Iowa

Iowa State defensive lineman Ikenna Ezeogu using Chipotle to bulk up

Published

2 years ago

April 10, 2024

Iowa State defensive lineman Ikenna Ezeogu using Chipotle to bulk up

AMES – Iowa State football player Ikenna Ezeogu realized his passion for Chipotle had reached another level when the restaurant employees recognized him from a previous trip earlier in the week.

“They know me so well to where I’ll go in and they’ll be like, ‘Make sure you get your app,’” Ezeogu said with a smile.

Chipotle meals are helping the redshirt sophomore put on some much-needed weight. The defensive end from Blue Springs, Mo., hopes to tack on even more pounds this offseason as he prepares to be a bigger and tougher part of Iowa State’s defensive line in 2024.

“It can help me a lot,” he said of the added weight.

Ezeogu is coming off a surprising season of sorts in 2023. He was part of the second unit of Iowa State’s defensive line as a redshirt freshman, tallying 16 tackles including one sack. Ezeogu also had three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.

The contributions far exceeded anything Iowa State defensive line coach Eli Rasheed expected out of Ezeogu last season. Ezeogu, a four-star recruit out of high school, redshirted his freshman season in Ames and had made enough strides to earn some playing time last season.

“I didn’t go into the season thinking that I would play Ike as much as we did, but he kept developing into a guy that we couldn’t take off the field,” Rasheed said. “So he’s done a great job of working himself into the lineup.”

Ezeogu credits hard work on and off the field for his rapid rise. As he watched film and asked questions, Ezeogu understood what the Cyclones were trying to do on defense. His confidence soared. Then his playing time increased.

“I’m a competitive guy,” Ezeogu said. “I wanted to make sure I earned my spot and I wanted to keep my spot. “

But the work is far from done for Ezeogu, who is hoping to take on an even bigger role for Iowa State’s defense in 2024. The best way to do that is to, well, get bigger himself. Ezeogu, who finished last season at around 265 pounds, said he is up to 270. Rasheed believes it’s even more than that.

And a steady supply of Chipotle food is a major reason.

“I like to eat Chipotle a lot,” Ezeogu said.

Ezeogu said he approached a nutritionist when he came back to school in the winter about trying to tack on some important pounds. Chipotle, his go-to spot for lunch in high school, was seen as a good option. So Ezeogu began hitting it up more and more in Ames.

He said he eats there every other day. Ezeogu always leaves with his hands full of food, grabbing not one but two burritos for the day. His order includes double rice, double chicken, veggies, queso dip, spicy sauce, sour cream, cheese and corn.

“I’m loading up,” he said.

He doesn’t stop with Chipotle, either. Ezeogu will eat whatever the team gets at lunch and dinner. Then, later at night, he’ll gulp down a bowl of noodles and polish it off with his second burrito.

“I don’t really try to go out of my comfort zone and try to eat cheeseburgers,” Ezeogu said. “I barely eat cheeseburgers.”

The feasting has paid off. Ezeogu said that while he’s added some size and strength, he hasn’t lost any quickness. That combination could make him an even more valuable player for Iowa State’s defense, which continually rotated defensive linemen throughout the season.

Ezeogu’s improvements could make him a permanent part of the line.

But there’s still growing to be done, not just physically but also mentally. Rasheed said Ezeogu needs to continue to grow his football IQ. If he can do that, then the Cyclones may have a future star.

“Honestly, he has all the talent to be a difference-maker,” Rasheed said.

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.

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Iowa Lottery Pick 3 Midday, Pick 3 Evening results for Jan. 18, 2026

Published

4 hours ago

January 19, 2026

Press Room

The Iowa Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big with rewards ranging from $1,000 to millions. The most an Iowan has ever won from playing the lottery was $343 million in 2018 off the Powerball.

Don’t miss out on the winnings. Here’s a look at Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, winning numbers for each game:

Winning Pick-3 numbers from Jan. 18 drawing

Midday: 1-5-2

Evening: 0-0-5

Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick-4 numbers from Jan. 18 drawing

Midday: 0-8-4-5

Evening: 3-5-3-9

Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 18 drawing

11-18-21-42-48, Lucky Ball: 17

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Iowa Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Iowa editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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US kills ‘terrorist’ linked to attack on Iowa troops in Syria

Published

16 hours ago

January 18, 2026

Press Room

US kills ‘terrorist’ linked to attack on Iowa troops in Syria

Susan Heavey and Deepa Seetharaman
| Reuters

U.S. military forces on Jan. 16, killed an al Qaeda affiliate leader linked to an Islamic State attack on Iowa National Guard soldiers in Syria last month, U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Jan. 17.

Bilal Hasan al-Jasim had “direct ties” to an ISIS gunman who killed and injured U.S. and Syrian personnel on Dec. 13 in Palmyra, Syria, Central Command said.

Iowa National Guard Staff Sgt. William Nathaniel “Nate” Howard of Marshalltown and Staff Sgt. Edgar Torres-Tovar of Des Moines were killed in the attack. They were serving as part of ongoing federal counter-ISIS and counterterrorism missions.

Three other Iowa National Guard soldiers were wounded in the Dec. 13 ambush by a suspected “lone ISIS gunman.” Two were medically evacuated and treated for serious injuries, while a third sustained minor injuries and was treated locally. All three survived.

“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, in a statement.

Since the Dec. 13 attack, U.S. forces have been conducting strikes in Syria, with the U.S. military saying it has hit more than 100 ISIS targets.

“We will never forget, and never relent,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in an X post that included Centcom’s statement.

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, who represents the central Iowa communities where the two soldiers lived, called the attack “cowardly.”

“I’m grateful to the warfighters who carried their mission forward and delivered justice,” he wrote in a social media post. “America will never stop hunting those who harm our servicemembers.”

Des Moines Register reporter Nick El Hajj contributed to this report.

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Five takeaways from IU basketball’s loss to Iowa

Published

1 day ago

January 18, 2026

Press Room

Five takeaways from IU basketball’s loss to Iowa

IU basketball lost its third straight game, falling 74-57 on Saturday afternoon to Iowa at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Here are five takeaways from the loss to the Hawkeyes:

Indiana’s second-half woes continue in third straight loss

For a third consecutive game, Indiana was outscored in the second half.

While Saturday’s final 20 minutes weren’t as bad as performances against Nebraska or Michigan State, it’s a concerning trend that the Hoosiers can’t finish games strong.

In his postgame press conference, Darian DeVries mentioned fatigue as a possible reason for IU faltering down the stretch.

“It’s been pretty similar, and we’ve got to figure out a way to get a little more rest probably for those guys,” DeVries said. “As we get into the middle of the second half, there’s 10, 12 minutes to go — and it’s been consistent the last three games — we look fatigued. That’s where some of that maybe sloppiness and the turnovers, and that’s where you start to see some of that showing up.”

If fatigue is an issue, that problem doesn’t appear fixable with this roster. Indiana’s depth is limited, as the Hoosiers play only eight players.

Whether it was recruiting misses in the portal or an inability to get anything out of the players deeper on the bench, the Hoosiers have five scholarship players who have been invisible this season.

Indiana’s defense continues its regression in Big Ten play

Early in the season, the Hoosiers were ranked in the top 20 nationally in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency.

That lofty ranking now feels like a distant memory.

After surrendering 1.29 points per possession in Saturday’s loss against Iowa, Indiana is now allowing 1.147 points per possession in conference play.

That number ranks 10th in the league and the Hoosiers haven’t even hit their toughest stretch of the league schedule. Thus far, IU has played the 13th-toughest schedule in league games, per KenPom.

Overall, the Hoosiers rank just inside the top 60 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency.

Indiana has now given up over 1.24 points per possession in three straight games and in four of its last five.

Struggles continue for Tucker DeVries

Tucker DeVries, a two-time Missouri Valley Conference player of the year at Drake, was expected to be one of the top forwards in the Big Ten.

DeVries, however, has struggled to find the shooting stroke that has led him to scoring more than 2,000 career points between stops at Drake, West Virginia and now Indiana.

In Saturday’s loss to Iowa, DeVries failed to reach double figures in scoring for the fourth time in five games.

He was just 2-for-9 from the field and finished with seven points in 33 minutes. Through seven Big Ten games, DeVries is 12-for-47 on 3-pointers, which is just 25.5 percent.

“He’s certainly in one of those shooting slumps that everybody goes through at some point in time, but for him, has been an extended one here for a good chunk of time,” Darian DeVries said. “He’s certainly been putting in the work in our practices and stuff. He’s shooting the heck out of it.

“It’s just one of those things. He’s just got to get it going and got to continue to find those better looks and opportunities that we can get him free a little bit more.”

Indiana can’t stop fouling in Big Ten play

Iowa, a team that isn’t built to get to the free-throw line, got there 23 times on Saturday in its 17-point win against the Hoosiers.

The Hawkeyes posted a free-throw rate (FTA/FGA) of 50 percent on Saturday.

Iowa capitalized on the opportunities the stripe, finishing 21-for-23.

Indiana now ranks 16th in the league in opponent free-throw rate in conference games at 40 percent.

In five of IU’s six losses this season, the Hoosiers have allowed an opponent free-throw rate of more than 45 percent.

The Hoosiers had no answer for Bennett Stirtz

Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, who is showing up as a potential lottery pick in next June’s NBA draft, showed off his well-rounded game on Saturday afternoon.

Stirtz, who began his career at Northwest Missouri State, a Division II school, followed Ben McCollum to Drake last season and established himself as one of the nation’s best mid-major guards.

This season, Stritz is proving himself to be one of the best guards in the country.

On Saturday, he controlled the game offensively, finishing with 27 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field and a 10-for-11 mark from the free-throw line.

Stirtz also dished out five assists in 38 minutes.

“He was terrific. He’s so good in two-man game actions, and you’re going to see it over and over and over again,” Darian DeVries said. “He just plays until he gets an advantage, either for himself or for a teammate. They do a great job of that. He’s so crafty and smart at being able to take advantage of those and then creating and drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line. He certainly was really good tonight.”

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

See More: Five Takeaways, Iowa Hawkeyes

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