With Tristan Wirfs and Alaric Jackson suspended the Iowa Hawkeyes will depend upon two inexperienced offensive tackles in the season opener against Northern Illinois.
Redshirt freshman Mark Kallenberger gets his first start at left tackle and former walk-on Dalton Ferguson will be at right tackle after earning a scholarship as a fifth year senior. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz.
They must contend with one of the nation’s best edge rushers. NIU junior Sutton Smith finished third in the nations in sacks a year ago and led the country in tackles for loss.
As he enters his 20th season Ferentz is a win away from surpassing Hayden Fry as the Hawkeyes’ all time leader in wins.
It will be the first action for three new starting linebackers.
Ferentz says several true freshmen are in the two-deep and will see the field in the opener.
Northern Illinois coach Rod Carey says his team is focused on Saturday’s opener with Iowa. The Huskies have become a consistent winner under Carey and are the favorite to win the Mid-American Conference Western Division this season.
Northern Illinois is coming off an 8-5 record that included a loss to Duke in the Quick Lane Bowl.
Carey says the Huskies look forward to the challenge of playing the Hawkeyes.
Kickoff is at 2:30 pm Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.
