Nashville, Tennessee — Tory Taylor knew questions were coming about his future, so at a press conference after Iowa’s 21-0 win over Kentucky at the Transperfect Music City Bowl on Saturday, everyone I asked if I could wait.
But when the question came up, Punter delivered the news Hawkeye fans had been hoping for: he’ll be back next season.
The season Taylor said was not what he wanted. – He decided he wanted to be with the Hawkeyes for one more season.
“I think this team can go a long way,” said Taylor. “I want to be part of it.”
Taylor is 25 and just finished his third season with the Hawkeyes. Taylor averaged 45.4 yards per punt, with 38 of his 82 punts landing opponents 20 yards within his line. He had 27 punts of 50 yards or more, including a 70-yard long.
He wasn’t happy with the numbers.
“I felt like I let myself down this year and let the team down,” Taylor said. “I felt like he wasn’t hitting the ball he wanted to hit.”
Had this been his last game, Taylor would have left with one of his best performances of the season. He averaged 48.6 yards with eight punts and landed six inside Kentucky’s 20-yard line. Four of them landed inside his ten.
Kentucky’s average starting field position was at their own 21-yard line.
“He couldn’t have played a better game,” said Iowa manager Kirk Ferencz. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look sharper than he does today.”
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said of the punt, “It gave us a boost. It put us in a bad place.”
Taylor said with a smile that it helped that the games were played in the 1960s with no wind and cool temperatures, unlike some of the Hawkeyes’ late-season games.
“I wish I could punting in weather like this every week,” Taylor said with a smile.
Taylor was happy with his decision.
“It won’t hurt me to come back,” he said.
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And when the press conference ended, Taylor told reporters, “See you next year.”
Campbell’s grandfather killed in the accident: Linebacker Jack Campbell ended his Hawkeyes career with 10 tackle games, but after the game he received the sad news of his grandfather’s death.
William Smith Jr., 76, of Waterloo, Iowa, died in a vehicle and pedestrian accident in Nashville on Friday night. Smith was the father of Jack Campbell’s stepmother, Jen Campbell. .
“Mr. Smith, speaking from personal experience, has had a huge impact on Jack’s life,” Ferenc said. “He was very close to him. He came here to cheer on his grandson —[he was]very proud of Jack. It was a great mutual relationship between the two of you. Our hearts.” is with a grieving Jack and his entire family, it’s hard to deal with.
“He had a huge impact on Jack and even became a great Hawkeye.”
A big start for NWANKPA: Iowa freshman safety Xavier Nwankpa got his first start and put the Hawkeyes up 14-0 with a 52-yard interception return in the second quarter.
Nuwankupa finished with eight tackles and a pass breakup in the first significant playing time of his career.
Nwankpa got a B grade on his first grade.
“There is always room for improvement,” he said.
Nuwankupa was well-positioned in an overthrow from Kentucky quarterback Destin Wade with an interception on the right sideline of the score.
“I saw the ball in the air and wanted to go get it,” Nuwankupa said.
Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker said Friday that Kaevon Meriwether reacted to the considerable amount of practice time gained in preparation for the bowl after he decided to skip games to focus on the NFL Draft.
“Probably the biggest jumping guy I’ve seen is probably Xavier,” Parker said. “He’s doing a really good job of getting a lot of reps. It’s an improvement in his understanding and the way he moves on the field has changed over the last three or four weeks. It’s been really nice to see. .”
Old Friend Alert: Kentucky backup quarterback Deuce Hogan, who moved from Iowa after last season, played in the fourth quarter.
Hogan was 6/7 passing for 19 yards.