Iowa DB DeJean (leg) out remainder of season

• Blake Baumgartner, ESPN Personnel WriterNov 15, 2023, 05:37 PM ET

Iowa junior defensive back Cooper DeJean suffered a lower-leg injury in practice and will miss out on the rest of the season, Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz revealed on Wednesday.DeJean has been essential

to the Hawkeyes’success on defense and unique teams over the previous several seasons, and his lack will be a huge blow for Iowa (8-2, 5-2 Huge Ten), a team on the cusp of winning the Big Ten West if it can beat Illinois in the house on Saturday.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated “This is genuinely heartbreaking for Cooper,”Ferentz stated in statement.”He has actually played very well and is a real playmaker on our group. We will all support Cooper throughout his recovery, which will continue into the new year.”This has actually been a season filled with challenges for our team. I take pride in how our players have reacted with remarkable grit and determination.”Through 10 games this season, he has 41 takes on (26 solo )with 2 deals with for loss, five passes defensed and two interceptions.DeJean’s three interception returns for touchdowns in 2022 set a program single-season record.His 70-yard punt return for a touchdown assisted spark Iowa to a 26-16 triumph over Michigan State on Sept. 30, the night quarterback Cade McNamara was lost for the season

to a torn ACL.The Hawkeyes’defense ranks eighth in the FBS in overall defense(281.5 YPG)and is 3rd nationally in scoring defense(12.3 PPG ). DeJean is a finalist for the Nagurski Prize and a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Bednarik Award.