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Iowa DTs keep going and going
Hawkeye senior linemen Kroul and King build streak in durability
CommentsTAMPA, Fla. — South Carolina center Garrett Anderson has had ample opportunity to study Iowa’s defensive tackles.
In each game video Anderson has reviewed of the Hawkeyes, seniors Matt Kroul and Mitch King are on the field for every play. That’s not unusual for Iowa’s two most experienced defenders.
King, the Big Ten defensive lineman of the year, has 44 career starts, including 29 in a row. Kroul has been even more durable: His 49 consecutive starts are a school record and represent the third-longest active streak in the country.
“They’re very talented guys, very physical. I haven’t seen a backup come in, yet,” Anderson said Monday. “They always go every play, and they always go hard.”
Kroul has missed two practices in four seasons — once for back spasms and another time with a high temperature.
“Obviously, that’s more luck than anything,” he said. “Playing Division I football, I’m pretty lucky to be able to start that many games.”
Degree seekers. USC coach Steve Spurrier encourages the Gamecocks’ seniors to stay enrolled for the spring semester rather than train elsewhere for the NFL draft. While receiver Kenny McKinley and linebacker Jasper Brinkley plan to leave Columbia after the bowl game, both said they hope to finish their degrees.
Brinkley said he is three hours short of his degree, and might try to complete his coursework through an online class at USC. McKinley has more than a semester remaining.
“I want to get my degree as quick as possible. If I get picked up on a team and get some free time, I’m going to take the time and come back and get my degree,” McKinley said. “That’s something I told my mom I was going to do, and I’m going to come back and do it.”
He said it. “A lot of guys didn’t really know what was going on. And a few of them were asking questions like icing and offsides, and some of the penalties they didn’t understand.” — USC offensive tackle Justin Sorensen, who played hockey growing up in Canada, on attending an NHL game in Tampa with teammates
Extra points. Spurrier said he does not anticipate filling any of his three coaching vacancies until the middle of January. ... Cornerbacks coach Shane Beamer said fifth-year senior and Tampa native Stoney Woodson would start at one corner spot ahead of Carlos Thomas, although both would play. ...
USC fans attending the game can listen to the Gamecocks’ radio broadcast in Raymond James Stadium on 96.3 FM. The secondary frequency will be 100.1 FM.
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.
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