Author: Nathan Bloechl

Cedar Falls — Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley has created competition at quarterback by adding a couple of transfers.

Des Moines native Will McElvain — who was coached in his prep days by Fort Madison athletic director Ben Fry — has been the starter the past two seasons, including a COVID shortened spring season in which he completed 51 percent of his passes — he was also electric in his freshman season for the Panthers.

“We have competition in that quarterback room, we’ll be able to battle that position out and we brought in Theo Day from Michigan State and Matt Morrissey from Trinity Valley” Farley said to reporters.

Coming off a 3-4 record in the spring the Panthers are picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll.

UNI opens September 4th at Iowa State.

You can listen to that game on FM 98.5 and AM 1130.

Prep Basketball: It’s Here — Shot Clock Coming to State of Iowa:

For the first time in the history of high school basketball in Iowa, shot clocks will be introduced to the game in the start of the 2022-23 season.

The decision was finalized at Sunday’s Iowa High School Athletic Association Board Meeting and is expected to be announced — and made official — by state officials today.

Now, the state will mandate shot clocks in all varsity boys and girls basketball games starting in 2022.

The timer will be set for :35 seconds on each offensive possession.

Iowa will become the 10th state nationwide to adopt a shot clock, joining Georgia, Massachusetts, California, Maryland, New York, Washington, South Dakota, Rhode Island and North Dakota.

It was unclear how the state will implement the purchase of shot clocks and/or if they will have a mandated “system”.

Clocks will undoubtedly be ran by volunteer administration at the site of the home team’s gym.

College Football: Iowa State Begins Fall Camp:

Football season is officially underway state wide with Iowa State kicking off fall practice, joining Iowa and Northern Iowa in that department.

Iowa State returns 19 starters from last year’s group that tied the school record for wins (9), while winning the school’s first ever New Year’s Six Bowl game when they knocked off Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Clones have been lauded as a top 10 team nationally in most all preseason polls.

Iowa State kicks off their season on September 4th at home against UNI.

College Basketball: Iowa’s Clark Shining in U19 World Cup:

Iowa rising sophomore Caitlin Clark has been putting a show competing for Team USA in the U19 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which is playing in Hungary.

Clark has led Team USA to two straight dominate victories, helping the red, white and blue defeat Australia 99-59 and Italy 96-37.

In those two games the former Dowling Catholic star has averaged 18.5 points and 5.5 assists per game.

Clark and Team USA will look to continue their hot play when they take on Egypt later tonight.

Fans can watch the game online on YouTube.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

NFL: Bizarre Twist Leads Former Cyclone Basketball Player to the NFL:

In an unprecedented move, the Seattle Seahawks announced they are signing former Iowa State basketball player Michael Jacobson — yes you heard that right — to a free agent contract.

Jacobson, who is listed at 6-7, 244, last played football at Waukee High School in 2014.

He earned a scholarship offer from Iowa State, but instead he went to Nebraska to play basketball.

After two seasons with the Cornhuskers, Jacobson transferred to Iowa State where he started 67 games over two seasons, averaging 9.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

As a junior, Jacobson helped lead Iowa State to a Big 12 tournament championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, earning Big 12-All-Tournament Team accolades after averaging 9.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in the Cyclones’ three wins.

After finishing his college career, Jacobson spent last year playing in the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague — the highest division in Ukraine.

He was reportedly signed to play tight end.

College Basketball: UNI Lands Huge In-State Prospect:

The University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team got better over the weekend, securing a commitment from highly touted in-state prospect Trey Campbell.

Campbell has starred at Cedar Falls High School and will stay close to home in his commitment to the Panthers.

Campbell is ranked in the top-5 of most all recruiting services for the Class of 2022 in the State of Iowa.

He held offers from South Dakota and Virginia Tech.

Campbell averaged just south of 14 points per game for Cedar Falls High School last year.

College Football: Iowa State’s Campbell Talks Big 12 Re-Alignment 

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell is focused on his team and not the long-term future of the Big 12 Conference.

Texas and Oklahoma announced they intend to leave the Big 12 to join the Southeastern Conference, leaving the future of the eight remaining schools in doubt.

Campbell, who led his team to the Playstation Fiesta Bowl a season ago and are in most every preseason polls’ top-10, have not been hurt on the recruiting trail either — despite the ongoing uncertainty regarding the school’s conference affiliation.

The Cyclones boast a top-25 class — with room for more in the Class of 2022 — anchored by a pair of four star commits in Hunter Deyo of Lewis Central and Greg Gaines of Tampa, Florida.

Iowa State opens at home on September 4th against Northern Iowa.

You can listen to that game on FM 98.5 and AM 1130.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

College Football: Three Hawkeyes Named to Rotary Lombardi Watch List

University of Iowa junior center Tyler Linderbaum, senior offensive lineman Kyler Schott, and senior defensive end Zach VanValkenburg were named to the 2021 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List.

The award goes annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman, who in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi.

Linderbaum was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy a year ago and earned first-team All-America honors from The Athletic and Pro Football Focus.

He was a second-team All-America honoree by the Associated Press, Phil Steele, and the Walter Camp Foundation.

He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by league media.

Schott was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by league coaches and media last year.

He saw action in five games with one start at left guard and one start at right guard.

Schott joined the program as a walk-on but earned a scholarship in 2020.

VanValkenburg returns for his third season with the Hawkeyes after joining the program as a grad transfer.

He was second-team All-Big Ten a year ago by league coaches and media. VanValkenburg led the nation with four fumble recoveries last season.

He recorded 30 total tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

The Hawkeyes open the 2021 season Sept. 4, hosting Indiana.

College Football: Former Mount Pleasant Youth Mitchell Ready to Explode at UND:

Former Mount Pleasant youth standout Creighton Mitchell, who was coached by Kent Bennett, is ready to burst onto the scene in his second year at the University of North Dakota.

Mitchell played his prep ball at West Des Moines Valley after dominating the middle school ranks in Mount Pleasant.

The 5-8 redshirt freshman appeared in two games last year and made his collegiate debut in the season opener against No. 24 Southern Illinois.

He carried the ball six times for 23 yards in the team’s win that day over the Salukis.

Mitchell scored his first-collegiate touchdown in an FCS playoff win over No. 12 Missouri State, toting the ball times for 37 yards.

North Dakota opens their year September 4th on the road against Idaho State.

NFL: Urbandale Native Continues Impressing in Green Bay: 

Former Iowa State standout Allen Lazard is continuing to turn heads in Green Bay.

The Urbandale native begins is third full season with the Packers after hauling in 33 passes, including three touchdowns in 2020.

It was a season in which he was limited to 10 games due to groin surgery.

The Packers have lost in the NFC Championship game in each of the last two seasons but Lazard likes their chances now that MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers has returned to take part in training camp.

Lazard isn’t the only member of the Hawkeye State suiting up in green and gold this year.

Former West Des Moines Valley Tiger tight end Dominque Dafney is back for his second season after playing collegiately at Indiana State.

College Football: UNI “Lagging” in Vaccination Rate

The Missouri Valley Football Conference says games canceled this season due to COVID will most likely result in forfeits.

Conference Commissioner Patty Viverito says vaccination rates were frightening earlier this summer but have improved in recent weeks.

Viverito says their goal is to have 85 percent of players, coaches and staff vaccinated.

Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley admits his program is lagging in its vaccination rate.

The Panthers had several players miss games and had a game canceled during their abbreviated spring season.

Farley hopes what the Panthers experienced in the spring will help motivate the players to get vaccinated.

The Panthers open September fourth at Iowa State.

College Football: Iowa’s Goodson Named to CFPA Watch List:

University of Iowa junior running back Tyler Goodson has been named to the 2021 College Football Performance Awards National Performer of the Year Trophy Watch List.

Goodson (5-10, 200) earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from coaches and media in 2020 after leading Iowa’s rushing attack with 143 carries for 762 yards and seven touchdowns.

Goodson in 2019 became the first freshman ever to lead Iowa in rushing. He rushed 134 times for 638 yards and five touchdowns while recording 24 receptions for 166 yards in his first college season

The North Gwinnett (Ga.) prep was a preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection and preseason fourth-team All-America selection by Athlon Sports. Goodson was also named to both the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award watch lists.

The Hawkeyes open the 2021 season Sept. 4, hosting Indiana at 2:30 p.m. (CT).

College Baseball: Iowa to Play in Frisco Classic:

The University of Iowa baseball team will be one of four teams competing at the 2022 Frisco College Baseball Classic.

The Hawkeyes will be joined by Texas A&M, Wichita State and Washington State in Frisco, Texas.

Wichita State went 31-23 during the 2021 season and finished third in the AAC regular season standings. The Shockers, who are coached by third-year head coach Eric Wedge, went 18-13 in league play during the regular season.

Texas A&M posted a 29-27 overall record last season, including a 9-21 mark in SEC play. The Aggies will be led by first-year head coach Jim Schlossnagle in 2022. Schlossnagle was hired in June following an 18-year run at TCU.

Washington State went 26-23 overall and 13-17 in the Pac-12 Conference in 2021. The Cougars are led by third-year head coach Brian Green.

Iowa’s complete 2022 schedule will be released at a later date.

Ames — Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard has been named the President of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics for the 2021-22 membership year.

Pollard succeeds University of Michigan Director of Athletics Warde Manuel, who served as President in 2020-21.

Pollard, who is in his 17th year as the leader of Cyclone Athletics and prior to his arrival at ISU he served in various athletic administrative capacities at Wisconsin, Maryland and Saint Louis.

Pollard is also in the midst of a five-year term on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Selection Committee.