Iowa Names 2020 Football Leadership Group
IOWA CITY, Iowa --The University of Iowa football program has named 21 players to the 2020 Leadership Group, it was announced Friday by head coach Kirk Ferentz.
The group includes nine seniors, three juniors, six sophomores, and three redshirt freshmen. The purpose of the group is to assist in formulating policies and being involved in team decision-making throughout the year. Players were selected following coaching staff and player input.
“This group was assembled beginning with our Hawkeye Championship Captains who have shown great initiative and leadership since the start of 2020, as have all of our players,” said Ferentz. “The initial Leadership Group was voted on one month ago.
“Due to discussions and dialogue with our players, and in particular the Hawkeye Championship Captains, we felt it best to reset the model and elect new leadership to assist in formulating team policies and involvement in team decision-making throughout the year. We wanted to empower our current student-athletes to provide feedback for those who would work to be productive toward the goals of the group. That list closely matched what we put together as a staff.”
The group consists of seniors Cole Banwart, Keith Duncan, Chauncey Golston, Matt Hankins, Alaric Jackson, Nick Niemann, Mekhi Sargent, Austin Schulte and Brandon Smith; juniors Djimon Colbert, Ivory Kelly-Martin and Jack Koerner; sophomores Dane Belton, Seth Benson, Julius Brents, Tyler Linderbaum, Spencer Petras, and Tyrone Tracy, Jr.; and redshirt freshmen Jermari Harris, Desmond Hutson, and Alex Padilla.
The 2020 Hawkeye Leadership Group includes:
Cole Banwart OL Senior Ottosen, Iowa
Dane Belton DB Sophomore Tampa, Fla.
Seth Benson LB Sophomore Sioux Falls, S.D.
Julius Brents DB Sophomore Indianapolis, Ind.
Djimon Colbert LB Junior Shawnee Mission, Kan.
Keith Duncan K Senior Weddington, N.C.
Chauncey Golston DL Senior Detroit, Michigan
Matt Hankins DB Senior Lewisville, Texas
Jermari Harris DB Redshirt Freshman Chicago, Ill.
Desmond Hutson WR Redshirt Freshman Raytown, Mo.
Alaric Jackson OL Senior Detroit, Michigan
Ivory Kelly-Martin RB Junior Plainfield, Ill.
Jack Koerner DB Junior Des Moines, Iowa
Tyler Linderbaum OL Sophomore Solon, Iowa
Nick Niemann LB Senior Sycamore, Illinois
Alex Padilla QB Redshirt Freshman Greenwood Village, Co.
Spencer Petras QB Sophomore San Rafael, California
Mekhi Sargent RB Senior Key West, Florida
Austin Schulte DL Senior Pella, Iowa
Brandon Smith WR Senior Lake Cormorant, Mississippi
Tyrone Tracy, Jr. WR Sophomore Camby, Ind.