Who wants a Hayden Large? Iowa does

IOWA CITY — His name conjures up thoughts of a statue somewhere on campus. Perhaps a sandwich or pizza at Monica’s on the Coralville Strip.

Yes, Hayden Large is aware of the irony of his name. Though he’s from Michigan and never gave the Iowa Hawkeyes much prior thought, he understands.

Large is a grad transfer walk-on for the Iowa football team who is, well, large at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds. He’s hoping to get some playing time this season at fullback after spending time in his college football career at NAIA Dordt University in Sioux Center.

“I grew up in Michigan, so I really had nothing to do with Iowa,” Large said. “But at Dordt, a lot of people are huge fans of Iowa. I was like ‘Whatever,’ that kind of thing.

“You know, my parents and family sided towards another Big Ten team, but now they’re all Iowa fans. So that’s pretty cool.”

Large won’t reveal that other Big Ten Conference team, intimating he doesn’t want to get sideways with Iowa fans. Besides, he said he was more into the NFL’s Detroit Lions than any college football team from his home state.

The Hudsonville, Mich., resident was a running back and linebacker at Unity Christian High School, but played tight end for Dordt, making 19 catches last season. Iowa special teams coach Levar Woods reached out to him in the offseason to gauge if he had any interest in joining the Hawkeyes.

Woods didn’t have a scholarship to offer, just an opportunity to be in a major college program.

“He was basically just reaching out to see if I had any interest. Kind of the opportunity that I would have walking on,” Large said. “I was all for it. The University of Iowa is an opportunity that kids dream of. Then when I did a little research on the program …

“It was just kind of like he knew I would come in and work hard. It was quite unexpected, honestly. We didn’t know what was going to happen. He said he was going to take a chance on me, and we’d see what happens. It’s been an honor for him to coach me and have him tell me that.”

With Monte Pottebaum using up his eligibility and Eli Miller suffering a season-ending knee injury, Iowa needs someone to man the fullback position when it’s needed in certain offensive formations. Thus, this is Large’s large opportunity.

He’s never played the position before, but he knows blocking and he knows the backfield.

“Kind of crazy how fullback has become non-existent in most college football programs,” Large said. “I think it’s an honor, honestly. Monte Pottebaum last year, he was a fan-favorite, a great fullback. Now I’m trying to make a name for myself. With coaching and everything, it’s going good.”

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz noted how Large’s size is a good thing when it comes to blocking, yet also a negative because he has to learn how to stay low in those blocks. Another plus is Large’s ability to catch passes.

By all accounts, the kid loves to work, so there’s that. He’s also incredibly cordial, quick to formally introduce himself to reporters who wanted to talk to him at Iowa’s recent media day and referring to them as “sir” and “ma’am” in answering their questions.

“I felt like if I don’t do this, I’m going to regret it in 20 years,” Large said. “This is an opportunity that kids dream about.”

Iowa’s tailback position is in excellent shape with the presence of Kaleb Johnson, Leshon Williams and Jaziun Patterson. Sophomore Johnson set an Iowa freshman record with 779 rushing yards last season.

In another cool twist, the Youngstown, Ohio, native had Iowa list his mother Juanielle Finley and grandfather Jeffery Strader in its 2023 media guide. Strader attended college at the University of Dubuque.

It all comes back to Iowa.

“He told me Iowa was a really good place and the people would help you a lot, that they care,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. Before football, I played baseball, and baseball was my thing. So my sophomore year came in high school, he told me to make a decision. I told him it was football, and right from there, I started grinding and working out the next day. Just grinding and getting ready for college football.”

Comments: jeff.johnson@thegazette.com