By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Select members of the Iowa football team with exception to bye weeks are made available to the media on Tuesdays throughout the regular season.

And it’s a good thing that running back L.J. Phillips Jr. was among the nine players that attended the most recent player interviews because he was perfect for the occasion.

In addition to the usual media members that are present on Tuesday, there were also 10 high school students, including five from Iowa City West High and four from Liberty, that attended Tuesday’s player interviews at the Iowa Football Complex.

The high school students asked questions, recorded video and took photos, some of which included the students and the Iowa players posing together.

Not surprisingly, the students gravitated towards Phillips, probably because of his outgoing and friendly personality, his gift for gab and his never-ending positive energy.

The students felt comfortable around Phillips because he has that kind of effect.

He loves life, he loves being a Hawkeye and he loves people.

Phillips, who is from Wichita, Kansas, is in his first season as a Hawkeye after transferring from South Dakota, where he rushed for over 1,900 yard last season, which was the most in FCS.

His season has been slowed by an ankle injury, but Phillips said Tuesday that he is healthy and eager to face Minnesota on Saturday in Minneapolis. He has 63 rushing yards on 18 carries while appearing in three games this season.

Phillips is also eager to learn more about the Iowa-Minnesota rivalry and why the two Big Ten border rivals play for a statue of a pig named Floyd of Rosedale.

He learned on Tuesday about the long-standing tradition in which Minnesota fans chant, “Who hates Iowa? We hate Iowa.” 

“Dang. Why they got to hate Iowa?” Phillips asked. “We’re some cool people. They’ve got to be nicer to us. I haven’t heard the chant, but I’m sure I’ll hear it.

“Let’s just say we love Iowa. That’s mean.”

The way in which Phillips conducts himself off the field is in total contrast to how he is on the field as a hard-charging 5-foot-8, 211-pound running back.

He runs low to ground and packs a punch with his physical running style, which could make Phillips a factor against the Gophers.

Away from the field, though, Phillips is warm and friendly and always willing to engage with the media.

He’s the last person whose comments would ever end up on an opponent’s bulletin board.

For example, here’s what Phillips said about Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, who has been known to do some odd things in the heat of the moment, including smearing blood from one of his players on his face.

“He’s an intense coach, and I’m sure those guys love to play for him,” Phillips said of Fleck. “It kind of got me fired up. He’s just an intense guy, a great coach.

“He loves his players and I’m sure the players love him.”

Like any smart running back, Phillips knows where his bread is buttered as he always goes out of his way to praise his offensive line, which carved out some massive holes in the win over Washington.

“Those holes are amazing; I think you could have scored on it,” Phillips said to a member of the media on Tuesday. “With the way they were blocking, we all could have scored. Those guys are doing a great job. I love those guys.

“It’s such an unselfish position, offensive lineman. You’re the first ones to get seen when stuff is bad, and the last one to get seen when stuff is going good. So all the credit to those guys.”

Phillips was asked Tuesday about having recently filmed a commercial for Pizza Ranch along with Iowa defensive end Kenneth Merrieweather.

“It was awesome,” Phillips said. “Kenny Merrieweather is the goat. We might be the new acting duo. You might catch us in a couple of movies after the season. We’re some actors.

“Football is cool, but I might be an actor.”

Phillips was told by a member of the media on Tuesday that some people are saying his acting was the best they’ve seen on the NIL circuit.

“That’s what they’re saying; the word on the street?” Phillips said. “Someone sign me up for Hollywood. Let’s go.”

Phillips said he participated in both drama and choir in high school, which isn’t surprising because of how much he seems to enjoy being around people and expressing himself.

Phillips was one of the last Iowa players to leave the interview session on Tuesday, partly because the high school students just couldn’t get enough of him.

They took photos with him while also asking all sorts of questions that Phillips answered enthusistically.

Once the students realized how easy it was to speak with Phillips, they became more relaxed and started asking questions.

Phillips will have some extra incentive against the Gophers on Saturday as his sister, Victoria, plans to attend the game. He mentioned several times on Tuesday how much he was looking forward to playing in front of her.

“I’m excited to play in front of her,” Phillips said.

Phillips seems excited just being around other people.

He shows incredible patience with the media, because just like with the high school students, the media also gravitates towards Phillips because of his personality.

He just makes the job of covering the Iowa football team a little easier, and more fun.

No. 15 Iowa (5-1, 2-1) vs. Minnesota (4-2, 2-1)

When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m.

Where: Minneapolis, Huntington Bank Stadium, (50,805)

TV: FS1

Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network

Series history: Saturday will be the 120th meeting between Iowa and Minnesota. The Hawkeyes have won 10 of the last 11 and
20 of the last 25 in the series. Seven of the last 11 meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less.

Minnesota leads the all-time series, 63-54-2.

The Hawkeyes dominated the Gophers in the most recent meeting, winning 41-3 in Kinnick Stadium in 2025. It was the largest margin of victory in the series since 2008.

Iowa is 34-26-1 in games played in Minneapolis. The Hawkeyes have won five straight on the road over the Gophers by an average of 14.4 points per game. The Gophers haven’t defeated Iowa in Minneapolis since 2014.

Minnesota snapped an eight-game losing streak to Iowa with a 12-10 win in Kinnick Stadium in 2023. The Hawkeyes appeared to score the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but the punt return was overturned on an invalid fair catch signal by Cooper DeJean.

Minnesota is only school that Kirk Ferentz has squared off against every season during his Hawkeye tenure as both an assistant coach (1981-89) and head coach (1999-present).

Ferentz and Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck are the longest two tenured coaches in the Big Ten.