Steen and Clauss Sidelined

Oct. 31, 2003

Senior defensive linemen Grant Steen and Jared Clauss have been ruled out of the Iowa football team’s home game Saturday against Illinois because of ankle injuries sustained in last week’s win over Penn State, UI Coach Kirk Ferentz announced Friday.

Iowa and Illinois will square off inside historic Kinnick Stadium shortly after 11 a.m. Saturday. The game is a sellout and will be televised live by ESPN Plus.

“Both players have not responded to treatment the way we had hoped,” said Ferentz. “We’re hopeful they’ll return to action very soon.”

Steen, a 6-3, 237-pound native of Emmetsburg, is third on the team in tackles with 44. He has 2.5 tackles for loss and one interception. Clauss, a 6-5, 285-pounder from West Des Moines, has 29 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks.

Both players had started every game this year and last year. Both were named to the Sporting News pre-season special mention all-America team. Steen was a second team all-Big Ten choice a year ago.