Tony Diaz records 84 receiving yards in Iowa debut against NIU

Transfer receiver Tony Diaz caught seven passes for 84 yards and one touchdown in his Iowa debut against NIU on Saturday. Playing at Kinnick Stadium, Diaz displayed an aggressive style that Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz noted has helped him quickly earn the trust of the quarterback room. While the offense totaled 507 yards—the highest mark for a season opener since 2002—Ferentz mentioned that additional opportunities were missed when quarterbacks Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski were unable to connect with Diaz on potential big plays. Diaz, who previously played at UTRGV, overcame injury setbacks during the spring camp to secure a role as a primary target for the Hawkeyes. His performance contributed significantly to the offensive unit's output under third-year coordinator Tim Lester.

• 1:55 PMYahoo Sports — Iowa football comments on Tony Diaz's impressive debut vs. NIU