Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch – 2017-18 | Fight For Iowa
Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide. To receive daily news from the Iowa Hawkeyes, sign up HERE.
By RICK BROWN
hawkeyesports.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Amani Hooker sat in Carver-Hawkeye Arena last December and watched his older brother with envy.
Quinton Hooker played 35 minutes and scored 18 points for North Dakota’s basketball team in an 84-73 loss to Iowa.
Amani, a defensive back on the Hawkeye football team, was one of 10 true freshmen to see action in 2016, but most of his time came on special teams, not in the starting lineup like his brother. Watching Quinton only fueled his competitive fire.
Hooker got a taste of the big stage in the second game this season, playing in Iowa’s nickel and dime packages during a 44-41 overtime victory at Iowa State. The full course came during Saturday’s 31-14 victory against North Texas at Kinnick Stadium.
After the Mean Green needed just six plays on their opening possession of the game to go on an 80-yard touchdown drive, Hooker was inserted into the lineup at free safety. He played there the rest of the game. He went in with little fanfare. No pep talk from defensive coordinator Phil Parker.
“He just said, “You’re in,’ ” Hooker said. “No motivational talk, nothing like that. I just did the job the best I could.”
Hooker, listed as No. 2 strong safety behind Miles Taylor entering the game, said he practices both safety spots in practice every week.
“Both safeties have the same responsibilities,” Hooker said. “Different names, different calls, but the same responsibilities.”
The fact that Hooker played a majority of the game did come as a surprise.
“I didn’t think I was going to play any safety,” Hooker said. “I knew I was going to get in on dime and nickel stuff, but safety just kind of happened during the game.”
The 6–foot, 210-pounder from Minneapolis replaced Jake Gervase at free safety on Saturday.
“It was just a change-up, and we’ve felt good about the way Amani has been playing, so we kind of see all three guys (Hooker, Gervase and Taylor) pretty even right now,” said Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz. “We may start a three-man rotation, but we’ll play that by ear.”
Brandon Snyder, who started all 13 games at free safety last season, could make that a four-man rotation. He is expected back soon after injuring a knee in spring practice that required surgery.
Hooker said he got more comfortable as the game went on.
“Obviously, it was my first time playing safety,” Hooker said. “So it was a little fast at first, but over time I got comfortable and I was just playing ball.”
The same thing could be said for Iowa’s defense. North Texas took a 14-10 lead into the locker room, at halftime and racked up 212 yards of total offense in the first 30 minutes. The Mean Green got shut out the second half, and managed just 93 yards of total offense.
Iowa’s offense gets some of the credit for that, building up 21 minutes 21 seconds in time of possession over the last two quarters to 8:39 for the visitors. North Texas failed to convert on all three of its third-down situations during the second half and were 0-for-6 for the game. Iowa ran 86 offensive plays, 40 more than the Mean Green.
“At halftime it wasn’t like yelling or anything,” Hooker said. “Coaches were stressing that we’ve got to focus on the details, and just do the little things.”
Saturday was a watershed moment for Hooker, a chance to get on the field for extended snaps for the first time in his career.
“I’ve been waiting to get in there,” said Hooker, who had three tackles Saturday that matched his total for the entire 2016 season. “It feels good to finally get it out of the way.”
Quinton Hooker is now playing professional basketball in Poland. He was the one following his brother on Saturday.
“I don’t know if he got to watch the game,” Hooker said. “If not, I know he was keeping up on Twitter.”
