Knights reunite at Iowa
Joe Conklin and Kyle Steinbrecher are having a sort of high school reunion this spring at the University of Iowa.
Lifelong friends and former multi-sport standouts at Davenport Assumption, Conklin and Steinbrecher have been lining up opposite each other as walk-ons during spring practice with the Hawkeyes football team.
“Growing up together we were always real close. We played little league baseball together and then were at Assumption together,” said Conklin, who graduated from high school in 2005. “It’s kind of funny how things worked out and how we ended up coming here together.”
Conklin is one of four healthy cornerbacks the Hawkeyes have suited up this spring. He transferred to Iowa after a foot injury and coaching change derailed a two-year stint at Iowa State and was on Iowa’s practice squad last fall.
Steinbrecher graduated from high school in 2007 and came to Iowa on a track scholarship before deciding to walk-on to the football team this winter.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder came in as a safety but has been moved to wide receiver.
They are, in many ways, mirror images of each other. Both played quarterback and defensive back at Assumption. Both played basketball, baseball and ran track. And both are lifelong, diehard Hawkeyes fans.
“Being an eastern Iowa boy, I grew up black and gold through and through,” Conklin said. “Having the chance to come back here has been really special. I’m just really happy Coach (Kirk) Ferentz gave me the opportunity, and I hope I can make the most of it.”
As much as they’re competing with each other for a place on the roster — roughly 20 walk-ons will go to camp with the team in August — Conklin and Steinbrecher are helping each other make it through the spring.
“His locker is right next to mine,” Steinbrecher said. “We help each other out a lot. We’ll watch each other on film and see things the other might not be seeing. It really helps.”
Conklin, a 5-11, 200-pounder, never got on the field at Iowa State. He redshirted in 2005 and then was sidelined by a foot injury for most of 2006. When Cyclones coach Dan McCarney stepped down and was replaced by Gene Chizik after the ’06 season, Conklin came to Iowa looking for a fresh start.
He practiced last fall while sitting out the NCAA-mandated one season after transferring, and now he has the clean slate he was looking for — and a chance to make an impression at a position where the Hawkeyes are in desperate need of help.
And when Steinbrecher joined the team this winter, well, that just made both of them feel more at home.
“It’s been real nice having someone I know to go through it with,” Conklin said. “I’ve been doing this a little longer than he has, so hopefully I can help him out and try to give him a couple tips on how to get noticed and take advantage of the opportunity he’s got here.
“Kyle and I have had a chance to square off a lot. He’s been doing well. He’s got the size and speed to do it.
“It’s been really fun having two Assumption guys out there.”
Eric Page can be contacted at (563) 383-2277 or epage@qctimes.com. For more on the Hawkeyes, log on to Hawkmania.com.