IOWA CITY -- Rusty VanWetzinga is wearing the colors of the team he grew up cheering for. In a way, the Hawkeyes’ redshirt freshman fullback from Pleasant Valley had no choice. “Our garage is painted black and gold with Hawkeyes all over it,” VanWetzinga said.
“I grew up an Iowa fan. It was my dream to play for the Hawks.” The former PV multi-sport standout is likely to do that this season for Iowa.
VanWetzinga The 6-foot, 235-pounder dressed for all 14 games last season, making his debut in the Citrus Bowl New Year’s Day loss to Tennessee. Going from playing a sport year-round in high school, to focusing on just one sport in college was different, but productive. “My dad always told me, don’t put all your eggs in one basket, but now in college, all of my eggs are in one basket,” he said, referencing his dad, PV head football coach Rusty VanWetzinga.
“It was different last year for sure, but it does make it easier to focus on just football and try to perfect my craft. “I felt like I developed as a football player over the course of the year.” Abdul Hodge, Iowa’s tight ends/fullbacks coach agreed.
“Rusty’s doing well,” said Hodge, a former All-American linebacker at Iowa. “Last year, he traveled with us, and I thought he did a lot of really good work and got better throughout the season.” Even with a change at offensive coordinator, fullbacks and tight ends will continue to be a staple of the Iowa attack.
“You watch what the 49ers run with.