Iowa Hawkeyes football has been all about defense in 2022, allowing 10 points or less on nine different occasions. The team allowed just 13.3 points per game for the season. On Saturday in Nashville they continued another consistent trend…scoring on defense. The team’s 21-0 TransPerfect Music City Bowl shutout victory over the Kentucky Wildcats featured two defensive touchdowns.
Scoring on defense has been a theme for a long time during head coach Kirk Ferentz’s tenure at the school, spanning from the late Norm Parker to current defensive coordinator Phil Parker (no relation).
“Forever it seems like that our guys have done a good job…we do a good job with turnovers making them offensive opportunities if you will,” Ferentz said after the game. “Those guys know where to go, know where to get and our guys hustle when there is a turnover. They’re trying to make it more than just getting a possession.”
Freshman five-star recruit Xavier Nwankpa started off the scoring on defense and delivered in his first career start. Replacing All-Big Ten safety Kaevon Merriweather -who declared for the 2023 NFL Draft- Nwankpa posted eight tackles, a 52-yard interception touchdown return and one pass breakup.
Nwankpa’s felt as if the performance only increased expectations for the future at Iowa.
“Definitely set the bar for me on where I gotta go, where I gotta improve from,” Nwanka said of the bowl game performance. “So just keep making plays, having fun during the spring and get ready for next fall.”
One of the players who will continue to join him in the secondary is 2022 TransPerfect Music City Bowl MVP Cooper DeJean. DeJean –a 10.7 100-meter sprinter and 24-foot long jumper at OA-BCIG High School Iowa)-also contributed to the defensive scoring with his third interception touchdown return of the season.
But he was quick to give credit to those around him.
“Winning MVP…I think is more of a team award, because without these guys on defense I couldn’t do what I was able to do,” DeJean offered modestly. “Those guys were pressuring the quarterback all game. A lot of credit to the guys up front and everybody else on the defense.”
Iowa led the nation with seven defensive touchdowns in 2022.
![Brian Ferentz serves as the offensive coordinator for Iowa]( "Brian Ferentz offensive coordinator Iowa")
Former New England Patriots tight ends coach Brian Ferentz has been Iowa's offensive coordinator since 2017. The Hawkeyes averaged 17.7 points per game in 2022.
![Kentucky LB Trevin Wallace tackles Iowa TE Luke Lachey in the 2022 Music City Bowl]( "32 Trevin Wallace tackles Luke Lachey in space")
Kentucky sophomore linebacker Trevin Wallace tackles Hawkeyes sophomore tight end Luke Lachey in the first quarter. Lachey, who had three catches for 36 yards and one touchdown, finished 2022 averaging 14.2 yards per catch.
![Kentucky WR Barrion Brown gets a step on Iowa cornerback Riley Moss in the first quarter of this contest]( "Iowa cornerback Barion Brown gets a step on Iowa CB Riley Mossin the second quarter")
Kentucky speedy freshman Barion Brown (No. 2 pictured) gets a step on All-Big Ten cornerback Riley Moss in the second quarter. Brown averaged 27.5 yards per kickoff return (TD) in 2022 and also led the Wildcats with 628 yards receiving (4 TDs).
![Iowa freshman DB Xavier Nwankpa communicates on the field]( "Xavier Nwankpa, pictured, communicating with 29 Castro, 6 Key at the line of scrimmage with 13 Joe Evans in two-point stance")
Iowa freshman Xavier Nwankpa (seen communicating with teammates) returned an interception 52 yards for a score in his first career start.
![Iowa's Seth Benson about to make a tackle in the 2022 Music City Bowl]( "Iowa LB Seth Benson about to strike Kentucky's JaTahn McClain after beating cross block of 47 Dingle II copy")
Iowa's Seth Benson (No. 44 pictured) is about to tackle Kentucky's JaTahn McClain after beating cross block of Justice Dingle II (No. 47 pictured).
![Iowa senior linebacker Seth Benson makes a tackle versus Kentucky RB JuTahn McClain]( "Iowa LB Seth Benson wraps up JuTahn McClain in the 2022 Music City Bowl")
Iowa linebacker Seth Benson wraps up Kentucky RB JuTahn McClain with DE Joe Evans and LB Jack Campbell about to assist. Benson finished eighth in the Big Ten with 94 tackles in 2022.
![Iowa LB Jack Campbell about to take on the Kentucky running back after blitzing]( "Iowa's Jack Campbell blitzes and takes on the blocker")
Iowa LB Jack Campbell was once again active in this game (10 tackles, QB sack, 2 TFLs). Campbell posted his eighth double-digit tackle performance of 2022.
![Kentucky RB JuTahn McClain picks up Iowa LB Jack Campbell on a blitz]( "No. 17 JuTahn McClain and No. 31 Jack Campbell lock up on a blitz pickup")
Kentucky's JuTahn McClain effectively picks up Iowa LB Jack Campbell on a blitz in the second quarter.
![Iowa LB Jack Campbell rushes off the edge as Kentucky QB Destin Wade drops back to pass]( "15 Wade in the mix as 31 Campbell blitzes to the left spot of him copy")
Iowa's Jack Campbell -the 2022 Butkus Award winner- wins inside of the running back as Kentucky QB Destin Wade drops back to pass in the second quarter. Campbell's only quarterback sack of the year came in this contest.
![Kentucky RB La'Vell Wright runs the ball on an outside zone in the third quarter]( "La'Vell Wright hits the edge on an outside zone in third quarter")
Kentucky redshirt freshman RB La'Vell Wright runs for a six-yard gain on an outside zone principle in the third quarter.
![Iowa CB Cooper DeJean picks off a second quarter pass in the 2022 Music City Bowl]( "No. 3 Cooper DeJean picks off Kentucky QB Destin Wade pass and starts his PICK-6")
Iowa sophomore CB Cooper DeJean picks off this second quarter pass intended for Kentucky wide receiver Barrion Brown and scores a touchdown.
![DeJean running the ball into the end zone as coaches go crazy copy]( "DeJean's second quarter interception return for a touchdown capped a strong quarter")
DeJean's third interception return for a touchdown tied Mississippi State's Emmanuel Forbes for the national lead in 2022.
![Cooper DeJean crosses the goal line on interception in the 2022 Music City Bowl]( "Cooper DeJean crosses the goal line with Pick-6 in the second quarter as Iowa fans go wild")
DeJean (No. 3 pictured) -the 2022 Music Bowl MVP- crosses the goal line after his interception return for a touchdown. DeJean frequently made Iowa's fans go wild in 2022, as he finished with 75 tackles, five interceptions (3 TDs) and eight pass break ups. DeJean also averaged over 16.5 yards per punt return and posted a 34-yard return in the first quarter of the Music City Bowl.
![Iowa punter Tory Taylor punts the ball in the third quarter of the 2022 Music City Bowl]( "Tory Taylor punts the ball over the outstretched hands of Kentucky's Tre'vonn Rybka")
Iowa punter Tory Taylor controlled field position most of the afternoon. He averaged over 48 yards per kick on eight punts.
![Iowa LT Mason Richman locks up with Kentucky OLB Jordan Wright]( "15 Wright and 78 Richman battle at the point of attack in the Music City Bowl")
Kentucky OLB Jordan Wright battles Iowa LT Mason Richman at the point of attack. Wright finished with 9.5 tackles for losses for the Wildcats in 2022.
![Iowa running back Jaziun Patterson makes the defender miss in the hole]( "Jaziun Patterson makes Zion Childress miss in space during the fourth quarter")
Iowa freshman RB Jaziun Patterson attempts to make Kentucky safety Zion Childress miss during the fourth quarter.
![Kentucky freshman DB Kobi Albert makes a tackle in the fourth quarter]( "No. 16 Kobi Albert throwing down No. 9 Jaziun Patterson to the ground in the fourth quarter")
Kentucky freshman DB Kobi Albert takes Iowa freshman RB Jaziun Patterson to the turf in the fourth quarter.
![Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz holds up the 2022 Music City Bowl Trophy]( "Kirk Ferentz holds up 2022 Music City Bowl trophy amidst the smoke")
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz holds up the 2022 Transperfect Music City Bowl trophy. The former UConn linebacker and four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year has now won 10 bowl games in his 24 years at the school.
