So the Iowa Hawkeyes have kicked off spring practice and I just so happen to have a little time to write about it. If you’re wondering if I’m ever going to write about the 2016 Rose Bowl I attended on January 1st I regret to inform you that the game never took place. All the pomp and circumstance leading up to it did and all the tailgating and fun took place and then just before kickoff…poof…it was January 2nd and it was never spoken of again. Got it? Good. Actually everything stopped about an hour before the game because I did not stand in that ridiculous line waiting to get into the Rose Bowl to watch that…that…thing that never happened.
The Hawkeyes are lucky enough to return some very important talent and leadership from last year’s team and may get even more if the NCAA gets off their ass and makes a decision on Drew Ott. First and foremost is the return of senior QB CJ Beathard and this spring is about getting his receivers up to speed and staying healthy. Beathard fought through a sports hernia most of last season and if he wasn’t breaking in a bunch of new pass catchers I would advise him to practice as little as possible. However, since QBs don’t get hit in the spring he should be fine and I’m guessing if anyone lays a hand on Beathard during practice the punishment will be no less than immediate beheading. Make no mistake this is Beathard’s team and it’s certainly his offense.
The leadership on defense is spread around a little bit more but MLB Josey Jewell is the quarterback of the unit. Jewell was a revelation last year when he stepped into the MLB spot and was allowed to just own it. He won’t be asked to do it alone as senior CB Desmond King skipped the 2016 NFL Draft to return to the Hawkeyes and he’s the type of playmaker that every defense dreams of having. He’s a pick machine and there are not going to be a lot of QBs looking to throw his way. There is one more potential major leader on defense and that’s DE Drew Ott if the NCAA ever gets around to deciding if he gets a fifth year of eligibility next season, if he does it’s a major addition to the team. If Ott gets another year I’m not sure the team even has to vote on captains because Beathard, Jewell, King and Ott are basically unopposed.
Offense
Quarterback
Starter: CJ Beathard (Sr)
There isn’t much more that needs to be said about Beathard. He rose to the occasion last year when he was given the keys to the kingdom and he played great even through a tough injury. The only thing that could hold him back this year is a lack of playmakers in the passing game and I’ll get to that in a minute.
Backup: Tyler Wiegers (So)
Wiegers got in the mix a little in relief of Beathard last season but he really doesn’t have much real playing time. However, he is the only QB besides Beathard with any playing time and he has 3 years of practice in so he’s basically the only real option.
Spring Storyline
With Beathard and Wiegers locked into the top two spots the only real story here is the battle of the redshirt freshmen. Ryan Boyle and Drew Cook both spent the year learning and it’s not exactly clear where either of them stand. Ferentz isn’t going to commit to either of them unless he has to and that only happens if there are two injuries. This spring practice will begin to determine their fates because if one of them moves to the forefront of the competition and with the arrival next fall of freshman Nathan Stanley the player one that falls behind might look to make a move. That could mean a transfer (unlikely in my opinion) or a position switch (much more probable).
Running Back/Fullback:
Starters: LeShun Daniels (Sr) Akrum Wadley (Jr)
I don’t care what the depth chart says I’m listing both of these guys here because this team is going to rely heavily on the thunder and lightning pairing. Daniels can be a beast but his power running style lends itself to him getting dinged up a bit so he needs a partner to share the load. Last year Jordan Canzeri was the guy getting the carries after Daniels was hurt and this year I think he’s in a timeshare with Wadley. Wadley’s playmaking may allow him to steal the job away but he’s still a little rough with ball security and Daniels will be asked to get the tough yards.
Backup: Derrick Mitchell (Jr)
Mitchell is Iowa’s third-down back because he’s a great pass-catcher out of the backfield (he should be he was a WR when he first came to Iowa) and he’s good in blitz pickup. The coaches know what they have in Mitchell and they trust him but he’s out for the spring due to off season surgery which leads me to…
Spring Storyline
With Mitchell out and my sincere belief that the coaches need to limit the number of hits Daniels takes it means the internet legend that is Eric Graham should get plenty of work. Graham was a late signee last year as a replacement for the late defection of Karan Higdon to Michigan. Graham came from off the recruiting radar out of Alabama but he looked solid on tape. When there isn’t a lot to see on tape and a guy redshirts but you get little nuggets saying he looks good in practice the “legend” grows. Graham needs to seize the opportunity to shine this spring before the two true freshmen Toren Young and Toks Akinribade show up and steal his “legend” status.
Fullback:
Drake Kulich is listed as the starter at fullback after he made the transition from being a linebacker previously and was mostly just depth last year behind Adam Cox and Macon Plewa. Kulich looks the part but he has some pretty big shoes to fill as Cox and Plewa were sort of the unsung heroes of the running game last season. Redshirt freshman Brady Ross has made the same transition Kulich made from linebacker and will be the backup at the position. Tough hard-nosed Iowa boys usually make solid lead blockers so these two should be able to handle the position.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Starters
WR: Matt VandeBerg (Sr) Jerminic Smith (So)
TE: George Kittle (Sr)
Somehow Matt Vandeberg is already a senior and I guess I should have seen it coming but it kind of snuck up on me. He is the quintessential possession receiver and he is undeniably CJ Beathard’s security blanket. He catches everything thrown his way and just seems to know how to get open when the offense needs him. The Hawkeyes finally figured out how to use him best last season and they should continue that this year. Jerminic Smith stepped in last season when Tevaun Smith was injured and while he wasn’t a major factor he showed big potential against Illinois and he could be a major playmaker. TE George Kittle should step in and be a weapon for Beathard in the passing game. He stepped up last year and was a nice complement to Henry Krieger Coble when Jake Duzey wasn’t able to stay healthy. It would be good if someone steps up to assist Kittle but for now he’s the only TE with real experience.
Backups:
WR: Riley McCarron (Sr) Adrian Falconer (RS Fr) Jay Scheel (So)
TE: Jameer Outsey (So)
McCarron will again be in the mix as a backup WR but everyone should be hoping that at least one of the many underclassmen can step it up. Falconer was very close to playing last year and he was the next-man-in if they had needed him but this year they need him to be a playmaker. Jay Scheel needs to stay healthy long enough to earn some playing time and if he doesn’t make a move on the depth chart now he may get passed by some younger guys. Outsey was a linebacker until last fall when the path to playing time there wasn’t emerging and the Hawkeyes decided to see if his athleticism translated to the offensive side of the ball. He only had one catch last year so he has work to do but there are some raw tools to work with.
Spring Storyline
It’s time for some of the guys on the roster to make a move now or get out of the way. The only givens here are Matt Vandeberg will be Beathard’s go-to guy and George Kittle will be an effective red zone target, after that it’s all a guessing game. Jerminic Smith, Adrian Falconer and Jay Scheel have a leg up but juniors Andre Harris and Jonathan Parker could have the light go on at any time. If the light doesn’t go on or anyone doesn’t step up redshirt freshman Emmanuel Ogwo has the speed to make a difference and incoming freshman Devonte Young might make noise in the fall. Iowa also has a potential late signee if Frank Darby gets the grades to qualify. At TE it’s time for Jon Wisnieski to get healthy, stay healthy and contribute or he will see his football future float away. Redshirt freshman Nate Vejvoda will be competing with three true freshmen in the fall and it’s not a coincidence the Hawkeyes added Noah Fant, Shaun Beyer and TJ Hockenson in the incoming freshman class. Like I said make a move now or get out of the way.
Offensive Line
Starters:
LT Cole Croston (Sr), LG Boone Myers (Jr), C James Daniels (So), RG Sean Welsh (Jr), RT Ike Boettger (Jr)
No, this isn’t listed as it is on the official spring practice depth chart that came out when practice started but I’m fairly certain Sean Welsh isn’t going to start at both C and RG. Welsh is playing C during practice because he’s shown he can play all over the line and he actually did some of his best work at RT last year when the Hawkeyes were dealing with multiple injuries. He may take to the position but if I were a betting man I would guess he lines up at RG, his other starting position he is listed at. James Daniels is sitting out spring after having off season surgery and there are not a lot of options at C so getting Welsh some practice there is a great idea but Daniels will be one of the best five offensive linemen come fall and it’s a pretty standard practice of Kirk Ferentz to start the best five guys. Croston took to LT pretty well last year when Myers went down so he’ll hold down the spot and that might be because he’s not as versatile as Myers who can kick inside to LG. Myers played well inside after returning from injury last year and he adds some nice size inside. Boettger was solid at RT last year and like others he got banged up but if he can stay healthy he’s a pretty good starter.
Backups:
LT Brett Waechter (RS Fr), LG Ryan Ward (Sr), C Steve Ferentz (Sr), RG Keegan Render (So), RT Dalton Ferguson (So)
The starting five looks pretty good but the backups leave a lot to be desired. Waechter is a redshirt freshman that has reportedly looked very good but he has some growing to do and while he’s listed on the depth chart as the backup if something happens to Croston I would expect Myers to kick out to LT and someone replaces him inside. It’s possible Waechter is the next man in as Ferentz has played young tackles inside to get them experience in past so we shall see. It would be nice to see fifth-year senior Ryan Ward actually contribute but I’m not holding my breath. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that if Daniels gets hurt it will be Welsh at C not Steven Ferentz. Render and Ferguson are third year sophomores that need to show they deserve their spots before the younger guys pass them up.
Spring Storyline
The good news is that all five expected starters played last season and actually got significant time. The bad news is they got shuffled around a lot last year because of so many injuries meaning they really need to solidify their spots. Health will be important because the backups basically have no experience at all. The truth is that the backups are more likely to be fighting off the challenge of the young guys than they are to be competing for playing time with the starters. Last season’s freshmen class was made up of five prospects and only James Daniels didn’t redshirt. Brett Waechter already has made his move into the two-deeps but Levi and Landan Paulson and Jake Newborg will be pushing to make theirs this spring. It’s unlikely any of the new offensive linemen next year will push for playing time but keep an eye on OT Alaric Jackson because it’s been awhile since Iowa had a true OT recruit and someone will eventually have to pair with Waechter as a bookend.
Defense
Defensive Line
Starters
DE: Parker Hesse (So) Matt Nelson (So)
DT: Jaleel Johnson (Sr) Nathan Bazata (Jr)
As for now we are going to assume Drew Ott is denied his fifth year by the NCAA if only because I don’t want to jinx him. If he’s granted the extra year he replaces Matt Nelson at DE and Ott, Hesse and Nelson make for a nice three-man rotation. Hesse stepped in last year as a redshirt freshman when Ott went down and he held his own. He certainly needs some physical maturation and that he put on some weight in the off season so he should be better able to handle the demands of the position. Matt Nelson is in the same class as Hesse and he has needed even more growth over the past two seasons because he’s 6’7. His height has worked against him because without the matching bulk he can get pushed around but he’s 275 lbs. and now his length can be a positive because he really disrupts passing lanes.
Jaleel Johnson was a force inside last year as a first year starter and his size and power do a lot to make up for the lack of heft elsewhere on the line. He isn’t just a powerful run-stuffer you might think he is as he was quite adept at collapsing the pocket last season. Any time you can have a DT be as disruptive as Johnson is inside it wreaks havoc on your opponent. Nathan Bazata teamed with Johnson to replace Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat after they graduated and the Hawkeyes didn’t miss a beat inside. Bazata is the smaller of the two DTs but he’s a force. He wasn’t as disruptive as Johnson but he made plenty of plays and rarely gives ground.
Backups:
DE: Anthony Nelson (RS Fr) Sam Brincks (So)
DT: Faith Ekakitie (Sr) Jake Hulett (Jr)
The backups at DE are inexperienced and unknown as Anthony Nelson redshirted last season and Sam Brincks is a walk-on sophomore that has never taken a meaningful snap. This is precisely why the Hawkeyes are hoping Drew Ott gets another year. Faith Ekakitie is a solid senior that has plenty of experience and gives the Hawkeyes a nice third tackle to rotate with Johnson and Bazata. Jake Hulett is another walk-on that has not real experience.
Spring Storyline
The spring storyline is about the four redshirt freshmen and how they can contribute. Anthony Nelson has moved into the two-deeps but Brady Reiff, Garrett Jansen and Michael Slater all need to prove that they can be counted on when the season starts. With walk-ons Brincks and Hulett ahead of them they have some work to do. This story is going to continue over into fall camp because Iowa recruited 5 freshmen for 2016 and some of them could play immediately. Chauncey Golston and Cedrick Lattimore out of Michigan certainly look the part while Romeo McKnight, Austin Schulte and Brandon Simon bring a lot of talent to the table as pass rushers. With the exceptions of Jaleel Johnson and Faith Ekakitie the defensive line is very young, Bazata is the lone junior, which means most of the depth will return on the outside but what order that depth will be in is a question.
Linebackers
Starters:
Ben Niemann (Jr) Josey Jewell (Jr) Aaron Mends (So)
Niemann isn’t listed as a starter on the spring practice depth chart but that’s because he’s rehabbing an injury and unlike my conjecture on the offensive line that James Daniels will be a starter I can guarantee you Niemann will resume his position in the fall. Jewell was the foundation of the defense last season and his pairing with Niemann was nothing but spectacular. The two of them were outstanding meaning the team only needs to find a replacement for the graduated Cole Fisher. Fisher was a bit of a shocker when he took the starting job in fall camp last year from previous starter Bo Bower and while Bower is a possibility to start he is actually lining up at Niemann’s spot this spring while Aaron Mends fights off Jack Hockaday for the third LB spot. Mends mostly played on special teams last season but he got more playing time later in the year on defense and he brings a nice speed element to the group.
Backups:
Bo Bower (Jr) Angelo Garbutt (RS Fr) Jack Hockaday (So)
Bower has the most experience of any of the backups as he has previously been a starter during his redshirt freshman season. He’ll hold down Niemann’s spot during spring and he’ll get consideration for the other spot but he likely won’t beat out Mends or Hockaday. Hockaday is an interesting player because they used him last year on special teams just to get him on the field and he’s still raw as a LB because that wasn’t his primary focus in high school. As a true sophomore he has some learning to do but he’s simply too talented to keep off the field. Something tells me the competition between him and Mends will go into the fall. Garbutt redshirted last year and while he’s a good looking prospect I doubt he would actually play if something happened to Jewell. Bower has experience in the middle and Hockaday could slide in there too if needed.
Spring Storyline
Iowa has quite a bit of young talent to sort out this spring and while the biggest story is the competition between Mends and Hockaday the pecking order elsewhere needs to be established. Josey Jewell, Ben Niemann, Aaron Mends, Jack Hockaday and Bo Bower will take the lion’s share of the time at LB this season but young guys like Angelo Garbutt, Nick Wilson and Justin Jinning need to establish themselves before fall when a very talented quintet of players joins the LB corps. Kyle Taylor (Miles Taylor’s younger brother), Nick Niemann (Ben’s brothers), Amani Jones, Barrington Wade and Kristian Welch all arrive in 2016 and the competition will be fierce.
Defensive Backs
Starters:
CB: Desmond King (Sr) Greg Mabin (Sr)
SS: Miles Taylor (Jr) FS: Brandon Snyder (So)
The headliner of the Iowa Hawkeyes this season is Desmond King and he earned it. The Thorpe Award winner returns for his senior season as one of the best playmakers in college football and there won’t be many QBs looking to test him this year. He also was an excellent punt returner last year and he leads a pretty good looking starting backfield for the Iowa defense. Greg Mabin is another Hawkeye missing spring practice due to rehabbing an injury but with two years of starting experience under his belt his job is likely safe in the fall. Miles Taylor was a major upgrade at SS last season and he should only get better with more playing time. Taylor sometimes gets beat in coverage but he brings an attitude to the secondary. Brandon Snyder replaces veteran Jordan Lomax at FS and he should be solid as he battled with Taylor for the starting job last season and he saw real game action in 2015. Lomax was an underrated player and leader but this veteran secondary should be able to cope with his loss.
Backups:
CB: Maurice Fleming (Sr) Josh Jackson (So) Michael Ojemudia (RS Fr)
SS: Anthony Gair (Sr) FS: Jake Gervase (So)
Fleming is the most experienced backup in the secondary but he lost time to Josh Jackson last season. This spring Fleming and Ojemudia are listed as the second unit CBs because Jackson is recovering from an injury. Jackson looked pretty solid and he brings nice size and athleticism to the position. Also the secondary will lose King, Mabin and Fleming after 2016 meaning Jackson is a pretty important player going forward. Ojemudia is playing CB as much out of necessity as he is merit. He has nice size but is still pretty raw. Gair played last year as a backup at both safety spots and he’ll continue to be the third safety and he’ll get time. Gervase is likely a placeholder and the depth at safety is pretty shallow.
Spring Storyline
The storyline is wait until fall. The rehab of Mabin and Jackson means Ojemudia will get plenty of reps to get better but the Hawkeyes better hope the true freshmen coming in August can help immediately in the secondary. Lance Billings, Cedric Boswell, Emmanuel Rugumba and Amani Hooker could all make a move up a depth chart that isn’t all that deep. Hooker is a playmaker and while his potential at safety is enormous he may be needed as a CB if there are any health issues next season. There is room to move at the position and if Hooker isn’t helping out at CB he could be a playmaking safety over the deep middle so Brandon Snyder may want to step up his game. Rugumba is a very good athlete that could play WR or DB so if there is playing time to be had he may make a move too.
Kickers:
I don’t like to talk about kickers or punters but Iowa lost Marshall Koehn and there will be a battle to replace him between Miguel Recinos, Mick Ellis and anyone else with a pulse that might be able to kick a football. The punting position is in even worse shape with the graduation of Dillon Kidd and I wouldn’t even venture a guess who might come out on top there.
The Hott Read 