the way we had hoped,” Ferentz said. “So I can't envision him playing. Still hasn't done much in practice at this point.”

Money, money, money: Friday’s game holds meaning off the field for Ferentz as well.

Ferentz stands to add $2.4 million to his contract buyout with a win on Friday and if Iowa beats Nebraska and wins a bowl game, Ferentz will receive a $500,000 bonus, as well as a $650,000 bonus if he is still Iowa’s head coach on Jan. 31.

Ferentz’s assistants also could be given an eight percent raise with a win on Friday.

Ferentz’s contract reads: “The University will find an average salary increase of 8% for the nine on-field assistant coaches as well as the Head Strength Coach, the top Assistant Strength coach and the Director of Football Operations on July 1 after any season in which the team finished with at least 7 wins, participated in a post-season bowl game and achieved a Graduation Success Rate of at least 67.5% in the most recent calculation period.”

Pesky punts: Change may soon be to Iowa’s struggling punt return game.

Iowa has struggled all season to find someone to consistently field punts.

Jackson started as Iowa’s punt returner but was eventually replaced by senior receiver Matt VandeBerg.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound VandeBerg has also had his share of troubles, at times not knowing when to field a punt and when to let it go.

Those troubles hit a low point during Saturday’s 24-15 loss to Purdue when VandeBerg was out of position and muffed a punt in the fourth quarter that would be recovered by Purdue and lead to three points for the Boilermakers to put them up 24-9.

Ferentz indicated during his press conference on Tuesday that he and his coaching staff may look for someone to relieve VandeBerg of his duties.

“To that point it's almost like if you look at either end of the punting game, we're not consistent with our punting right now and fielding the punt, returning the punt, we're not doing that well enough either,” Ferentz said. “We're open to that and considering that.”

Signing day: Bowl prep isn’t the only matter of importance for Iowa during December.

College football now has an early signing period for high school seniors in which they can sign their national letter of intent before the first Tuesday in February.

Iowa currently has 14 players committed to its 2018 recruiting class and Ferentz is hopeful that he will receive 14 faxes with letters of intent on Dec. 20.

Ferentz did indicate, however, that things may change if any of the commits do not sign early.

“We're optimistic,” Ferentz said. “We're hopeful. And the vibe we're getting is that will be what takes place. But you never know, recruiting as you well know is very, very unpredictable. And to me it's really the first signing date, at least with the guys we have committed right now, prospects we have committed, seems like we've all had a really good mutual relationship and we're all on the same page. 

“So if they choose not to sign in December, then that just tells us maybe that there's a little pause in their thinking and in turn it will cause a pause in our thinking.”

Iowa’s 2018 recruiting class

Dillon Doyle, LB, 6-3, 215, Iowa City

Samson Evans, ATH, 6-1, 190, Crystal Lake, Ill.

Henry Geil, RB, 6-0, 211, Green Bay, Wis.

Cody Ince, OL, 6-5, 260, Balsam Lake, Wis.

Jeff Jenkins, OL, 6-4, 272, Crystal Lake, Ill.

D.J. Johnson DB, 6-0, 170, Indianapolis, Ind.

Tyler Linderbaum, DL, 6-2, 255, Solon

Jack Plumb, Ol, 6-8, 245, Green Bay, Wis.

Terry Roberts, DB, 5-10, 169, Erie, Pa.

Anthony Torres, TE, 6-6, 235, Mishawaka, Ind.

Noah Shannon, DL, 6-2, 285, Oswego, Ill.

Tyrone Tracy, ATH, 6-0, 187, Indianapolis, Ind.

Julius Brents, DB, 6-2, 179, Indianapolis, Ind.

Ben VanSumeren, ATH, 6-2, 225, Essexville, Mich.