By Brendan Stiles
brendan-stiles@uiowa.edu
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Call them an “odd couple.”
Iowa senior linebackers Pat Angerer and A.J. Edds might be as different as two people can get. But Tuesday night, the duo will play in their final games together as Hawkeyes when No. 10 Iowa faces No.9 Georgia Tech at Land Shark Stadium in Miami.
The differences are clear cut. On the field, Angerer is arguably the heart and soul of the Iowa defense. Away, he is as colorful as one can get.
Edds, on the other hand, is a three-year starter and highly regarded for his versatility — rarely seen in a linebacker.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz drew a parallel between the two linebackers and the two defensive linemen who led the way last season in Mitch King and Matt Kroul. Sophomore defensive end Broderick Binns likened the pair to “big brothers,” showing everyone the way.
“They provide a lot of leadership,” junior defensive end Adrian Clayborn said. “Pat, he’s a crazy, crazy person, but he keeps us up. A.J., he’s so smart, and he just gives us knowledge throughout the game and in practice.”
However, the paths now leading them to the end of their senior seasons started even less similar.
Angerer came in with a heralded 2005 recruiting class, and the Bettendorf native wasn’t providing much of an impact for the Hawkeyes until his junior season.
“The relationships that I have built with these guys, it has really been unbelievable, and something that’s going to last me the rest of my life,” Angerer said.
Meanwhile, Edds originally committed to Iowa as a tight end before switching to linebacker. The Greenwood, Ind., native never redshirted and started as a true sophomore alongside the likes of former Hawkeyes Mike Humpal and Mike Klinkenborg.
Edds said learning from those two players, as well as King and Kroul, allowed him to mold into the type of leader that has earn the respect of his teammates and coaches.
“You just try to learn from those guys, understand what they do, the way they show up and work everyday,” Edds said. “The biggest thing is it’s easy to talk the talk, if you will, but the way you really earn respect and you get there as far as your teammates valuing what you do is by showing up and working everyday and do what you need to on a daily basis.”
As different as they may be, both players know they have a chance to end their Hawkeye careers on the highest of notes.
“This is such a great bowl game, and such a great opportunity. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” Angerer said.
