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Sometimes you see something you like and go right after it.
That was the case with Iowa when it watched Dima Petrov kick a football last week.
The Hawkeyes offered a full-ride scholarship to the specialist.
While the days of top kickers and punters walking on in hopes of maybe earning a scholarship when they were upperclassmen are gone, a junior picking up a scholarship is still uncommon.
Iowa doing it gives it a leg up on whatever the competition might end up being.
Iowa is definitely my No.
1 school at the moment, he said.
Although its too early for me to make any big decisions, the likelihood of me becoming a Hawkeye is very high.
Petrov (6-2, 190) also worked out for Wake Forest and UConn this month.
The Hanover (N.H.) High all-stater was invited to camp at Virginia Tech, Arizona, Michigan State, Florida State and others.
Interest in him is on the rise.
Right now, its too early for me to make any big decisions.
My plan is to commit in the next year or so, as soon as Im 100 percent certain that Ive found the right place.
A lot of factors go into that, with the most significant one being education, he said.
Petrov plans on majoring in Business.
Iowa has a good one in the Tippie Business School.
That was what my parents studied and then built their careers in, and I see my future in that same sphere, he said.
The Hawkeyes did well in impressing a prospect visiting a state half a country away from his home.
I had a fantastic time exploring all the incredible facilities and campus.
Coach (Chris) Polizzi and the rest of the Hawkeyes special teams staff were absolutely amazing and made the visit unforgettable.
I also loved how proud and passionate the whole city seemed about the program, which is something that you dont see often.
Access to advanced technology at Iowa also stood out.
The workout with the Trackman system helped me identify other areas for improvement in my kicking by providing precise numbers, he said.
After leaving Iowa, Petrov was invited to the Chris Sailer Kicking Showcase on Sunday.
Following his performance, hes now the second-ranked kicker nationally in the 2028 Class.
Perhaps more offers will be on the way.
For now, the Hawkeyes are the leaders in the clubhouse.
Petrov is looking forward to visiting them again.
I cant wait to come back to Iowa, hopefully very soon.
Id love to go on a game-day visit and see how electric Kinnick (Stadium) gets.
Although I dont know the exact dates yet, my plan is to be back there in the next few months, he said.
Iowa State basketball forward Joshua Jefferson on being All-American Iowa State basketball forward Joshua Jefferson on being a first team All-American.
Iowa State basketball forward Joshua Jefferson sat in the stands of the Barclays Center, the site of the 2026 NBA Draft, before he was selected in the first round on June 23.
Now hell be taking the court and calling that arena home.
The Barclays Center is also the home venue for the Brooklyn Nets.
Jefferson was drafted 28th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he was traded to the Nets shortly thereafter.
Just seeing what they need for their team, they felt that I fit in a lot of spots because of my versatility, Jefferson said of his pre-draft communication with the Nets organization.
I think Im where I need to be.
The Nets took a great chance with me, and Im very thankful for that.
The versatile 6-foot-9 Jefferson continues to put himself in exclusive Iowa State basketball company.
A consensus All-American, Jefferson is the first Cyclone to be drafted since Tyrese Haliburton was taken 12th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Dating back to 2000, Jefferson is the sixth Iowa State product to be a first-round draft selection, joining Marcus Fizer, Jamaal Tinsley, Craig Brackins, Royce White and Haliburton.
Hes looking forward to playing alongside other versatile big men, new Nets teammates Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr.
So much knowledge between the two, and Im just going to be a sponge, Jefferson said.
Asking them questions all the time and learning as much as I can.
Theyve been through the ups and downs of the league, and its going to be on me to make sure that Im seeking information.
After starting out as a three-star recruit from Las Vegas, Nevada, Jefferson arrived at Iowa State as an under-the-radar transfer coming off a knee injury after two seasons at Saint Marys.
Once healthier, Jefferson had a breakout junior year in 2024-25 when he became the first player in Big 12 Conference history to record more than 450 points, 250 rebounds, 100 assists, 70 steals and 25 blocks in a season.
He followed up on his impressive introductory season in Ames with an All-American campaign as a senior in 2025-26.
The do-it-all forward elevated his game in nearly every aspect on the court and showcased an improved perimeter jumper.
He averaged a career-best 16.4 points, with 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.
He shot 47.1% overall and 34.5% from long range.
Jefferson became the first player in school and Big 12 history to record multiple triple-doubles during conference play in a season.
Jefferson achieved the feat with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against West Virginia on Jan.
2, then followed up with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists in a turnover-free outing in a win over UCF on Jan.
20.
He graduated from Iowa State as a two-time All-Big 12 player and the first Cyclone to earn consensus All-American honors since Georges Niang did so in 2016.
He racked up 1,367 points, 737 rebounds, 352 assists, 179 steals and 70 blocks over his four years of college basketball, which includes two seasons at Saint Marys and two more at Iowa State.
Jefferson stands out with his versatility and toughness on both ends of the court.
He can rumble down low but also possesses skills like a guard, from his playmaking ability, good decision-making and court vision.
Defensively, he can guard multiple positions and is a strong rebounder.
The thing about my game thats going to translate pretty quickly is my physicality, Jefferson said.
The NBA is a physical game right now, you have to be physical in the playoffs to win and thats what Im going to bring.
Then, just going to continue working on my shot.
Shooting it really well throughout this pre-draft process, a lot of reps.
I think if I continue to do that, its going to keep me on the floor, and defending on both sides.
Unfortunately for Jefferson, he didnt get a proper ending to his collegiate career.
He suffered an ankle injury in the opening minutes of the Cyclones first-round rout of Tennessee State in the NCAA Tournament.
He missed the remainder of his teams run in the Big Dance, and the short-handed Cyclones fell to Tennessee in the Sweet 16.
Now healthy and his NBA dreams realized, Jefferson is looking to start the next chapter of his basketball journey strong.
When that injury happened, I feel like a lot of things were jeopardized from that, but going into pre-draft, I was like, just make the most of your workouts and attack rehab and then everythings going to go how it needs to go, Jefferson said.
Very blessed for this position that Im in and just very thankful.
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register.
Contact Eugene at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5 This story has been edited from its original publication to clarify that Jefferson was drafted by Minnesota and then traded to Brooklyn.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KUOO) The Iowa Department of Natural Resources continues to recommend no swimming at one beach in the Iowa Great Lakes.
Iowa DNR officials say Crandalls Beach on the north shore of Big Spirit Lake continued to have high levels of E.
coli bacteria in the latest tests conducted last week.
The agency says Emerson Bay, which was on the list of recommended no-swimming locations a week ago, has been removed from the designation as the levels there had dropped below the advisory guideline.
Ainsworth Beach on the south side of Big Spirit Lake, along with those at Gull Point, Pikes Point and Marble Beach, were all listed as safe for swimming.
Officials caution that bacteria levels can change quickly depending on weather and other conditions.
Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxlands News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app.
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All rights reserved.
Its an underrated storyline that I cant help but think will rear its head at some point this season for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The complete overhaul of the special teams unit is a massive change for this team after years of continuity under LeVar Woods, who is now coaching at Michigan State.
The Hawkeyes will see a new placekicker, punter, and return man.
Drew Stevens is kicking in the NFL, Rhys Dakin followed Woods to Michigan State to punt, and Kaden Wetjen took his return talents to the NFL as well.
Chris Polizzi is at the helm now and has a blank canvas to fill out with his depth chart before Week 1 versus Northern Illinois.
Kicker Kicker: Eli Ozick The Hawkeyes only roster two kickers, Eli Ozick and Caden Buhr, who will compete for the starting job.
Ozick comes to Iowa from the North Dakota State Bison, where he was 16-for-18 last year, which earned him Second-Team FCS All-American notoriety.
That performance translates well to Iowa, where I think he gets the nod in Week 1.
Should things go sideways, Caden Buhr could step in to kick.
He was with Iowa last year and has one kickoff under his belt.
Punter Punter: Boston Everitt Only at Iowa is the starting punter such a focus.
Its what makes Iowa, well, Iowa.
Iowa has dipped into its Australian pipeline with Boston Everitt, who comes from the University of Melbourne.
Iowas trend of Australian punters gives Everitt the slightest of nods.
The other punter rostered is Tanner Philpott, a D3 AP All-American last year at Simpson College.
Philpott has much more collegiate experience and could easily push for the job.
It wont be a shock to see Iowa give him in-game opportunities.
Long Snapper Long Snapper: Ike Speltz Long snappers simply dont get enough love.
No one knows their name or hears of them unless the snap has gone bad.
Its a thankless job, but someone has to do it.
Ike Speltz saw some long snapping action in 2025, which gives him the track here.
He is also Iowas only long snapper listed on the roster.
Kick and Punt Returners Punt Returner: Zach Lutmer Kickoff Returner: Nathan McNeil I make this prediction very begrudgingly.
Zach Lutmer is going to be such a focal point on defense that exposing him to injury here is a bit scary.
He is that talented with the ball, though.
Other names to watch for in the return game come from the running back room.
I think Iowa could give kickoff return duties to the running back room.
Nathan McNeil or Brevin Doll, two athletic backs, could get their chance on kickoffs.
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