IOWA CITY, Iowa: Iowa has owned the series against Nebraska in the 10 years since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten, and played a major role in quickly recruiting out-of-state Hawkeyes to their west.
Four Nebraskans are making their Iowa debuts in six consecutive years, with the Hawkeye beating the Huskers. Bellevue wide receiver Keegan Johnson will be fifth when the 17th-ranked Hawkeye takes on Nebraska on Friday for a seventh consecutive win.
Johnson, wearing black and gold instead of scarlet and cream, had a gut punch for Big Red. His father, Claster Johnson, played on Nebraska’s 1994–95 national championship teams.
This is like no other sport, only the one with the history of the Nebraska program, Keegan Johnson said. Right now I’m focused on playing the game, not to be distracted, as I feel like it could be a hindrance to getting ready for the game.
The Iowa football program dates back to at least the 1930s, from the state of Nebraska. The Hawkeyes’ home is Kinick Stadium, named in honor of 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinick, a native Iowan who played his last two years of high school football in Omaha.
Omaha’s Larry Station signed with Iowa in 1983 and was one of the few Nebraskans to step away in the 25 years as Tom Osborne’s coach. Station became Iowa’s all-time leading tackler, a two-time Consensus All-American and a College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
Iowa’s Kirk Ferrantz has signed eight Nebraskans since 2006. The first three linebackers since joining Nebraska’s Big Ten in 2011 were Cole Fischer (Omaha) and defensive linemen Nathan Bazata (Howells) and Drew Ott (Giltner). Neither of them got an offer from then Huskers coach Bo Pellini.
The snubs provided a lot of inspiration when Hockey and the Huskers met for their annual day-after-Thanksgiving game. Fischer, whose father and brother played for the Huskers, made 11 tackles and one interception in the 2015 win. Bazzata started in three straight wins (2015–17), and Ott started his 2013 win and 2014 overtime loss.
Tight end Noah Fant (Omaha), now with the Denver Broncos, turned down the Huskers to sign with Iowa and caught three passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the 2017 win.
Next is Keegan Johnson, a four-star recruit from Bellevue West, emerging as one of the Big Ten’s top dark threats.
Ferentz said it’s always difficult to recruit Huskers into their backyards.
Hopefully it will be difficult when they come here and steal our people too, he said. It went both ways. Ultimately in recruiting, you hope that the prospect will find a place where he or she feels more comfortable. More importantly, you hope that after two or three years they feel really good about that decision.”
Nebraska has not had nearly as much success in recruiting Iowa across the Missouri River. None of the six Iovans signed since 2016 have made an impact. Defensive end Blaise Gunnerson (Carroll) could see extended action this week due to injuries and four-star tight end Thomas Fidon (Council Bluffs) was set back by a spring knee injury.
Hawkeye’s Johnson is trying to take a more sporting approach to Friday’s game. that’s easier said than done.
I’ve been at Lincoln several game days, he said. With a father playing there, it was only natural. In Nebraska, football is the only thing.”
Clayster Johnson played wingback in Nebraska when it was the nation’s premier event. Keegan had to choose his college at a time when the Huskers were at their worst since the 1950s, and continue to do so.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with what happened at Lincoln or any other school,” Johnson said. This was what was different with me in Iowa, the reality of the coaching staff. That’s why I wanted to come here. Out of the offers I had, I thought this was the best place for me.
Johnson enrolled last spring, became a starter at the start of the season and has 16 catches for 328 yards and two touchdowns.
Johnson said he would keep his routine this week as well. On Thursday, as he always does the night before the game, he will talk with his father.
Right now, I understand that I don’t need to be Superman in this game, he said. “I just want to win games. This game means something to me. But trying to keep it like any other sport is a big deal for me.
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