There may be a large group of Chicago Bears fans tuned into Northern Illinois’ matchup against Iowa on Saturday. Each school has a large number of Illinois-living alumni, and it should be a fun game.
Iowa is going to be the heavy favorite going into the match, but NIU is known for pulling off big upsets. Since 2000, they’ve racked up wins against power programs like Alabama, Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Georgia Tech.
NIU doesn’t have any big-time NFL prospects at the moment, but Iowa certainly does. From a scouting perspective, these Hawkeyes are worth keeping an eye on in this game and for the rest of the season:
OL Kade Pieper
The Bears are more than good with the interior of their offensive line. However, that doesn't mean that they shouldn't always be planning.
They aren't the youngest team in the league in the trenches either, so bringing in young talent is the best way to make sure any transitions are smooth. Kade Pieper of Iowa is someone to consider. He is more of an interior player and is currently someone to expect early in the second round. If he has a huge year at Iowa, it may be even higher than that, depending on team needs in the latter half of the first round.
OL Trevor Lauck
Trevor Lauck is more of a tackle, and he is expected to be drafted in the same range as Pieper. The Bears don't need much help on the right side for a while with Darnell Wright locked in, but the left tackle position is in question. Ozzy Trapilo may be great following his injury, but nothing is guaranteed. Even if he is good, depth at both tackles will never hurt a football team.
DB Zach Lutmer
The Bears are proving to have less depth in their defensive backfield than they thought. It may be something worse to address next offseason, whether it is with free agents or through the draft. Zach Lutmer is a defensive back who, as things stand right now, Iowa may see go in the third or fourth round. He is someone who can play both safety and corner at an above-average level, which may be appealing to NFL teams who need help in multiple areas of the backfield. Saturday will be a great test of his ability to be a disruptor against an NIU team that won't hesitate to air it out now and again.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 3 Iowa draft prospects to watch against Northern Illinois
