Cam Buffington among group impressing in Iowa football bowl prep

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One name keeps popping up as a young player that's impressing throughout No. 23 Iowa's bowl prep for No. 14 Vanderbilt (10-2, 6-2 SEC).

As the Hawkeyes (8-4, 9-3 Big Ten) prepare for their New Year's Eve battle against the Commodores, it's the perfect opportunity to also get an early, extended look at some of the fresh faces that will be stepping into larger roles in the future.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Cam Buffington is among the group of players that's been turning his teammates' heads. The 6-foot-3, 239-pound linebacker from Winfield, Iowa, had an interception in the fourth quarter of Iowa's 41-3 Oct. 25 romp over rival Minnesota.

Buffington returned that interception off Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey to the Gopher 21-yard-line. That set up Iowa's final touchdown of the day, a 6-yard rushing touchdown from Hawkeye quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski.

"It was a good play. When you’re a good player and the opportunity presents itself, you capitalize. He was able to, especially that game," Iowa defensive back Xavier Nwankpa said of Buffington.

Fellow Hawkeye defensive back TJ Hall mentioned Buffington as the player that's caught his eye during the Hawkeyes' bowl prep.

"Cam Buffington. That’s the first person that comes to mind," Hall said.

Iowa graduate defensive end Ethan Hurkett echoed that sentiment.

"One that I've seen is Cam Buffington. I think he's going to be a really good player. I think he's mature for his age. He's starting to really get the game and fly around. So it's fun to watch…

"I think he's just disciplined. You can tell that he's taking the game seriously, and that's not always the case with younger guys like that. Sometimes, it takes a couple of years to kind of get traction and be laser-focused on what you're doing. But, I don't think that's been a problem with him. He's already hungry and wants to take that next step," Hurkett said.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz was asked for his impressions of Buffington's development.

"He's done a really nice job. Got a lot of young guys that really it's been good for us to see him and the exposure. Right now, he's going full speed. He's not always going the right way full speed, but he's going full speed, and he's really done a good job.

"Got a good group of young guys. Certainly got some guys graduating here, three seniors in the middle of the linebacker group, but good group of young guys, and Cam has done a really good job. These are just really beneficial practices for him where he's getting repetition that maybe he doesn't get in the fall and being coached in our defense and getting a lot of good work and good meeting time, so it's been good for him. He has a great attitude and all that type of thing. So far, so good," Ferentz said of Buffington.

Iowa will need some new names to step up heading into 2026, as Jaden Harrell, Karson Sharar and Jaxon Rexroth's Hawkeye careers close within the Iowa linebacking room.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Cam Buffington among group impressing in Iowa football bowl prep

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