Oct. 16, 2013
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- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Rarely is an offensive player so interested in helping the defense. But that’s the life true freshman quarterback Nic Shimonek leads on a weekly basis now that the University of Iowa football team is in season.
Shimonek is a 6-foot-4, 196-pound signal-caller from Corsicana, Texas. His primary role is scout team quarterback, where he spent the past week emulating Ohio State’s Braxton Miller.
“My job is to lead the scout team,” Shimonek said Wednesday following practice in Kinnick Stadium. “I’m trying to make the defense better.”
Shimonek said he enjoys the supporting cast of teammates and coaches within the Hawkeye program. That includes other quarterbacks Jake Rudock, C.J. Beathard, and Cody Sokol, as well as offensive coordinator Greg Davis.
“I’m trying to get in and learn as much as possible as quickly as possible,” said Shimonek, who threw for 2,714 yards and 33 touchdowns last season for Mildred High School. “I’m trying to stay at it and get better along the way.”
The Hawkeyes (4-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten Conference) leave Friday for their third road trip of the season in search of their third road victory. This time there will be more than 102,000 people in Ohio Stadium.
“It’s awesome getting to go into new environments and experience new things,” Shimonek said. “It’s Division I football, you can’t ask for much more.”
Iowa faces No. 4 Ohio State (6-0, 2-0) on Oct. 19 with kickoff scheduled for 2:36 p.m. (CT).