2007 IOWA FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
The 2006 University of Iowa football season resembled a two-act play. The first act was pure enjoyment for everyone connected with Hawkeye football. The second act, in turn, was a disappointment. Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and all connected with Iowa football would be just fine if they never again experience what happened during the second half of the 2006 season. A repeat of the first half would be just fine.
The Hawkeyes ended the 2006 campaign with a 6-7 record. A combination of untimely injuries, along with both physical and mental errors at inappropriate moments, resulted in Iowa losing six of its last seven games. This on the heels of beginning the season with five wins in the first six games and a spot in the national rankings.
Despite the second act, the Hawkeyes, and their reputation for being a great bowl team, received an invitation to the 2006 Alamo Bowl. It was Iowa's sixth straight bowl appearance (one of only three teams in the Big Ten to do so) and followed four straight years of January bowl game appearances. The Hawkeyes outplayed defending national champion Texas for much of the game. Ultimately, the Longhorns scored a come-from-behind 26-24 win over the underdog Hawkeyes. But, Iowa left Texas with its confidence restored and eager to begin the 2007 season.
And, once again, the reputation of the Iowa fans and their loyalty helped land Iowa in the Alamo Bowl. The Hawkeyes sold their entire ticket allotment to the game and helped bowl officials attract the largest crowd ever to see an Alamo Bowl game (65,875). The game also became the most viewed bowl game in ESPN history. Quite a testament to the football rich traditions of both Iowa and Texas.
Iowa City became the center of the college football world last Sept. 30th. Top-ranked Ohio State visited the 13th -ranked Hawkeyes in front of a national prime-time ABC television audience. Earlier in the day, ESPN's College Gameday (both television and radio) visited Iowa City again. Another Iowa sellout crowd of 70,585 witnessed a near flawless performance by the eventual Big Ten champion Buckeyes.
Wins over Montana, Syracuse, Iowa State and Illinois came before the loss to Ohio State. A big win over Purdue preceded Iowa's slide into act two of the 2006 season. But a poor second half to the 2006 campaign doesn't dampen what's happened in Iowa football over the last six years.
An appearance in the 2006 Outback Bowl put the Hawkeyes along side Southern Cal, Georgia and Florida State as the only teams with a four straight January Bowl appearances. Only USC made it five straight. Iowa's 25 conference wins in the 2002-05 seasons tie a team best and was bettered by no other Big Ten team in that time frame. A total of 44 wins over the last five years (8.8 average) ranks with the nation's best.
The last five years have been unprecedented in Iowa football history. It's resulted in two Big Ten championships (2002 & 2004), four January bowl games and three finishes in the nation's top ten. A 22-game home winning streak (broken in 2005) and 24 straight home sellouts are additional positives of a program rich in tradition and consistency. A pair of January bowl wins over highly regarded teams from the Southeastern Conference (Florida & LSU) are two more notches on the Hawkeye win belt.
Ferentz has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year twice and was the 2002 Associated Press National Coach of the Year. Defensive Coordinator Norm Parker has been a finalist for the Frank Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year Award twice (2004 & 2005). And, Ron Aiken was named Assistant Coach of the Year in college football in 2002.
Aiken left the Iowa staff earlier this year for a similar position with the NFL Arizona Cardinals. Only five coaches have left the Ferentz staff in the last nine years. Two of the five are now collegiate head coaches and the other three are coaches in the NFL. There is no question staff continuity has played a major role in Iowa's success.
Hawkeyes named to the 2006 all-Big Ten first or second team included offensive linemen Mike Jones and Marshal Yanda, tight end Scott Chandler, defensive back Marcus Paschal and linebacker Mike Klinkenborg.
The Hawkeyes had a banner year academically. Offensive lineman Mike Elgin, linebacker Mike Klinkenborg and defensive back Adam Shada were first team academic all-Americans. Elgin was named to the prestigious team for the second straight year. Iowa was the only school in the nation to have three players on the first unit. Eight Hawkeyes were also named to the Academic all-Big Ten team.
Departed quarterback Drew Tate leaves the Hawkeyes with his name firmly embedded in the Iowa record book following three years as the starter. He ranks second in passing yards (8,292), TD passes (61), completions (665), attempts (1,090) and total offense (8,427). He was 207-352 for 2,623 yards last year to rank second in the league.
Defenders Miguel Merrick (202) and Ed Miles (207) finished their careers with over 200 tackles while Marcus Paschal finished with 199 stops. Placekicker Kyle Schlicher finished his career with 260 points to wind up fourth on Iowa's all-time scoring charts.
The 2006 Hawkeyes played in a renovated Kinnick Stadium that was given a two-year $90 million facelift. The totally rebuilt south end zone and pressbox areas are a showcase. Kinnick Stadium has always been one of the best venues in college football and now it's even more impressive.
The Hawkeyes have sold out their home schedule the last three years, setting attendance records each season. The 2005 and 2006 home attendance average of 70,585 is an Iowa record. The Hawkeyes have played before 24 consecutive home sellouts, also a school record.
Iowa fans have an unmatched reputation for following their team. More than 15,000 made the trip to San Antonio for the 2006 Alamo Bowl, despite the team's 6-6 record. That means over 135,000 Hawkeye fans have traveled to Iowa's last five bowl games (2003 Orange, 50,000; 2004 Outback, 20,000; 2005 Capital One, 30,000; 2006 Outback, 20,000). It is no coincidence that Iowa ranks high on the wish list of virtually every bowl game in America.
Once again, all 13 of Iowa's games were televised last season. The Hawkeyes appeared on national TV eight times during the 2006 season (13 times the last two years). Iowa has been very popular with the networks, as 65 straight games have been televised. The last time an Iowa game was not aired on TV was against Minnesota during the 2001 season.
The Hawkeyes had another outstanding senior class last year. The graduates include five starters from offense (Scott Chandler, Marshal Yanda, Mike Jones, Mike Elgin and Drew Tate and three from defense (Miguel Merrick, Marcus Paschal and Ed Miles). Special teamers Andy Fenstermaker and Kyle Schlicher are also gone. The Hawkeyes lost 20 lettermen (13 offense, five defense, two special teams) from last year's roster.
Because of Iowa's performance in the Alamo Bowl, expectations will again be high this year. A strong blend of experience and talented underclassmen are reasons for this optimism The defense returns eight starters. Special teams and offense will see a lot of new starters with excellent potential in the lineup.
A total of 37 lettermen return, eight less than last year. That list includes eight returning starters on defense (Ken Iwebema, Matt Kroul, Mitch King, Bryan Mattison, Mike Humpal, Mike Klinkenborg, Charles Godfrey and Adam Shada) and six on offense (Tom Busch, Albert Young, Andy Brodell, Dominique Douglass, Rafael Eubanks and Seth Olsen).
The 2007 Hawkeyes will play a 12-game schedule, which includes six home games. The opener will be Sept. 1st against Northern Illinois at Soldier Field in Chicago. The home opener is the following week against Syracuse. Missing from the Hawkeye schedule are Big Ten foes Michigan and Ohio State. The Hawkeyes do not have an open date.
Here is a look at the Hawkeyes, position by position.
QUARTERBACK
For the first time in four years the Iowa quarterback position will not belong to Drew Tate. Tate ended his Iowa career ranked in the top five of virtually every Iowa passing mark. The Hawkeyes won 23 games in that span and made it to the Capital One, Outback and Alamo Bowls. His signal calling abilities will be missed. Also gone is Jason Manson, who proved to be an invaluable team leader as a quarterback and receiver.
The search for Iowa's next quarterback has to start with sophomore Jake Christensen (6-1, 205). He the only returning signal caller with any game experience. Christensen started one game last year (Northern Illinois) and played in a total of five games behind Tate. He was 23-35 passing for 285 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The 6-1, 205-pounder is considered a strong passer, but not as elusive on his feet as his predecessor.
A pair of freshmen from Ohio, Arvell Nelson (6-4, 175) and Richard Stanzi (6-4, 200) are listed behind Christensen and could have something to say about who is Iowa's next quarterback. Both have excellent credentials, are very athletic and were impressive during their redshirt campaigns last year.
It'll be hard to replace the all-Big Ten credentials Drew Tate left behind, but quarterback Coach Ken O'Keefe feels the Hawkeyes have excellent talent ready to step to the front this season.
RUNNING BACK
Two of the top running backs in the Big Ten will be seniors on the 2007 Iowa roster. All-America candidate Albert Young (5-10- 209) and Damian Sims (5-9-185) return for their final seasons.
Young and Sims combined for 1,443 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns last season. The pair had 310 rushing attempts. The duo is considered by many to be the top 1-2 rushing threat in the league. Young was hurt much of the 2006 season but still rushed for a team-best 779 yards.
In addition, Young caught 30 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown as Iowa's fourth leading receiver in 2006. He has excellent power and is good at breaking tackles. Young is currently eighth on Iowa's career rushing charts with 2,205 yards. He could move as high as second on the Iowa rushing charts with a good 2007. He ranked 17th nationally in rushing yards as a sophomore.
Sims is an explosive breakaway threat and is especially dangerous when put into the lineup after the opposing defense gets a steady dose of Albert Young. Sims, a three-time starter last year, also led Iowa in 2006 kickoff returns with 10 for 184 yards.
Junior Shonn Greene (5-11, 225) rushed for 206 yards, 6.4 yards per carry, last year. He is an outstanding insurance policy for Iowa's running game. He's a power runner with deceptively good speed. The possibility of Shonn being redshirted this season has been discussed and will depend on the health of Young and Sims.
Sophomore Dana Brown (5-10, 203) is the only other running back with any experience. He rushed four times for 16 yards and one score last year. Adding depth to the rushing corps is freshman Paki O'Meara (5-11, 205).
Iowa's running backs are strong and talented and the top pair provides an excellent 1-2 punch. The success of a new quarterback and a rebuilt offensive line will greatly determine the success of this unit.
FULLBACK
Senior Tom Busch (5-11, 231) returns, having started 26 consecutive games at fullback. He's one of only two (TE Scott Chandler) offensive players to start at the same position, every game, last year. He rushed only two times last year, but caught eight passes for 55 yards and three touchdowns. He is considered an excellent blocker and pass receiver.
Junior Jordan McLaughlin (6-0, 227) is Busch's backup. Like Busch, McLaughlin is a converted linebacker. He saw limited action in 10 games last year and recorded no statistics. Another linebacker moving over to fullback will be redshirt freshman Brett Morse (6-3, 220). The only other fullback listed on the spring roster is junior Eddie Williams (5-11, 230).
Iowa's fullbacks have been used primarily as blockers the last few years. This could be a breakout year for this particular position in regards to yardage and run production.
TIGHT END
The Hawkeyes lost considerable talent with the graduation of Scott Chandler and Ryan Majerus. Both saw considerable playing time over the last four years. Chandler was a second team all-Big Ten selection and was picked to play in the Senior Bowl. He started all 13 games and was Iowa's second leading receiver with 46 catches for 591 yards and six touchdowns. His size and pass catching ability will be missed.
Junior Tony Moeaki (6-4, 250) is Iowa's leading candidate to take over the top spot. He has seen extensive action over the last two years and should provide invaluable experience at the position. Moeaki caught 11 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns in 2006. He played in every game as a true freshman in 2005.
Junior Brandon Myers (6-4, 242) is listed behind Moeaki. He is a highly effective pass catcher capable of considerable playing time.
Junior Michael Sabers (6-5, 240) and sophomore Richie Amendola (6-3, 235) lead a group of underclassmen hoping for playing time. Others are sophomore Kyle Spading (6-6, 255), junior Lucas Cox (6-4, 247) and converted sophomore wide receiver Tyler Gerstandt (6-6, 220).
Talent doesn't seem to be a problem at tight end. Coach Eric Johnson will need to build stronger depth this spring so the loss of Chandler and Majerus isn't felt so strongly.
WIDE RECEIVER
The Hawkeyes were extremely young and inexperienced at wide receiver last year. The inexperience showed in the form of dropped passes at the most inopportune times. The good news is that virtually all of those young and talented receivers are back with a year's experience under their belts.
Eight players are listed at the two wide receiver spots on the spring roster. Of those eight players, four are redshirt freshmen, three are sophomores and one's a junior. The experience picked up last year should make for a strong receiving corps the next two or three years.
The top returnees are sophomore Dominique Douglas (6-1, 185) and junior Andy Brodell (6-3, 193). Douglas started the final 11 games as a true freshman. He led the nation's true freshmen receivers with 49 catches and his 654 receiving yards was second nationally. He averaged 13.3 yards per catch. Those numbers made him Iowa's leading receiver and got him selected to the Sporting News third freshman all-America team and Sporting News' first freshman all-Big Ten team.
Brodell was Iowa's third leading receiver with 39 receptions for 724 yards and five touchdowns. He had six catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns against Texas in the Alamo Bowl. The 159 yards is an Alamo Bowl record and his 63-yard scoring reception against the Longhorns is the longest in Iowa bowl history. Brodell caught 13 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games of the 2006 season.
Sophomores Trey Stross (6-3, 190) and Anthony Bowman (5-11, 165) gained valuable experience as freshman. Bowman played as a true freshman. Stross caught 13 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown. Bowman had no catches with limited playing time.
Four redshirt freshmen are all considered talented with an excellent chance to gain playing time this fall. The four are James Cleveland (6-1, 185), Paul Chaney (5-9, 160), Derrell Johnson-Koulianos (6-1, 205) and Ben Evans (6-0, 170). The quartet has great hands and speed and are expected to help the Hawkeye receiving corps.
This is a unit where all the candidates have a great chance to impress the coaches this spring. Eventually, Iowa's receiving corps will be very deep and talented. A little game experience is all that's needed.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Iowa's 2007 offensive line will need to reload this year following the loss of three valuable starters. How effectively the Hawkeyes fill those three spots could determine how successful the 2007 season is. Gone are starting guards Mike Elgin and Mike Jones, along with tackle Marshal Yanda. Jones was a first team all-Big Ten choice while Yanda made the second team. Elgin, a three-year starter, was honorable mention all-Big Ten and a two-time first team academic all-American.
A good place to start rebuilding the line is at center. Back doing the snapping will be sophomore Rafael Eubanks (6-3, 288). He was named to at least three freshman all-America teams. A mid-season injury forced Eubanks out of the lineup, but he still started nine games during the 2006 campaign.
Backing up Eubanks will be junior Rob Bruggeman (6-3, 280) who has gained considerable experience in a reserve role. Adding depth to the center spot will be junior Anton Narinskiy (6-4, 260) and freshman Josh Koeppel (6-1, 247).
Ferentz feels confident and strong about the two junior offensive tackles listed number one on the depth charts. Seth Olsen (6-5, 301) had an outstanding sophomore season and is listed No. 1 on the right side after starting five times at guard and five times at tackle last year. Dace Richardson (6-6, 306) started eight games at left tackle during an injury plagued season. The Hawkeyes are much stronger on the line with a healthy Richardson.
A major switch is taking place here with the move of junior Alex Kanellis (6-4, 281) from the defensive side. Kanellis started four times as a defensive end where he registered 19 tackles last year. He'll start the spring at offensive tackle. He had an appendectomy just prior to the Illinois game last year and played in the Ohio State game a week later. Obviously, toughness is not a question with Kanellis, who played in 2005 as a true freshman.
There isn't much experience behind Olsen and Richardson at tackle, but there's no denying the talent that's present and ready for action. Behind Olsen are converted sophomore tight end Tyler Blum (6-6, 260) and junior Nyere Aumaitre (6-5, 295). Hoping to steal playing time from Richardson is sophomore Kyle Calloway (6-7, 295), junior Austin Postler (6-5, 277) and freshman Kyle Haganman (6-5, 262).
It's a new ball game at guard, as both listed starters will be seeing their first action on the top line. Sophomore Andy Kuempel (6-7, 295) will begin spring ball as the top guard on the left side. His backup is sophomore Dan Doering (6-5, 290). Junior Wes Aeschliman (6-8, 315) is big and talented and will begin spring ball as the No. 1 right guard. Behind Aeschliman will be sophomore Travis Meade (6-2, 280) and freshman Julian Vandervelde (6-3, 275).
With a new quarterback and experienced running backs, it's imperative that the offensive line make major strides forward during spring practice.
DEFENSIVE LINE (Includes ends)
The Iowa defense found itself in unfamiliar and uncomfortable terrain last year. It's been the norm for a Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Norm Parker coached defense to be in the Big Ten's upper defensive echelons. Injuries and other problems put the 2006 Iowa defense in the position of giving up much more yardage that it's accustomed to. It's a problem the Hawkeyes don't expect to last very long.
The Hawkeye d-line is rich in tradition and will be looking to rebound this year. Lending credence to Iowa's recent talented defensive lines are former Hawkeye defenders now playing in the NFL. All-pro Aaron Kampman heads a list which also includes Colin Cole, Matt Roth, Jonathan Babineaux and Derreck Robinson, to name a few.
The 2007 defensive line will have a new coach for the first time since Ferentz arrived. Ron Aiken has moved to the NFL and his replacement will be Rick Kaczenski, a graduate assistant on the Hawkeye staff last year.
Kaczenski will help coach an Iowa defense which returns eight starters. The defensive line could be very strong with both starting tackles and ends returning. The Hawkeye rush defense was seventh and total defense was sixth in the Big Ten last year. The strength of the line could ignite a surge to put Iowa's defense among the league's top units again.
Juniors Matt Kroul (6-3, 271) and Mitch King (6-3, 264) are both candidates for post-season honors as they return for their third year of extensive duty in the trenches. Kroul has been a starter 25 straight times and King has started 19 of the last 25 Hawkeye games. Both are very familiar with each other and their positions. The two accounted for 115 tackles (Kroul 59 and King 56) last season and 108 in 2005. King led the 2006 Hawkeyes with 12 tackles (49 yards) for loss. He also had five quarterback sacks. Kroul had 5.5 tackles (16 yards) for loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks.
Backing up the starters will be veteran junior Ryan Bain (6-2, 282) who has seen extensive action as both a tackle and an end. He started four times last year in place of the injured King and end Ken Iwebema. Bain had 35 tackles a year ago and a pair of tackles for loss. He had 21 tackles playing as a true freshman in 2005.
Junior Rashad Dunn (6-3, 290) is a backup at tackle after making the move from the offensive line. Iowa coaches feel Rashad could be a force in the Hawkeye line. Dunn saw limited offensive line action in his first two years.
Junior Grant McCracken (6-3, 245) and sophomore Mark Mahmens (6-3, 250) are hoping to learn the ropes behind Iowa veterans. Both will add depth while gaining valuable experience.
Like the defensive tackles, Iowa feels very good about its returning starters at end, but needs to develop depth behind them.
Seniors Bryan Mattison (6-3, 272) and Ken Iwebema (6-4, 270) are back for their final campaigns and both are candidates for post-season honors. Mattison has started 25 straight games while Iwebema has started 20 of the last 25. Iwebema was a first team all-Big Ten selection in 2005 and was named to many pre-season watch lists prior to the 2006 season. A shoulder injury kept him out of action for much of last season. He still was able to make 27 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks. A healthy Iwebema will be a big plus for the Iowa defense. Mattison was named to the 2006 honorable mention all-Big Ten team and was named a 2006 permanent team captain. He had 59 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss (74 yards) last year. His 6.5 quarterback sacks (-57 yards) led the team. Mattison led the Big Ten (league games only) and was 21st nationally in forced fumbles with four.
Behind those two ends are a group of talented, yet inexperienced players. Red-shirt freshman Adrian Clayborn (6-3, 250) is listed as a backup on both sides and is anxious to get into the battle for playing time. Joining him at the end spots will be sophomore Chad Geary (6-3, 220), junior Jared Oberland (6-0, 242) and redshirt freshman Karl Klug (6-4, 220).
The defensive line could become one of the best in the Big Ten again. Staying healthy and building depth is the key for Iowa's d-line this spring and fall. There's a lot of starting talent and considerable talent waiting for a chance to be recognized.
LINEBACKERS (includes outside linebacker)
Iowa's linebacking tradition is becoming pretty well known around the country. Two linebackers from the 2005 senior class are now highly regarded in the National Football League. They are Minnesota's Chad Greenway and Green Bay's Abdul Hodge.
Gone from 2006 is Edmond Miles, who accounted for 100 tackles, including 11 stops for loss. The Hawkeyes will miss his 207 career stops. Also gone is the valuable Zach Gabelmann. He only had 16 tackles last year, but was an important reserve and played a critical role on Iowa's specialty teams.
Returning starters are seniors Mike Klinkenborg (6-2, 240) and Mike Humpal (6-2, 232). Both started 12 of 13 games last season. Klinkenborg was a second team all-Big Ten choice after leading the Hawkeyes in tackles with 129. He also had five tackles for loss and was named a permanent team captain in 2006. He was named Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week for his play in Iowa's win over Syracuse last year. His 129 tackles rank second in the Big Ten and eighth nationally. On top of all that he was a first team Academic all-American with a 3.96 GPA. He'll be a strong candidate for post-season honors this year. Humpal had 49 tackles, 4.5 for losses. Humpal has been a steady dependable force on Iowa's defense.
Humpal was an outside linebacker, for the most part, last year. He'll move inside and will begin spring practice as a starter. Fighting Humpal and Klinkenborg for playing time will be senior Bryon Gattas (6-1, 233) and sophomore Pat Angerer (6-1, 222). Gattas is a junior college transfer who saw considerable playing time last season. He had seven tackles while playing in all 13 games. Angerer also played in every game last year, but registered only five tackles. The combination of Klinkenborg, Humpal, Gattas and Angerer at inside linebacker give the Hawkeyes strength and depth at the position.
Sophomore A.J. Edds (6-4, 224) will begin spring ball as the top outside linebacker. Edds began 2006 as a true freshman tight end and made the switch early in the season. Edds started the Purdue game in place of the injured Humpal. He was credited with nine tackles and a forced fumble last year. Edds was named to the Sporting News Freshman first all-Big Ten team and honorable mention freshman all-America team.
It's plain to see the Hawkeyes need to develop more depth at the linebacking position with three of the top four being seniors and not much experience behind them.
The other linebacking candidates have little, if any, game experience. They include junior Gavin McGrath (6-2, 231), freshmen Jeremiha Hunter (6-2, 217), Jeff Tarpinian (6-3, 205) and junior Jon Isgrig (6-1, 235). All have excellent potential and are just waiting for their chance.
Iowa linebacking has a reputation for being good, hard-hitting football players. This year is no different. It's been said before about other defensive units on the team; the starters are good and depth needs to be fortified this spring. The talent is there.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The good news is the return of both cornerbacks. The bad news is the loss of two four-year lettermen starters. Aside from the returning starters, the backfield will be green and inexperienced.
Last year the Hawkeyes were trying to recover from the loss of cornerbacks Antwan Allen and Jovon Johnson. This year the loss of safeties Marcus Paschal and Miguel Merrick will be felt just as strongly. The two veterans accounted for 149 tackles last year with Merrick getting credit for 82 and Paschal 67. Both were honorable mention all-Big Ten in 2006. The pair had over 400 career tackles between them.
Senior Adam Shada (6-1, 185) will start at one corner with senior Charles Godfrey (6-1, 208) at the other. Shada started the first eight games last year before being sidelined with a leg injury. He returned to play in the Alamo Bowl. Shada was an honorable mention all-Big Ten pick and another Hawkeye first team Academic all-American (there were three last year). He had 40 tackles and three interceptions, including a record 98-yarder for a touchdown against Purdue.
Godfrey started all 13 games last year after starting three in 2005. Godfrey was Iowa's third leading tackler last year with 83 stops. He had two interceptions and forced one fumble.
Only four other defensive backs have seen appreciable game experience. They are junior Bradley Fletcher (6-2, 195), sophomore Marcus Wilson (6-3, 198), sophomore Justin Edwards (6-1, 165) and senior Drew Gardner (5-10, 178). Wilson started two games in place of the injured Paschal at mid-season and Fletcher started four games late in the season when Shada was injured. Fletcher played in every game last year and had 38 tackles and a forced fumble while Wilson had 21 stops and an interception. Gardner had five tackles and Edwards four. All, except Wilson, are listed as cornerbacks.
Wilson will enter spring ball as the top free safety. The top strong safety belongs to junior Harold Dalton (6-1, 192) for the start of spring practice. It'll be up to Dalton to solidify his status this spring.
A number of other young reserves hope to do well enough to impress Coach Phil Parker this spring. They are freshmen Nick Kuchel (5-11, 184), Brett Greenwood (6-0, 185), Troy Johnson (6-2, 215), Lance Tillison (6-2, 205), Derrick Smith (6-0, 195), Jayme Murphy (5-11, 215), Amari Spievey (6-0, 175) and sophomores Chris Rowell (6-1, 187) and Taylor Herbst (6-1, 220).
The backfield appears, on paper, to be Iowa's most vulnerable spot on defense. But the talent, albeit young and untested, is just waiting to show what they can do. This unit could become deep and talented this year and in years to follow.
SPECIAL TEAMS
It's a whole new ball game for Iowa's kicking game. Placekicker Kyle Schlicher and punter Andy Fenstermaker are both gone. Both were honorable mention all-Big Ten choices last year and were on the watchlists for kicker and punter of the year awards.
Schlicher finished his career with 260 points to rank fourth on Iowa's all-time scoring charts. He was 51-65 on career field goals and made 106 of 111 extra points. His 51 career field goals rank third in Iowa history. Like Nate Kaeding, the loss of Kyle Schlicher will be a big one for the Hawkeyes. Fenstermaker was reliable averaging nearly 38 yards a punt. Of his 56 punts, 19 were downed inside the 20-yard line.
So who's the next man in for the Hawkeyes?
Freshman Ryan Donahue (6-3, 180) sat out last year after joining the Hawkeyes as one of the nation's top prep punters (and placekicker). He'll begin the spring as the starting punter.
The top two placekickers are sophomore Austin Signor (6-4, 230) and freshman Daniel Murray (5-10, 175). Signor did most of Iowa's kickoff duties last year. He was 2-2 on field goals (41 & 35 yards) and 5-5 on extra points. He has a strong leg and needs to become more consistent. Murray will be pushing Signor for playing time.
The Hawkeyes finished first in Big Ten in kickoff coverage two years ago and eighth last year. The Hawkeyes were 10th in Big Ten kickoff returns. Punt returns and net punting both ranked sixth in the Big Ten. And for the first time in recent memory Iowa did not block a kick. It's obvious to all the Hawkeye special teams need to see improvement this year. It's not coincidental that good Iowa teams (and good records) were accompanied by stellar special teams play.
It's said often in Iowa City, but it's especially true this year; the way to a coaches heart is with special teams. With so many young players on the roster, this is a good area to gain the attention of the coaches. Strong special teams play is a great ticket to earning additional playing time on the field.
THE SCHEDULE
Iowa will play a 12-game regular season schedule that includes six home games, five road games and a season opener at a neutral site. There is no week off during the campaign. The Hawkeyes have traditionally played one of the nation's top schedules and this year is no different. Seven of last year's opponents appeared in bowl games and six teams on the 2007 schedule played in 2006 bowl games. New to Iowa's non-conference schedule is season-closing foe Western Michigan (Nov. 17th). Other non-conference games include the Sept. 1st season opener against Northern Illinois at Soldier Field in Chicago. That game is followed by a home contest against Syracuse and a road trip against Iowa State. The Hawkeyes also have Kinnick Stadium contests with Indiana, Illinois, Michigan State and Minnesota. Big Ten road contests include Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue and Northwestern. Michigan and Ohio State are Big Ten teams not on the Iowa schedule for the next two years.
