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Iowa strength
coach Chris Doyle welcomes back former Hawkeyes in the NFL on a daily basis in
the offseason. Chad Leistikow, Hawk Central
IOWA CITY, Ia. — An 8-year-old pair of red and
grey Nikes is as emblematic of the Iowa football program as any of the trophies
you’ll find at the Hansen Performance Center.
The well-worn shoes belong to Marshal Yanda, a 34-year-old star guard
for the Baltimore Ravens. The former Hawkeye has made it to seven Pro Bowls.
The shoes were a gift from his first, in 2011. They sit in his locker
here year-round. He wears them every time he works out alongside the current
crop of Iowa players, which is all the time in the offseason.
Yanda signed a contract extension Thursday to play through the
2020 season. He is a millionaire who could certainly afford some new kicks.
So why does he wear the
same old shoes?
Longtime strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle has
asked Yanda the same question. He relayed the answer to reporters Friday.
“He said it’s because
it’s a reminder of that first Pro Bowl, what it took,” Doyle said of Yanda, who
told him: “’It reminds me of what I did to achieve that level of success and
what I need to continue to do on a daily basis to play at the highest level.’”
Doyle said Yanda is the
kind of role model the Hawkeyes need. He doesn’t come into the
training center with his own workout regimen in mind. He does exactly the same
things that the players 12-15 years younger than him are doing.
Baltimore
Ravens guard Marshal Yanda has made seven Pro Bowls, but still spends his
offseasons grinding through workouts with the Iowa Hawkeyes. His shoes are in the building year-round, Iowa strength and
conditioning coach Chris Doyle explained Friday. (Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
And he’s not alone. Doyle said as many as 15
former Hawkeyes currently playing in the NFL were in the building at one time
this winter.
Iowa built a locker room just for its alumni, something Doyle
believes is unique. Those include tight end George Kittle, cornerbacks Josh
Jackson and Desmond King, linebacker Ben Niemann and, of course, Yanda.
“They believe that the training that we’re doing will help them
retain their jobs,” Doyle said.
“It’s absolutely awesome to have those guys
come back, be around our current players and to have an opportunity to work
with some of the best guys that have ever played here. I think that’s one of
the special things about Iowa football is the stability of it, the family of
it. And we cater to them.”
The catering doesn’t include new shoes apparently. But for
Yanda, that’s the point.
