Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/157779
Linebacker Lineage I By Darren Miller nterlaced among the most successful teams in University of Iowa football lore are effective linebackers who shared the field together. Their names, when recited in sequence, roll off the tongue and sound odd to mention one without the others: Angerer, Edds, Hunter. The names snap in sequence like the burst of popping pads: Greenway, Hodge, Steen. And their mention jogs memories for Hawkeye fans who know history like they know the program's biggest and best hitters: Foster, Quast, Puk. Now, in the pedigree of Rose Bowl legends Station and Davis, the Hawkeyes have a new set of names to lead the defense. Names that are counted on to lift the Hawkeyes from a 4-8 season and return them to postseason brilliance. Anthony Hitchens, Christian Kirksey, James Morris. "If you look at most of our really good teams, we have had great linebacker play and that is critical in any defensive unit," UI head coach Kirk Ferentz said. "The thing I'm most excited about is that they played well and at a pretty high level last year, but we saw them continue to grow and develop this past spring. They had their foot on the gas, they were working to improve their individual play, but they were also working hard to be leaders." The last time the Hawkeyes compiled double-digit victories was in 2009 with Pat Angerer, A.J. Edds and Jeremiha Hunter playing linebacker. The trio of Hitchens, Kirksey and Morris could be as formidable. The three come from Solon, Iowa, St. Louis, Missouri and Lorain, Ohio. They all played as true freshmen in 2010, although for Hitchens, linebacker is his third position. "Hitch is quiet and crazy," UI linebackers coach LeVar Woods said. "James is a little more vocal and I have gone on record as saying I wouldn't be surprised if he became President of the United States. Christian is the funny one. He's the guy with the energy to get everyone laughing and gets everyone going." Morris, from nearby Solon, Iowa, grew up idolizing Greenway and Hodge, then Angerer and Edds. He watched with wide eyes as his linebacker heroes took the field and helped the Hawkeyes to 11 wins in 2002, 10 in 2003 and 2004, and 11 in 2009. To Morris, his group has its work cut out for it before mentioning them in the same breathe. "Right now, we shouldn't be thought of nearly as high as some of those other groups because of the records and the wins and losses associated with us," Morris said. "We have an opportunity to change that, and we want to be remembered and thought highly of. That's not just going to happen. We have to win some games and be part of those games. That's one of our goals as a unit." In three seasons with Hitchens, Kirksey and Morris on the roster, the Hawkeyes have played 38 games and they own a won-loss record of 19-19 overall, 1-1 in bowl games. Jim Reid is in his first season as assistant coach at the UI. Woods works with outside linebackers, Reid concentrates on the inside. During his two most recent stops with the Miami Dolphins and the University of Virginia, Reid tutored Joey Porter, Jason Taylor, Steve Greer, and former Hawkeye defensive end Matt Roth. 37