Issue link: https://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1295611
13 I t wasn't the start to college Ihmir Smith- Marsette was looking for: he fumbled the first time he touched a football as a University of Iowa true freshman in 2017. It's not how you start, it's how you finish, and things have trended upward since. In his most recent game, Smith-Marsette turned in an MVP performance in the Holiday Bowl, gaining 203 total yards and scoring on the ground, through the air and by kick return. What has been the biggest transformation between his first and 37th collegiate games? "My confidence," said the 6-foot-1, 186-pound senior wide receiver from Newark, New Jersey. "I have gotten stronger over the years and I go out every game believing." Smith-Marsette didn't stay down long aer the miscue in the 2017 season-opening win against Wyoming. e next week at Iowa State, he caught four passes and scored two touchdowns — including the game-winner in overtime. His most dynamic performance was showcased on a national stage against No. 22 Southern California in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27, 2019. e Hawkeyes won, 49-24, and Smith-Marsette made the Trojan defense and special teams look silly. His 6-yard touchdown run put Iowa on top 14-7 early in the second quarter. A 98-yard kick return for touchdown gave Iowa a 21-14 lead midway through the second quarter. A 12-yard touchdown reception from Nate Stanley put the Hawkeyes ahead, 28-14, with 78 seconds le before halime. Smith-Marsette was named the bowl's offensive MVP and the nation saw what Iowa fans had seen for three seasons: an explosive, multi-purpose playmaker. But even Smith-Marsette didn't bat 1.000 against Southern California. He attempted a pass to Brandon Smith that was incomplete. "Nobody's perfect," Smith-Marsette laughed. "I gave it a little too much power. If that play comes up again, it will be a touchdown. Count on it." e Hawkeyes are coming off a 10-3 season that ended with them ranked No. 16 in the nation. eir wide receiver group — once considered a ho-hum part of the offense — has developed into a strength. It includes Smith-Marsette, a preseason third-team All-America and first-team All-Big Ten return specialist by Phil Steele. He caught 44 passes last season for 722 yards and five touchdowns. Also returning at receiver are Nico Ragaini (46- 439-2), Brandon Smith (37-439-5) and Tyrone Tracy (36-589-3). "I'm super proud of this group," Smith-Marsette said. "When I first came here, I heard about Iowa having trouble throwing the ball. We changed that and we want to keep passing that down to the younger receivers." Smith-Marsette credits position coach Kelton Copeland for keeping Iowa's receivers level-headed and hungry. "He asks if we want to be great or if we want to be regular," Smith-Marsette said. "He wants everybody to be great. If you're not great, you're not moving forward. In our receiver's room, you have to be great." OCTOBER SCHEDULE Oct. 24 at Purdue Oct. 31 Northwestern