
IOWA CITY — Amani Hooker’s performance this season has Iowa football coaches contemplating the future look of the Hawkeye defense.
The junior strong safety split time between his traditional position and shifting to a spot inside the box, which allowed Iowa to deal with the growing number of Big Ten offenses that have adopted a spread approach.
His move nudged the Hawkeyes out of their traditional 4-3 defensive alignment and into a more athletic look better suited to deal with the one-back offensive sets that have become more commonplace.
Iowa began exploring the idea of essentially adding a fifth defensive back to its alignment on a more frequent basis during the preseason, and Hooker made his debut there five games into the season at Minnesota.
He proved to be the right player for the spot at the right time, providing the crucial blend of athleticism and strength to make the move work.
Hooker was named the Big Ten defensive back of the year and earned second-team all-American honors from both the Associated Press and USA Today after finishing second on the team with 59 tackles, sharing the team lead with four interceptions and breaking up a team-leading seven passes.
Iowa coaches liked the results as well.
“It certainly has provided us with a different perspective,” linebackers assistant Seth Wallace said Wednesday. “Conversations continue to exist as to how we shape this thing moving forward, how that changes our personnel and how it affects recruiting.”
Those questions will continue to be discussed into the offseason.
“The conversation is about how it can help us moving forward and not just in the present, how does it allow us to compete based on the offensive personnel that we are facing on a regular basis?” Wallace said. “We’re seeing more one-back sets in the Big Ten than ever. How do we respond to that? Those are the questions we continue to develop answers to.”
The answer, Wallace said, likely extends beyond Hooker’s time in an Iowa jersey.
“What he did definitely provided us with a bit of an edge, and Amani was the right guy to make it work,” Wallace said. “Now, we’re out there looking for that next guy.”
Finding that player with the right skill set, the requisite blend of strength, speed and smarts, is among Iowa’s objectives as it builds its 2019 recruiting class.
Hooker’s emergence came at a time when the middle of Iowa’s defense was in the midst of a period of adjustment.
The Hawkeyes entered the season knowing they would have three first-year starters after Josey Jewell, Ben Niemann and Bo Bower exhausted their eligibility.
What Wallace didn’t know at the onset is how their replacements would perform.
Ultimately, the Hawkeyes started five different lineup combinations at linebacker during their 8-4 season and runner-up finish in the Big Ten West.
Injuries and inconsistencies in performance kept things fluid throughout the season, but the experience gained this season positions Iowa well for the future at all three linebacker spots.
“I don’t want to say we over-performed at that position, but I do think that from an expectation standpoint, especially with the injuries and the different starting lineups, just the mix and match, there were some real positive things that are giving us a jump start heading into bowl prep and next year,” Wallace said.
The only senior in the group is Jack Hockaday, whose contributions over eight games as a starting middle linebacker Wallace labels a significant component to Iowa’s stability.
Djimon Colbert with nine starts, Kristian Welch with six and Nick Niemann with five will provide the Hawkeyes with some serious experience as they work toward 2019.
Amani Jones, a starter in Iowa’s season opener, joins four freshmen who adjusted to the college game this season in creating the nucleus of talent at the position as the Hawkeyes look toward the future.
“I think the mixing and matching and dealing with some of the injuries we encountered was a real positive for us,” Wallace said. “It’s put us in a good place.”
111718-iowaillinois-050a.jpg
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker (27) defends a pass intended for Illinois Fighting Illini tight end Daniel Barker (87) Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, during second half action at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. The Hawkeyes defeated the Illini 63-0.
111718-iowaillinois-051a.jpg
Iowa Hawkeyes defensives back Matt Hankins (8) and Amani Hooker (27) defend a pass intended for Illinois Fighting Illini tight end Daniel Barker (87) Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, during second half action at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. The Hawkeyes defeated the Illini 63-0.
111718-iowaillinois-017a.jpg
Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Dawson DeGroot (24) jumps over Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker (27) Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, during first half action at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. The Hawkeyes defeated the Illini 63-0.
111718-iowaillinois-017a.JPG
Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Dawson DeGroot (24) jumps over Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker (27) Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, during first half action at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. The Hawkeyes defeated the Illini 63-0.
Northwestern Iowa Football
Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson is sacked by Iowa’s Amani Hooker, left, and Jack Hockaday, right, during the first half of a game this season at Kinnick Staidum.
102018-Iowa-Maryland FB-004
Iowa defensive back Amani Hooker intercepts a pass intended for Maryland’s Brian Coobs during first-half action of an Oct. 20 game at Kinnick Stadium.
092218-Iowa-Football-074
Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Danny Davis III (6) is brought down by Iowa Hawkeyes long snapper Jackson Subbert (50) and Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker (27) during the fourth quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018.
092218-Iowa-Football-075
Wisconsin Badgers running back Garrett Groshek (37) runs up field as Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker (27) is blocked by Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Jason Erdmann (78) during the fourth quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018.
092218-Iowa-Football-026
A pass intended for Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Kendric Pryor (3) is broken up by Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker (27) and defensive back Matt Hankins (8) during the second quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018.
090118-Iowa-NIU-020
Iowa’s Amani Hooker (27) slaps the hand of Jack Hockaday after he made a play against Northern Illinois, Saturday, September 1, 2018, during second half action at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Iowa won 33-7.
042018-Iowa-Spring-Game-033
Iowa’s defensive backs Jake Gervase (30) and Amani Hooker celebrate a Gervase interception against quarterback Nate Stanley, Friday, April 20, 2018, during the spring scrimmage at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
042018-Iowa-Spring-Game-032
Both were named second-team all-Americans Monday, but in this image from Iowa’s spring scrimmage, defensive back Amani Hooker attempts to jar the ball out of tight end T.J. Hockenson’s hand during competition at Kinnick Stadium.
042018-Iowa-Spring-Game-029
Iowa running back Toren Young gets hit by defensive back Amani Hooker (27), during the April 20 spring scrimmage at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Young and Ivory Kelly-Martin will likely carry the load for the Hawkeyes’ ground game this season.
practice
Assumption alum Jake Gervase (30) works through a drill with Amani Hooker (27) at today’s Iowa practice.
110417-Iowa-OhioSt-007
Iowa’s Amani Hooker intercepts the first play of the game and returns it for a touchdown against Ohio State, Saturday, November 4, 2017, during first half action of a Big 10 Conference game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
102817-Iowa-Minn-024
Minnesota’s Kobe McCrary dives for extra yardage afte getting hit by Iowa’s Amani Hooker, Saturday, October 28, 2017, during second half action at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
102817-Iowa-Minn-007
Minnesota’s Rodney Smith gets hit by Iowa’s Amani Hooker during their game last season at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Smith is out for the season after suffering a knee injury during the Gophers’ Saturday victory over Fresno State.
100717-IA-IL-FB-016
Iowa’s Amani Hooker makes the interception in the end zone against Illinois’ Malik Turner, Saturday, October 7, 2017, during first half action at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
100717-IA-IL-FB-014
Iowa’s Michael Ojemudia (11) flips over the shoulder of teammate Amani Hooker after he made an interception in the endzone against Illinois, Saturday, October 7, 2017, during first half action at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
100717-IA-IL-FB-021
Iowa’s Amani Hooker runs the ball for 18 yards and a first down as Illinois’ Dele Harding makes the hit last season at Kinnick Stadium. Hooker’s run on a fake punt extended a Hawkeye touchdown drive late in the second quarter.
100717-IA-IL-FB-015
Athleticism is allowing Iowa to move Amani Hooker, pictured here intercepting a pass in a 2017 game against Illinois, from strong safety to a “star” linebacker position to get more quickness on the field. The position is a hybrid between the role of a safety and an outside linebacker.
Iowa Michigan St Football
Michigan State tight end Matt Sokol is upended after a catch by Iowa’s Amani Hooker, bottom, and Ben Niemann during the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s game.
092317-HAWKEYE-FOOTBALL-082
Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Mike Gesicki (88) is brought down by Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Manny Rugamba (5), linebacker Bo Bower (41), defensive back Amani Hooker (27) and linebacker Josey Jewell (43) during the third quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, September 23, 2017.
092317-HAWKEYE-FOOTBALL-072
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker (27) breaks up a pass intended for Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Brandon Polk (10) during the second quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, September 23, 2017.
092317-HAWKEYE-FOOTBALL-073
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker (27) jumps up with Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Miles Taylor (19) to celebrate breaking up a pass during the second quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, September 23, 2017.
092317-HAWKEYE-FOOTBALL-057
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker (27) tackles Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Juwan Johnson (84) after a reception during the fourth quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, September 23, 2017.
092317-HAWKEYE-FOOTBALL-049
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker (27) hits Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) after a run during the fourth quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, September 23, 2017.
091617-IOWA-HAWKEYES-FB-044
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker (27) tackles North Texas wide receiver Turner Smiley (1) during the fourth quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, September 16, 2017.
Amani Hooker
Hooker
Amani Hooker mug
Hooker
