Iowa's Micah Hyde (18, left) escapes Michigan State's B.J. Cunningham (3) for a touchdown on an interception in the first quarter of their game on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. (Liz Martin/SourceMedia Group News)
CHICAGO — Micah Hyde finished spring practice as the No. 1 free safety, moving over from cornerback.
As of Thursday, that’s where it stands for the 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior. Sort of. Maybe.
“We know what he can do at corner,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Thursday. “It’s really more a matter of the other pieces to the puzzle.”
Hyde picked off four passes last season, including a 72-yard TD return for the winning points in the Insight Bowl. He also returned a lateral from former Hawkeye safety Tyler Sash and returned it for a 66-yard TD against Michigan State.
In the spring, Hyde was cool with the move, which Iowa coaches took to his mom, Pam Hampton.
“I think it’s really helping me out as a football player, because I know what other people are doing around me instead of just my own position,” Hyde said. “It’s a big responsibility.”
The “other pieces” really is how the cornerback spot that Hyde vacated holds up.
Junior Greg Castillo is listed as the starter, with sophomore B.J. Lowery in competition. If one of them proves sturdy, Hyde stays at safety.
“First of all, we wanted to see if he [Hyde] could do it, which we’re confident of,” Ferentz said. “But as far as knowing what to do and making all the calls, it’s a real quarterback position.
“The other factor is what happens at corner. You’ve got guys like B.J. Lowery and Greg Castillo out there. I’m sure that [senior Shaun] Prater and Hyde will be starters, just not sure where on Hyde.”
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