53 (?) Days Until Hawkeye Football: Spencer Daufeldt

#53 pictured above is Garret Jansen and a good reminder that nothing in football is better than the safety dance.

Spencer Daufeldt - RS Freshman
West Liberty, IA (West Liberty)
6’1”, 295 lbs
2020 Projection: Reserve defensive lineman

The redshirt freshman chose Iowa over a scholarship offer from Minnesota State to join Iowa’s 2019 class, telling HawkeyeReport the decision was “easy” and that suiting up in the black and gold was a “dream.” Last year, he spent time packing on weight as he is up from 265 pounds at the time of his commitment.

His senior tape shows of somebody with solid strength to battle inside, hand skills to shirk blockers, and tenacity in finishing tackles at and behind the line of scrimmage. He tallied 88 tackles, 19.5 for loss, and 5 sacks in his senior season, which led to all-state recognition.

The gap between 2A Iowa high school football and contributor on Iowa’s defensive line is a big one but certainly not impossible. Though Pella is 3A, Austin Schulte projects as a starter after four years of seasoning from lower-level high school football.

Daufeldt may not contribute this year or next but there is a track record of undersized and overlooked Hawkeyes making an impact. He could be another one in the coming years.