Nebraska scored six unanswered runs and shut out Iowa over the last five innings for a 7-4 victory Friday night over the Hawkeyes in Lincoln. Tyler Stone’s three-run home run in the fifth inning erased a three-run deficit and tied the score at 4-4. Two innings later, the Huskers took the lead on Cole Evans’ RBI double, and two more runs in the eighth accounted for the final score. On the mound, the Huskers’ Brett Sears took the no-decision to remain 7-0 on the season, but his streak of nine consecutive quality starts ended. | Stats

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At a position the Eagles do not typically select early in the NFL draft, they now have two high-upside players added to their 2024 draft class. After taking Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell at No. 22 overall without making any trades, the Eagles double-dipped into the secondary class, taking Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, who is a ready-made fit into Vic Fangio’s defense. Sure, giving away a second-round pick isn’t ideal, but now the Eagles have two foundational pieces added to an aging secondary that could look brand new by the end of next season.

» READ MORE: Why Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell is a slam-dunk pick for the Eagles

At 40th overall, not only do the Eagles get tremendous value in DeJean, who was expected to be a late first-round selection, but also they get a player who can play multiple positions in the secondary. It all comes down to where his skill set can be best maximized, which probably played a big part in why he was still around at this stage in the draft.

Nonetheless, the multi-sport star in high school and former quarterback has all the makings of fitting as a do-it-all secondary piece.

Coverage specialist

When you watch DeJean, the first aspect of his game that is alluring is instincts, which allows him to break quickly on short, quick passing-game routes out of zone coverage. Like Mitchell, there’s a level of smoothness and patience he displays. Iowa’s defense didn’t ask DeJean to play press-man coverage often, but he trusts his long speed and ability to run stride for stride with wide receivers.

Though DeJean plays with high pad level when he explodes out of his backpedal, DeJean is a reliable, and at times, aggressive tackler, who understands when to take risks jumping routes and when to secure the tackle first.

If you’re asking DeJean to be a true, one-on-one press-man coverage player, it’s doing a disservice to his strengths. He’s susceptible to getting beat on vertical routes in one-on-one situations, and doesn’t always play the ball well in those situations.

What will be valuable for the Eagles’ secondary, particularly, is his ability to work through chaos as a trail defender against shallow routes. DeJean doesn’t get caught up in the natural picks that are set across the field. That type of awareness and cross-field speed will translate at multiple positions in the NFL.

Where will he play in the NFL?

While there’s no clear indication of what DeJean’s position will be, moving him around situationally is an option for the Eagles. After starting his career as a safety, DeJean moved to outside corner over the last two seasons and excelled in zone coverages specifically.

But the best example of his usage at Iowa was in a game against Iowa State this past season. DeJean played exclusively as a nickel the last five plays of the game and it gives you a glimpse of his ability to play several positions in the secondary. He essentially erased the Cyclones’ tight end on the last drive of the game, who was having a monster game before DeJean drew the assignment.

So whether that’s nickel, safety, outside corner, or all of the above, DeJean has all the makings of being a modern-day chess piece. Think Chiefs’ Trent McDuffie and Lions’ Brian Branch as ways he could be potentially deployed.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – A kidney transplant at the Iowa City VA Medical Center has given a navy veteran a new lease on life. Navy veteran Jeffrey Pruitt was diagnosed with renal failure and was told he had six months before he’d be incapacitated. After fighting it for five years he got his lucky break with a kidney transplant.

“I will honor that transplant team with my life by living the absolute best life I can,” Pruitt said.

Pruitt said his fight with kidney failure was painful, but it’s a fight he’s using as inspiration for his new passion for art. Post-transplant, he’s made a career out of painting and creating music.

“The art came out of the pain,” Pruitt said. “I would not be doing this today if it were not for the suffering.”

Pruitt’s survival doesn’t only inspire his art, it also affects the way he lives his life. His outlook left an impression on the transplant team that helped him through his recovery.

“Every time I talk to Jeff I end up either crying or laughing,” Stacey Abel, who was on the team that helped Pruitt with his recovery, said. “He’s a light.”

Pruitt says he’s thankful for the work the team put into his recovery.

“They’re just so thoroughly invested in you,” Pruitt said. “They treat me as family and I love them and every chance I get I’m going to sing their praise.”

Veterans travel from around the nation to the Iowa City VA Medical Center for kidney transplants.

The connection between the recipient and the transplant team extends beyond their stay at the VA Medical Center. In some cases, it’s a lifelong relationship that lasts way longer than their time at the hospital.

“It’s really about building relationship, building trust,” Abel said. “Letting that patient know that we’re here, not only for this three-week period, but we’re here for the duration.”

Many patients wait years for transplants. The Iowa Donor Network reports more than 600 Iowans are on the waiting list, while an average of 17 Americans die every day awaiting a transplant.

There are local and national resources for those interested in becoming an organ donor:

The Iowa Donor Network has assistance for the donor registration process with information and statistics about the need for donors.

Programs like the National Kidney Foundation or Donate Life American help people across the country with the donation process.

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