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IOWA CITY — Quarterback Hank Brown was asked, who is the fastest running back on the Iowa football team?
His answer? Braeden Jackson.
"It's a tough question," Brown said. "When you say 'fast,' are we running like a 40-yard dash? I would have to go Braeden Jackson."
Jackson and Brown both had touchdowns in Iowa's 24-10 win over Northwestern on Nov. 7. Jackson ran a kick return 96 yards for a score, while Brown ran in a 21-yard QB draw for his second rushing touchdown of the year.
Brown finished the game completing 16 out of 21 passes for 126 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the win. Now, with Purdue on this week's agenda at Kinnick Stadium (6:30 p.m. CT Saturday, NBC), here are some highlights from Brown's conversations with reporters on Nov. 10.
Brown and the Hawkeye offense completed a 97-yard drive in the second quarter against the Wildcats, ending with a touchdown pass by Brown to Tony Diaz. It was Iowa's third straight game with a TD drive of 97+ yards. When asked about the team's composure and how the Hawkeyes make those long drives happen, Brown credited the coaching staff.
"I think all of our coaches do a really good job of planning for a backup situation like that," Brown said. "The guys all have the belief that 'Hey, we've been here before, we're gonna do it again.'"
Brown mentioned that head coach Kirk Ferentz reminded the team before the touchdown drive that they had completed a 98-yard TD drive against Wisconsin the previous week.
"It's kind of that belief and confidence," Brown said. "You start executing it, and then it doesn't really matter what the defense gives you. The guys just have confidence, and we're going to make it work no matter what."
Brown threw a pick in the third quarter and has since done a self-evaluation of the play.
"I'm not sure I was able to fully step into that thing (the throw)," Brown said. "Whether I was or not, I know that ball's got to get over that guy, and if I am not able to do that, I've got to scramble around and make a play."
Brown was called for a delay-of-game penalty just before the turnover.
"Things like that can't happen," Brown said. "Got to be better, just staying ahead of the clock, being able to get the right protections and get our cadence off before the clock is even down towards zero."
Brown was the starter in the first five games before getting hurt against Ohio State. After that, Jeremy Hecklinski started the next two games before getting pulled against Minnesota. Brown started the Wisconsin and Northwestern games and seems to have solidified his hold on that spot.
Minnesota was a rough game for the Hawkeye offense, including Brown, who threw two picks in the loss. Brown said he feels more confident in himself and his teammates as the season progresses.
"I think the more you play, the more confidence you have in what you can do, and the more defense you see, the more the game starts to slow down," Brown said. "I think also just belief in the guys around me. I think as an offense, we're clicking, and we know that we're able to play at a high level."
Brown continued, "I've been playing at a better level than I did at Minnesota, but I don't think anything drastic has changed. But I think knowing that guys around me are very good players, and I can lean on them and just trust what we can do as an offense to be able to execute."