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Area players eye pivotal roles for Iowa

Humboldt's Ross, Algona's Banwart both on spring depth chart

File Photo, hawkeyesports.com Brady Ross of Humboldt runs the ball against North Dakota State in 2016.

IOWA CITY — While the weather may not yet scream football, programs around the country are settling in for spring practice.

That includes here with Iowa and head coach Kirk Ferentz, who feature a pair of former area standouts on the depth chart.

Sophomore Cole Banwart — an all-stater from Algona — and junior Brady Ross — a Humboldt graduate — will be working once again with the Hawkeye offense.

Banwart is listed as the second-string center. Ross is the first-string fullback.

“Last year, he jumped in when James (Daniels) couldn’t go and he was our No. 2 guy,” Ferentz said. “We’ll start out with (Banwart) there. We’ll see how Cole comes along.”

A 6-4, 296-pounder from Ottosen, Banwart saw action in three games last year as a redshirt freshman.

“He was doing some good things last fall and couldn’t practice in December because he had a little bit of a surgery issue,” Ferentz said. “He missed a month there, but he’s doing some good things, too.”

Banwart is one of seven letterwinners back on the offensive line, alongside Dalton Ferguson, Alaric Jackson, Levi Paulsen, Keegan Render, Ross Reynolds and Tristan Wirfs.

Render started 13 games last year and has started 20 in his career, with Jackson at 12 games started and Wirfs eight.

Currently, Banwart is listed as the backup at center behind Render, a senior.

“We’re just trying to build some depth and see where that all goes,” Ferentz said of the offensive line.

Ross is a two-year letterwinner and two-time academic all-Big Ten selection for the Hawks. He saw action in all 13 games last year on both offense and special teams.

Iowa returns 45 letterwinners and 13 starters in all from an 8-5 team that finished tied for third in the Big Ten West Division. The Hawks won the Pinstripe Bowl, 27-20 over Boston College.

Ferentz, who has been at Iowa since 1999, is now 143-97 with the school. He sports a career coaching record of 155-118 over 22 seasons.

His 143 wins are tied for first with the legendary Hayden Fry, who was recently honored for his career achievements.

“I want to take a minute and publicly congratulate Coach Fry. He was acknowledged this weekend by the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame with the Legends Award down in Dallas,” Ferentz said. “I think when you think about the word legend, it gets thrown around a lot in sports and other areas as well, and I think it’s a lot of times just overused. When it comes to Coach Fry, it truly is a fitting description, I think, of the kind of person he is and the kind of coach he is. Most importantly the impact he’s had on the University of Iowa.

“So on behalf of everybody involved in our program, I want to, again, congratulate Coach Fry, and say this personally, he’s been extremely impactful on me in my life, not only as a person, but also as a football coach. So just very appreciative for everything that he’s done for us and for the entire program here.”

Iowa has recorded five consecutive seasons with a winning record and five with at least 10 wins. They are 22-12 over the last four years in the Big Ten.

Quarterback Nate Stanley, wide receiver Nick Easley, tight ends Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson, and defensive backs Jake Gervase and Amani Hooker are among those starters returning.

Jack Kallenberger, a defensive lineman from Bettendorf, previously played at Iowa Central. Drew Thomas, another former Humboldt standout, is also listed on the spring roster at wide receiver.

The Hawkeyes are set to practice three days a week for the next five weeks through April. The final spring practice is scheduled for April 20 and will be open to the public at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa opens the regular season on Sept. 1 vs. Northern Illinois before playing Iowa State and Northern Iowa. The first league game is Sept. 22 against Wisconsin.

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