The Brian Ferentz era begins
The biggest questions about the Iowa Hawkeyes this year come on the offensive side of the ball. It starts with replacing CJ Beathard at QB and that is still technically an open question. Sophomore Nathan Stanley and Junior Tyler Wiegers have been battling since the spring and while both Kirk and Brian Ferentz have maintained it’s an open competition there does seem to be a bit of a lean towards Stanley. The only question as pressing as the QB position is who is going to play WR besides Matt VandeBerg? There are a number of choices; JUCO walk-on Nick Easley, New Mexico grad transfer Matt Quarells, junior Adrian Falconer, sophomore Devonte Young or one of three true freshmen Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Brandon Smith or Max Cooper. As I mentioned it’s a new era as Greg Davis is finally gone and Brian Ferentz is in charge of the offense. He has said he won’t stray too far from Iowa’s identity and with this year’s offensive line and RB group that’s probably a smart move. My one sincere hope is that Brian Ferentz is a better game planner and play caller than Greg Davis ever was and he understands how to use the weapons available to him.
Let’s look at each position.
Quarterbacks
Starter: Nathan Stanley (Soph) Backup: Tyler Wiegers (Jr)
It isn’t official but I would be shocked if Stanley isn’t under center to start the season against Wyoming. He’s got all the tools you could want in a QB, he’s 6’5 235 lbs. with a cannon for an arm and good athleticism. His two biggest question marks are his comfort running the offense and his leadership. Stanley is a true sophomore with virtually no experience so those are questions to be expected. Wiegers simply doesn’t have the ceiling Stanley has so it seems the coaches are giving Stanley every chance to win the job. Wiegers gives the coaches some stability if Stanley falters but it would have to be a substantial problem for the coaches to pull the plug. Sophomore Ryan Boyle has gone back and forth between QB and WR over the last year or so but with Drew Cook moving to TE this spring Boyle has settled in as the #3 QB…for now.
Future: Peyton Mansell
True freshman Mansell is a good athlete with talent but not much has been said about him in camp so far. The fact that the coaches are keeping Boyle at QB means they have no intention of putting Mansell on the field this year and he’ll take a redshirt.
Running Backs
Starters: Akrum Wadley (Sr) James Butler (Sr)
Akrum Wadley is clearly the top offensive weapon for Brian Ferentz’s offense this year. After being a 1000-yard rusher last season and a top contributor in the passing game Wadley is the game breaker this offense needs. He has speed and shiftiness that make him a matchup nightmare for opponents and Iowa has to find a way to get the ball in his hands 25 times a game minimum. The arrival of Nevada graduate transfer James Butler means that Wadley won’t have to shoulder the load in the backfield alone. He was great in tandem with LeShun Daniels last season and Butler should bring a similar power back style. Butler can take the between the tackles runs so Wadley doesn’t have to take that punishment. He can also catch so Wadley and Butler give Brian Ferentz plenty of options out of the backfield. Butler ran for over 1300 yards twice while at Nevada so he’s an accomplished college RB.
The Depth: Toren Young (RS Freshman) Toks Akinribade (Soph)
Toks Akinribade stepped up last season as a true freshman to be the third RB behind Wadley and Daniels when Derrick Mitchell got injured. His emergence meant Toren Young redshirted but things changed in the spring. During spring practice, before James Butler transferred in, Young looked like the guy ready to replace Daniels as the power back. Young’s time may have to wait a year until Wadley and Butler graduate. Akinribade seems to have slipped a bit after falling behind Young in the spring and now incoming true freshman Ivory Kelly-Martin is getting some notice.
The Future: With Wadley, Butler, Young and Akinribade it certainly seems like Ivory Kelly-Martin and fellow freshman Kyshaun Bryan should be able to redshirt. However, keep an eye on Kelly-Martin, he has some impressive high school tape and he may be impressing the coaches enough now to make his case for playing time. Bryan is basically assured of redshirting unless some serious injury issues arise (that is not an attempt to awaken the curse).
Fullbacks
Starter: Drake Kulick (Sr) Backup: Brady Ross (Soph)
As always, the Iowa fullbacks are the unsung heroes and in this case Kulick, Ross and junior Austin Kelly look like they were all built in the same fullback production facility. I believe the football program owns the patent. The FB spot is in good hands, no need to worry. Iowa’s run game is always better with effective FB play, that shouldn’t be a problem this year.
Tight Ends
Starters: Noah Fant (Soph) Backup: TJ Hockenson (RS Freshman)
Fant is clearly the starter and he will be one of the more important offensive weapons on the team this season. He’s big, athletic and can be a dynamic playmaker. Those are in short supply for the Hawkeyes so they should move Fant all over the field to create mismatches and get him open. Technically the Hawkeyes list two starting TEs and Hockenson is the other one opposite Fant. As a redshirt freshman, we haven’t seen him on the field but he was an accomplished receiver in high school and he could be a weapon in the passing game. He’ll probably leave the blocking up to some of the older, more physically mature guys for now but he’ll get there. For now, he just needs to be a playmaker in the passing game.
The Depth/The Future:
Nate Wieting is currently listed as a backup but there are a number of TEs that will see playing time. Senior Jon Wisnieski will attempt to finally be healthy this season but that seems unlikely. Senior Peter Pekar proved to be a valuable blocker and can catch a pass when needed. Redshirt freshman Shaun Beyer has playmaker potential. Sophomore Nate Vejvoda, QB turned TE Drew Cook and true freshman Jacob Coons are all looking to develop and be options in the future.
Offensive Line
Considering this group returns 4 full-time starters and one part-time starter on a unit that was named the top offensive line in the nation there may still be some shuffling of this group. Boone Myers is listed as the starting LT but the coaches flipped some things around for the Kid’s Day practice and there may be some changes possible. So, here’s where things are right now and where they might go.
Left Tackle
Boone Myers (Sr) is listed as the starter but he played left guard during the open practice and he may be better suited inside where his power would be better utilized. With Myers playing left guard Ike Boettger (Sr) moved over to LT and he has some length and athleticism that might come in handy at LT. This may be just an experiment but it helps to have multiple guys trained at such an important spot. Speaking of training, don’t be surprised if redshirt freshman Alaric Jackson (listed as the backup) sees some time here. He’s really impressed the coaches and it’s his job to lose next year. He’s a fantastic athlete and could be Iowa’s next great offensive tackle.
Left Guard
Keegan Render (Jr) stepped in and started a few games last season at guard due to some injuries and he played pretty well. He isn’t the most dynamic athlete or devastating blocker but he knows his assignments and gets the job done. Myers might be better suited inside if the Hawkeyes can find someone they think can handle LT and he is a devastating blocker inside at guard. Ross Reynolds (Jr) is listed as the backup but he has cross trained at multiple positions so he could end up anywhere.
Center
James Daniels (Jr) is the only player on the line that is certain to start at his specified position. Daniels is a star in the making at center and he is a dominating presence on the line. He is a future NFL early round draft pick and he will lead this line from the pivot. He has a real shot at winning the Rimington Award for the best center in college football this season. Two redshirt freshmen are listed as his backup; Spencer Williams and Cole Banwart. I hope these two have to wait two years to duke it out to replace Daniels but he could be an NFL draft pick in 2018.
Right Guard
This is Sean Welsh’s (Sr) position unless the coaches decide they need him to start at RT or somewhere else. Welsh is an impressive RG and he’ll make his NFL money inside but he can play RT and do so well enough to be the starter if that’s what the Hawkeye’s need. In a pinch, I wouldn’t doubt Welsh’s ability to start at any of the five offensive line positions. He’s an All-Big Ten player and potential All-American. Levi Paulsen (Soph) is listed as Welsh’s backup and there are plenty of options as backup interior linemen including his twin brother Landon. The Paulsens could play a variety of positions but at the moment they are simply blocked by superior talent.
Right Tackle
Ike Boettger (Sr) has mostly started at RT during his career and the coaches have taken the fact that he is so experienced at the position to cross train him at LT just in case of emergency. It’s possible they find him playing LT gives them the best combination but I think if they decide to move Boone Myers inside to LG it will be because Alaric Jackson proves he’s earned a shot at LT. Boettger makes a dominant right side of the line with Welsh and they pave the way for the running game. Lucas LeGrand (Jr) is a guy that has been listed all over the line including some time at center but now he’s Boettger’s backup. In truth, he’s probably the fourth OT behind Myers, Boettger and Jackson and late word out of camp is that true freshman Tristan Wirfs is potentially going to play this year and not redshirt. That means he’s likely the fourth OT.
The Future: After some slim years in recruiting (especially at OT) the tide has turned and the Hawkeyes have some really impressive young talent on the offensive line. Inside they have redshirt freshmen Spencer Williams and Cole Banwart who have already made the depth chart at center. Fellow redshirt freshman OT Alaric Jackson is also in the two-deeps and he looks like a star. The freshman class looks even more impressive. True freshman OT Tristan Wirfs is the type of physical specimen Iowa rarely gets at offensive line and he could play this year. He’s a freakish athlete and a future starter at OT, and it’s not that far into the future. Mark Kallenberger is no slouch and while he may be talented enough to play early he’s likely going to redshirt since the Hawkeyes have plenty of depth. Coy Kirkpatrick is another guy that just needs some time to grow into his frame and then he will be looking to make a move up the depth chart. Iowa’s future on the offensive line looks pretty secure with this group.
Wide Receiver
Starters: Matt VandeBerg (Sr) Nick Easley (Jr)
VandeBerg is the only known commodity among an uncertain group at WR. He’s a fifth-year senior and is only back because he missed most of last season with a foot injury and was granted a medical redshirt year. He broke that foot again and missed spring practice so suffice it to say the coaches are being pretty careful with him in fall camp. He needs some time to mesh with whomever starts at QB but since he’s the best WR the Hawkeyes have he’s going to be a major part of the offense. If this wasn’t the internet and I could pencil in Nick Easley’s name I would. He was the most consistent guy in spring practice after transferring in from JUCO last January but that’s not really setting the bar very high. Easley may be best suited to play the slot but that’s also where VandeBerg does most of his damage. The Hawkeyes need some outside receivers to step up. Easley may start week 1 but his hold on the position may be tentative.
The Rest of the WR
I could call this the depth or the future but the depth is the future and no one knows what they have here and we won’t until they get out on the field and play a real game. Junior Matt Quarells graduated from New Mexico in three years and transferred to Iowa with two years of eligibility left. He’s the only WR not named VandeBerg to have caught a pass in a FBS game in his career. He wasn’t a prolific pass catcher but that was more a function of New Mexico’s option offense than his skill. He has size and speed and the coaches are hoping he picks the offense up quickly and can contribute soon. Adrian Falconer (Jr) is listed as the backup to VandeBerg and it would be great if he would step up and contribute but he’s a Bobby Kennedy guy so I’m not sure we should expect much. DeVonte Young (Jr) is Easley’s backup on the depth chart and hopefully his one year under Kennedy can be overcome by some superior coaching. Young has looked solid and he could be the type of outside WR the Hawks need. There are three true freshmen pushing to move up the depth chart and are expected to play. Ihmir Smith-Marsette (Fr) is a bit skinny at 6’2 175 lbs. but he has the type of deep speed the Hawkeyes need to push the defense off the line and open up the running game. In addition to his speed he tracks the deep ball well and can actually catch it. Brandon Smith (Fr) is the freshman that looks physically ready to contribute to a Big Ten team. He’s 6’3 205 lbs. and has fantastic athleticism and the type of vertical that will help him come down with jump balls and hopefully be a weapon in the red zone. Max Cooper (Fr) may end up being the Matt VandeBerg clone and be a top weapon from the slot. For now, he’s just going to mimic VandeBerg’s freshman year when he was the guy that emerged from a large WR class and didn’t redshirt. Cooper may have to fight through a few more bodies because he doesn’t bring a specific skill like deep speed (Smith-Marsette) or size (Smith) he’s just a good all-around WR prospect that can make a play when needed. True freshman Henry Marchese is almost assuredly going to redshirt and two other prospects, Trey Creamer and Cam Harrell are guys that have been talked about (Creamer) or actually worked at (Harrell) WR but are not exactly certain in their position. For now, they look like they will both add depth to the defensive backfield but that could change if need be.
Overall
Brian Ferentz has some work to do settling on and developing a QB, finding the best combination at offensive line, and figuring out who is going to be the guys that really step up at WR. He isn’t without playmakers with Akrum Wadley, James Butler, Matt VandeBerg, Noah Fant, TJ Hockenson and the potential of young WRs DeVonte Young, Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith. My sincere hope is that Brian Ferentz isn’t beholden to some antiquated system and simply chooses to find ways to use the weapons he has. Yes, that is a direct shot at Greg Davis and his refusal to adjust his terrible offensive scheme to use the guys Iowa had. And no adding the jet sweep for Jonathan Parker to run every time he was on the field doesn’t count. My confidence in Brian comes from the fact that his other influence in coaching besides his dad is Bill Belichick. Belichick has had Patriot offenses that revolved around big physical RBs (Corey Dillon, Antwoine Smith, LaGarrette Blount), one tall speed WR and a small slot receiver (Randy Moss, Wes Welker), two dominant TEs (Rob Gronkowski and the felon), and multiple small receivers (Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, James White, Dion Lewis). Now all he needs is for Nathan Stanley to become Tom Brady, I’m sure that’s the easy part.
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