Cam Buffington is Iowa’s next blue-collar linebacker test case
In the 2026 season, Buffington has moved into a bigger role at middle linebacker and opened with a career-high 6 tackles in Iowa’s 40-0 win over Northern Illinois, showing the physical, downhill style Iowa covets.[3][1] He already flashed playmaking chops in 2025 with 7 tackles, 1 interception, and a 26-yard return in limited action, which is exactly the kind of sneaky-value production coaches love from a linebacker who hasn’t yet played a ton of snaps.[5][13] The appeal is his size, urgency, and fast rise from small-school Iowa standout to trusted Hawkeye defender—he looks like a fit for a team that wants toughness, instinct, and special-teams-plus upside.[3][14]
