TE Jake Duzey's Iowa career is over after another injury

LOS ANGELES – Jake Duzey’s college football career is over after re-injuring his knee in a Friday practice in preparation for the Rose Bowl.

It’s a disappointing end to what was a trying senior year for the Iowa tight end, who tore the meniscus in his right knee on next-to-last practice of spring drills.

Following surgery, Duzey returned to the Hawkeye lineup on a limited basis in nine games, but he never could get fully healthy. He admitted earlier this week, “I don’t know if I was ready when I first came back. It might’ve been too early.”

The latest injury occurred during a blocking drill.

Iowa offensive coordinator Greg Davis said Sunday, not long after Duzey's injury was announced by the school, "It was very innocent. It was not like someone rolled into him. ... They were just going down the line of scrimmage."

Davis wasn't sure of the severity of the injury to Duzey, who was the Big Ten Conference’s top returning tight end after a 2014 season in which he caught 36 balls for 392 yards. The Troy, Mich., native ends his Hawkeye career with 58 receptions -- but none this year.

This was the "setback" that Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz referenced without a name during interviews Saturday at Disneyland.

“We all feel badly for Jake and the fact that this injury will keep him from playing in the game,” Ferentz said in a statement. “Jake has worked extremely hard since his initial injury in the spring, and has contributed to the success of our season in a number of ways.”