Husker Football: Iowa Report Card

Nov 28, 2014; Iowa City, IA, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers place kicker Drew Brown (34) kicks a field goal as time expires to force overtime against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Nebraska beat Iowa 37-34. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Kickers/Punters D

The freshman Drew Brown struggled again going 1/3 in regulation, connecting on a short field goal to tie the game and send it in to overtime. The other two included a missed 49-yard attempt that had the leg but went well wide as well as a blocked kick.

NU was without Mauro Bondi and the kickoffs, handled also by Brown ended with zero touchbacks, but they were able to keep Iowa in check for the most part. The most curious of the kickoffs came at the end with a squib kick that Iowa returned to midfield which allowed for a last ditch pass play with no time left in regulation. Had that turned into a bigger return the Husker football team and fan base would have been in a world of hurt.

A bright spot was when Punter Sam Foltz caused a fumble for the Huskers. It shows that everyone on this team can step up at any given time.

Return Game A+

Game ball to Mr. De’Mornay Pierson-El. How good is this kid? Three punt returns, 180 yards and a touchdown. It could have just as easily been two touchdowns. Seriously, why would anyone kick to this kid anymore? He’s simply the most electrifying player Nebraska has on the roster (save maybe Ameer Abdullah).

Tip the cap to Kirk Ferrentz on allowing DPE the opportunity to return the punt. As a freshman he now owns a top three spot in program history for punt return yardage. Look out, record books, he’s coming for you.