In this episode of Talkin’ Hawks with the VandeBergs, Laura and Matt sit down with Jaxon Rexroth—Cedar Rapids native, Xavier alum, and Hawkeye linebacker—to talk identity, mindset, and what it means to grow up black and gold. From family roots just up the road to the reality of earning your shot as a preferred walk-on, Jaxon opens up about choosing Iowa, embracing a position change, and finding his voice on special teams and defense.

He shares the locker-room standard, “championship effort, attitude, and toughness”—and why the defense lives by the “mind of a goldfish” after a big play (good or bad). We also get the human side: siblings on campus, faith shaping the team’s togetherness, and the unlikely backstory of a future doctor who also grew up skiing, wakeboarding, and learning resilience the hard way.

Then the crew looks ahead to Oregon in Kinnick, breaking down vibe, matchups, and where Iowa can assert itself without getting lost in numbers—just the culture, the details, and the belief that travel, noise, or narratives don’t change who the Hawks are. Plus: we’re continuing the Q&As—drop your questions so we can bring them to the next episode.🎧 New episodes every Monday—subscribe and join the conversation!#TalkinHawks #Hawkeyes #IowaFootball #B1G #SwarmUp #Kinnick #HawkeyeNation