Fall camp begins Wednesday for the Iowa football team as the Hawkeyes begin preparations for their August 30th opener against the University of Albany. With 12 starters and two specialists returning from last year’s team that finished 8-5 the Hawkeyes expect to field another competitive team.

That’s senior defensive end Ethan Hurkett, who enters his second year as a starter after leading Iowa with six-and-a-half sacks last season. The former Cedar Rapids Xavier standout has gone from unheralded recruit to receiving preseason All Big Ten honors and representing the team at Big Ten Media Days.

In the second year of an 18-team conference that spans four time zones Hurkett says the schedule offers many challenges.