April 20, 2013
Spring Practice No. 12 | Interview with J. Lomax
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — “Now it’s our time,” University of Iowa sophomore defensive back Jordan Lomax said Saturday.
Lomax and freshman defensive back Ruben Lile missed all of the 2012 season because of injury. On Saturday — spring practice No. 12 of 15 for the Hawkeye football team — a healthy Lomax and Lile showed why the defensive side of the ball will play with a lot of gusto in the fall.
“They will see a hard-working group of guys that give 100 percent effort and don’t quit on the play,” Lomax said. “We’re going to go out and do whatever we can to help our team win.”
The sun was shining Saturday inside Kinnick Stadium, and so was the Hawkeye defense. A large part of practice was carried out under scrimmage conditions, and it ended with the defense feeling pretty good about itself.
“Defense won in Kinnick today and I don’t have a problem with that,” Lomax said with a smile.
Lomax is from Upper Marlboro, Md., and played at DeMatha Catholic. A shoulder injury kept him from action last season, but his rehabilitation is complete.
“Sitting out a whole year is probably one of the worst things that could happen,” Lomax said. “The whole year was hard for me, but I had to keep pushing through and keep my faith in God. My family and the team and coaches were behind me, telling me to take it slow and come back 100 percent, and you’re going to have a good year next year. That’s what is going on right now. I’m trying to keep moving forward and do whatever I can to help my team out.”
Lomax is listed as the starting right cornerback, opposite of senior B.J. Lowery. Lomax said the first two practices of the spring were “sluggish” as he tried to re-acclimate to the pace of the drills.
“After that my confidence started coming,” Lomax said. “I continually got better and I’m back to fully-confident.”
So how does Lile fit into the conversation about Saturday’s practice? It is because of the answer by Lomax to a question of which Hawkeye had to biggest hit of the day.
“Ohhh, I think everybody would say Ruben Lile had it — No. 25,” Lomax said with passion. “It’s good, he’s back. He sat out last year (knee), so every practice it’s like, `Man, I can’t wait to get back on the field’ and we keep each other’s spirits up. Now it’s our turn. We have a lot of depth and a good group of guys.”