Making big plays easy as milking a cow for Hawkeyes' lineman DeVries

AP PHOTO Iowa's Jared DeVries (94) learned the value of hard work early in life, working at the crack of dawn on his family's farm in Aplington, Iowa. DeVries, a second team All-American a year ago, recorded 10 solo tackles in the Hawkeyes' near-win over Michigan last season. On Saturday, DeVries and the Hawkeyes welcome the Wolverines into Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.

By Sharat Raju
Daily Sports Editor

On cold Iowa mornings, a young Jared DeVries would wake up, bleary-eyed and ready to start the day. The sun, still low on the horizon, did not have a chance to warm up the prairie homestead.

"We usually got up at 6 a.m. before leaving for school," DeVries said. "We'd have to do 42 pails of grain and 17 bales of hay a morning."

Most kids were still snug in their beds, snoozing until morning cartoons came on TV. DeVries, on the other hand, was out in the fields, helping out his parents.

"We did mostly grain and livestock," DeVries said. "We only own 150 acres and custom farm 15,000. I'd like to give back (to my parents) after they raised five children.

"But they can wait a year. This might pay off their debt."

From baling hay to bowling over offensive linemen, DeVries has been working up to paying back his parents since his arrival in Iowa City. Over the past three years, few defensive linemen have been as respected as the Aplington, Iowa, native.

"I like DeVries," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "He almost single-handedly beat us last year."

Last year against the Wolverines, DeVries recorded 10 solo tackles and one assist. Four of those tackles were for a loss and three were quarterback sacks.

He also broke up a pass and caused a fumble, en route to being named Big Ten defensive player of the week following the game.

That game would prove to be the toughest for the Wolverines in their championship season last year. DeVries' performance nearly doomed the Wolverines, who were trailing by 14 at halftime.

Michigan "was obviously one of my better games statistically," DeVries said. "I had struggled before that. Michigan thought they had the personnel for one-on-one blocking.

"Obviously, they were mistaken."

The Wolverines may have been mistaken, but they did pull out the victory. DeVries' dominance at defensive tackle continued throughout the 1997 season, however.

He finished with eight sacks, 19 tackles for losses and 73 total tackles, earning him Big Ten defensive lineman of the year honors. DeVries was also selected to the All-American second team and all-Big Ten first team.

The season before that, the former farmer amassed 67 tackles (22 of those for a loss) and 13 sacks, and was an all-Big Ten team member. As a freshman, he racked up 12 sacks and 54 total tackles.

So the 6-foot-4, 284-pound senior is not sneaking up on anybody this season. Everyone knows he's coming.

How has that worked out for the Hawkeyes, you might ask?

Oh ... just fine. Last week against Illinois, the fifth-year senior made six tackles and two sacks, and was named the Big Ten defensive player of the week.

"Rushing the passer is one of my strengths," DeVries said. "I'm obviously not the biggest guy, but I'm quicker than most offensive linemen, so I can get into the backfield."

DeVries has gotten into the backfield eight times, dropping ballcarriers for 30 yards of lost field in the '98 campaign. He's also recorded three sacks and pounced on one fumble.

Now, into his third season playing for the Hawkeyes, there is no question if he can play well, if he can dominate a football game or if he is a potential professional superstar.

The only question is: Would he have been a better farmer than football player?

"I was the only person to work on the farm," Devries said. "I love to do that sort of thing. Two years ago was the last time I could go home during harvest time. They say I bale well. I didn't lift weights until I was a sophomore in high school.

"But I sure could bale hickory good."

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