Iowa junior defensive back Zach Lutmer welcomes the chance to make an impact by returning punts. Lutmer is earning preseason All-American mentions after registering three interceptions and returning one for a touchdown last season.
He has big shoes to fill in the return game, replacing All-American Kaden Wetjen, who Pittsburgh drafted.
“I’ve kind of been doing it since I was a freshman, like just catching off the jugs every
single day,” Lutmer continued. “I’ve kind of been the backup the last few years after, after
Wetjen, like who wouldn’t be the backup behind Wetjen? He’s unbelievable and just
kind of been doing it every single day for the past few years and trying to improve on it.”
In limited work as a punt returner in high school for Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, Lutmer returned 15 punts for 315 yards, averaging 21 yards per return in his career.
He says that he is looking forward to the chance to help on special teams.
“I would love to go out and get the ball in my hands anytime I have the opportunity. So,
just trying to help the team in any way possible. And, yeah, I’d love the opportunity to go
out and showcase what I can do.”
After losing a series of close games last season, the Hawkeyes will be looking to take the next step.
“Anytime you’re close with good teams like that, you go back and evaluate what went wrong and what went right in that game to, to make it a close game. You just try to improve on that for the next year. So, you kind of use it like, ‘hey, we’re in these games’, but you know, that’s the standard now. Like you got to go out and
play like that every single week and perform up to that standard.”
The Hawkeyes open the season at home on September 5th against Northern Illinois.
Audio and portions of the story are courtesy of our affiliate Radio Iowa
