One college football preview magazine feels the Iowa defense will help the Hawkeyes be a contender in the Big Ten West Division race. That unit will have to fill a couple of unexpected holes with defensive end Anthony Nelson and safety Amani Hooker leaving early for the NFL. Phil Steele of Steele’s College Football Preview says Says it will be a typical hard nosed Iowa defense.

Steele adds it will be a typical jumbled race in the Big Ten West.