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Former Iowa Hawkeyes Star Receives Urgent Take About 2025 NFL Season

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Former Iowa Hawkeyes Star Receives Urgent Take About 2025 NFL Season


Former Iowa Hawkeyes star edge defender Lukas Van Ness needs a huge season with the Green Bay Packers. Pro Football Focus recently highlighted one player from all 32 franchises facing a make-or-break season in 2025, and the Packers’ former first-round selection was an unfortunate, obvious choice.

In two seasons, Van Ness has totalled just seven sacks, equalling his output as a freshman at Iowa. For context, only Cincinnati’s Myles Murphy and Kansas City’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah have fewer sacks as first-round edge rushers from the 2023 NFL Draft, and both of them have played significantly fewer snaps than Van Ness, who has lined up for Green Bay’s defense 793 times.

Often times poor sack numbers can be overlooked if the quarterback pressures and hits are there, but that hasn’t been the case for the former Hawkeye either. According to PFF, Van Ness recorded 20 pressures, 13 hurries, and three hits on 247 pass rush snaps. While the snap count ranked 78th in the league at the position, the pressures, hurries, and hits ranked in the mid-to-low 80s. Nonetheless, Van Ness does carry an average pass rush grade from PFF from last year at 65.5.

His rushing grade is much worse, however. PFF graded his run defense at 45.2, which ranked 193rd out of 211 edge rushers.

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Van Ness isn’t alone, as the Packers have struggled on the defensive front collectively, ranking 28th in PFF’s pass rushing grades without blitzing. No Packer had more than eight sacks last season as veteran Rashan Gary logged just 7.5.

Van Ness is entering his third year in the NFL, so the clock isn’t up for him just yet, but another lackluster year could have the Packers looking for a replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, the Packers don’t drop their young players in the deep end often. After all, Gary has become a stalwart on that defense, and he opened the first two seasons of his career with seven sacks as well before logging nine in Year 3. Green Bay is hoping to see similar results from Van Ness in 2025.



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Two killed in Dubuque after bar fight escalates into police shooting

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Two killed in Dubuque after bar fight escalates into police shooting


Two people are dead after a Dubuque bar fight escalated, with one man shooting another and then being killed by police.

An officer with the Dubuque Police Department was outside the Odd Fellows bar just before 1 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, when he witnessed a physical altercation, according to a news release from the Dubuque Police Department.

As the officer exited the patrol vehicle, an adult man allegedly used a handgun to shoot one of the people involved in the fight. The officer fired at the offender, who then ran into the bar.

The victim who was shot first was provided medical treatment by officers at the scene and then transported to MercyOne Hospital in Dubuque.

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The offender was treated by police officers inside the bar and then transported to UnityPoint Finley Hospital.

Both were later pronounced dead.

The names of those involved are not being released at this time pending notification of family members.

The incident is being investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. The officer involved was not injured and has been placed on critical incident leave in accordance with the department’s policies.

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Nick El Hajj is a reporter at the Register. He can be reached at nelhajj@gannett.com. Follow him on X at @nick_el_hajj.



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Iowa High School Girls Basketball: Top Junior Players

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Iowa High School Girls Basketball: Top Junior Players


With the season coming out of the holiday break, now is the perfect time to take a look at the top Iowa high school girls basketball players by grade.

These are just some of the top players in Iowa and not a complete list of all of them. Statistics are based on those uploaded to the Bound website by January 4, 2026.

Here are the top junior girls basketball players in Iowa high school basketball:

A high-level producer, Maggie McChesney heads into 2026 averaging 23.6 points, nine rebounds, 2.7 steals, 2.6 assists and over two blocks per game.

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The next standout from North Union, Ainsley Ulrich is posting nearly 23 points with six rebounds, and over three steals a night.

Flirting with averaging a double-double is Izzy Gilbertson, as the junior stands at 21.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, four blocks, 3.6 steals and three assists.

Along with posting 20 points and grabbing six rebounds, Cora Sauer also adds four steals and three assists.

Melina Snoozy, Iowa, girls basketball

Bishop Heelan’s Melina Snoozy during the IGHSAU state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Des Moines. / Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A big sophomore season has carried right over for Melina Snoozy, as she leads the Crusaders with 20 points, eight rebounds and 3.5 steals a night, along with averaging a block per game.

Up north is Riley Meyer, a 20-point scorer per game who adds six rebounds and two steals.

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Sitting right under 20 points a night is Addy Wolfswinkel, as she is also averaging five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

A standout on both ends, Maryn Franken posts nearly 20 points and over eight rebounds per game with three steals and 1.4 blocks.

Following in the footsteps of Audi Crooks, Graclyn Eastman has been nearly unstoppable for the Golden Bears, scoring 19 points per game with nine rebounds, 3.5 steals, 2.6 blocks and two assists.

Another Maroon standout named Muller, Katie is scoring over 18 points per game with six rebounds, 3.5 assists and over a block and steal.

One of the top players in the North Central Conference, Hayden McLaughlin has taken over as the No. 1 option for the Bulldogs, scoring 17 points per game with nearly six rebounds and two steals.

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The Hawks rely on KeaOnna Worley to do a lot, and she delivers nightly, scoring 16.5 points with nearly five assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Campbell Schulz, North Polk, Iowa, girls basketball

North Polk’s Campbell Schulz dribbles the ball during the Iowa high school girls state basketball quarterfinals at Wells Fargo Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Des Moines. / Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

The balanced Comets are led by Campbell Schulz, as the junior posts 14 points, 4.6 rebounds, four assists, three steals and nearly three blocks.

Forming a powerful 1-2 punch with Addy Wolfswinkel is Deidra Doeden, who averages 18 points and 13.5 rebounds per game.

Down low for North Mahaska is Natallya Linder, a nightly double-double at 15.7 points and 13 rebounds to go along with 2.6 steals, 2.3 assists and a block.

The last name has long been a staple for Pella Christian, and Rachel is carrying it on now, averaging 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block per game.

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The forward is a threat all over the court for the Falcons, posting 18 points, 11.6 rebounds, two steals, two assists and a block.

Triple-doubles are in the future for Aniya Hardee, as she is averaging nine points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists and nearly five steals per game.



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Penn State earns commitment from Iowa State leading wide receiver via transfer

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Penn State earns commitment from Iowa State leading wide receiver via transfer


Penn State landed Iowa State’s pair of quarterbacks earlier Sunday, including starter Rocco Becht, in a splash move. Now, the Cyclones’ leading receiver is coming with them.

Wide receiver Brett Eskildsen committed to Penn State via the transfer portal, becoming the seventh Cyclone to join the Nittany Lions this weekend. He announced the move on social media.

Eskildsen recorded 30 receptions, 526 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore in 2025. He also appeared in all 13 games as a freshman but made just two catches for 17 yards.

The 6-1, 200-pound wideout is from Frisco, Texas, and is a three-star in the 247Sports transfer rankings (No. 118 overall, No. 30 WR). He was a three-star out of high school as well, where he had more than 1,5000 career receiving yards.

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Becht’s top man from 2026 is now in place. He’ll also be able to throw to standout Penn State freshman Koby Howard and quick youngster Tyseer Denmark, who have confirmed their returns thus far.

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