Cam Buffington Turning Heads as Iowa Prepares for ReliaQuest Bowl
As Iowa wrapped up a dominant win over Minnesota, the scoreboard told one story - but for those watching closely, a different narrative was starting to take shape. With the Hawkeyes cruising late in the fourth quarter, redshirt freshman linebacker Cam Buffington stepped into the spotlight with a statement play: an interception that he returned to the Minnesota 21-yard line. It was Iowa’s third pick of the day off Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey, and while the game was well in hand, Buffington’s moment wasn’t just stat-padding - it was a glimpse of what might be coming.
“It was a good play,” said defensive back Xavier Nwankpa. “When you’re a good player and the opportunity presents itself, you capitalize. He was able to, especially that game.”
Buffington’s name keeps popping up for all the right reasons as Iowa gears up for the ReliaQuest Bowl against Vanderbilt on December 31. Bowl season isn’t just about the matchup - it’s a proving ground for young talent. And if you ask around the Hawkeye locker room, Buffington is one of the players making the most of it.
“Cam Buffington,” said cornerback TJ Hall without hesitation when asked who’s stood out during bowl prep. “That’s the first person that comes to mind.”
Defensive lineman Ethan Hurkett echoed the sentiment: “One that I’ve seen is Cam Buffington. I think he’s going to be a really good player.
I think he’s mature for his age. He’s starting to really get the game and fly around.
So it’s fun to watch.”
Buffington came to Iowa with plenty of hype. A four-star recruit out of Winfield-Mt.
Union High School, he redshirted last season and has seen limited action this year. But when he’s been on the field, he’s made it count.
He recorded a career-high four tackles in a shutout win over Wisconsin and added two more - plus that interception - against Minnesota.
While fans have only seen flashes, those inside the program are getting a much clearer picture of what Buffington brings. And according to Hurkett, it’s more than just athleticism.
“I think he’s just disciplined,” Hurkett said. “You can tell that he’s taking the game seriously, and that’s not always the case with younger guys like that.
Sometimes, it takes a couple of years to kind of get traction and be laser-focused on what you’re doing. But I don’t think that’s been a problem with him.
He’s already hungry and wants to take that next step.”
Then there’s the comparison that really turns heads: Nwankpa sees shades of Jack Campbell in Buffington’s game. That’s not a name you drop lightly in Iowa City. Campbell, now with the Detroit Lions, was one of the best to ever wear the black and gold.
“Kind of reminds me of Jack Campbell in some ways,” Nwankpa said. “He just flies around, makes plays, looks like he’s having fun out there and kind of controls the defense pretty well.”
The similarities, according to Nwankpa, go beyond just the way they move.
“Their size. They’re not the most vocal guys off the field.
But on the field, kind of switching that mode and really get going. So I feel like they both have that capability.”
That quiet intensity is something teammates have noticed, too. Hall described Buffington as a guy who shows up, gets his work in, and lets his play do the talking.
“He’s not really a guy who talks a lot,” Hall said. “He just comes in, gets his work done and goes out and plays hard on the field.
Plays hard, violent, fast and he’s smart. So he’s a great player.”
Looking ahead, there’s a clear path for Buffington to carve out a bigger role in 2026. With veterans like Jaden Harrell, Karson Sharar, and Jaxon Rexroth moving on - a trio that combined for 20 starts this season - the door is open. While Jayden Montgomery is still in the mix, Buffington is positioning himself as a key piece of the next wave.
“He’s been doing a freaking awesome job, flying around, making a lot of plays,” Montgomery said. “He’s been fun to watch during bowl prep.”
Iowa has had a strong run at linebacker in recent years, going from Jack Campbell and Seth Benson to Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson. This past season saw a bit of a drop-off after those departures, but the future might be closer than it appears - and Buffington could be a big reason why.
“He’s done a really nice job,” said head coach Kirk Ferentz. “Got a lot of young guys that really it’s been good for us to see them and the exposure.
Right now, he’s going full speed. He doesn’t always go the right way full speed, but he’s going full speed, and he’s really done a good job.”
That’s the kind of praise that sticks. Full speed, full effort - and if Buffington keeps trending this way, he won’t just be a name to remember. He’ll be the next in a long line of Iowa linebackers who leave their mark.