Iowa Hawkeyes (West Division)
Location: Iowa City, IA
Stadium: Kinnick Stadium (70,585)
Coach: Kirk Ferentz (19th year): 135-92 at Iowa/147-113 overall,
83-64 v B1G
2016 Iowa Hawkeyes (8-5)(6-3) 2017
Iowa Hawkeyes
45 Miami, OH 21 S2 Wyoming
42 Iowa State 3 S9 at Iowa State
21 North Dakota State 23 S16 North Texas
14 at Rutgers 7 S23 Penn State
31 Northwestern 38 S30 at Michigan State
14 at Minnesota 7 O7 Illinois
49 at Purdue 35 O14 idle
9 Wisconsin 17 O21 at
Northwestern
14 at Penn State 41 O28 Minnesota
14 Michigan 13 N4 Ohio State
28 at Illinois 0 N11 at Wisconsin
40 Nebraska 10 N18 Purdue
3 Florida 30 N24 at Nebraska (Friday)
(Outback Bowl)
The dean of
the B1G coaches, Kirk Ferentz enters his 19th season as Iowa coach
and he just signed an extension that runs through 2026. Ferentz will try to improve on an up-and-down
2016 campaign that saw a home loss to FCS opponent North Dakota State, but also
a win against Michigan. Alas, the
embarrassing 30-3 loss to Florida in the Outback Bowl was the capper on a
somewhat disappointing 8-5 campaign.
Brian Ferentz, who served as the Hawkeyes’ offensive line coach the past
five seasons, will take over as offensive coordinator. It is hoped that will help rejuvenate an Iowa
offense that ranked a paltry 95th in the FBS with a mere 24.9 points
per game. That starts at quarterback,
where the challenge is finding a replacement for the departed C.J.
Beathard. At the conclusion of spring
practice, sophomore Nathan Stanley, who was Beathard’s backup, appeared to have
the edge. But junior Tyler Wiegars and
sophomore Drew Cook will get their chances once practice resumes in August. Appearing in seven games last year, Stanley
was 5 out of 9 for 62 yards. The
strength for Iowa figures to be in the running game and senior Akrum Wadley is
at the center of that attack. He
finished with 1081 yards and ten touchdowns last season while grabbing 36
receptions for 315 yards. He had 167
total yards and a touchdown in their upset of Michigan. Senior Drake Kulick will come in as a
blocking back when they decide to use a FB.
The Hawkeyes have experience coming back at receiver. Junior Jermanic Smith was second on the team
last year with 23 catches for 314 yards and two scores in Iowa’s run-heavy
offense, while senior Matt Vandeberg was just behind him with 19 receptions for
284 yards and three scores. It is
important the Hawkeyes find a replacement for the departed TE George Kittle,
given the importance of the TE in their offense. The spring drills saw sophomore Noah Fant and
senior Peter Pekar separate themselves from the others, with Pekar having a
slight edge thus far, although Fant had the edge a year ago (9 catches to
1). Iowa’s offensive line looks solid,
anchored by seniors Boone Myers and Ike Boettger at the tackle spots. The other three also have experience,
highlighted by senior RG Sean Welch.
Junior LG Keegan Render and his classmate at center, James Daniels, also
had game experience from a year ago.
RB Akrum Wadley
Iowa’s defense
continues to thrive on stopping the run and 2016 was no exception. The Hawkeyes allowed just 10 touchdowns on
the ground. The defensive line loses an
outstanding player in Jaleel Johnson, but ends Anthony Nelson (so) and Matt
Nelson (jr) are back after combining for 11.5 sacks in 2016. Sophomore Cedrick Lattimore and senior Nathan
Bazata figure to lock down the interior spots.
Bazata had 39 tackles and 3 TFLs, while Lattimore saw spot duty and
managed a sack. The line backing corps
is the strength of this defense as all three starters return, led by
All-American candidate MLB Josey Jewell, who has led the team in tackles the
past two seasons and had 124 last year.
Beside him will be Bo Bower, second on the team with 91 stops last year,
and Ben Niemann, who garnered 69 tackles.
The line backing corps is one of the best in the conference. Safety Brandon Snyder tore his ACL in spring
practice and is doubtful this season.
His position could be filled by either junior Jake Gervase or sophomore
Wes Dvorak. Gervase saw action in all 13
games in 2016 as a backup, recording four tackles, while Dvorak saw action on
special teams. Sophomores Michael
Rugamba and Michael Ojemudia should get the starting nod at the corners. Rugamba had 19 tackles and two interceptions
and Ojemudia chipped in five tackles.
Senior Miles Taylor is back at SS after getting 45 stops last year.
Sophomore
Keith Duncan returns after hitting on 9 of 11 of his field goal attempts while
sophomore Colten Rastetter appears to have the edge thus far at punter to
replace the departed Ron Coluzzi.
The Hawkeyes
signed defensive linemen A.J. Epenesa, a five-star recruit who could be the
best defensive prospect signed by any B1G team.
They picked up two very good linemen on the offensive side of the ball
in Tristan Wirfs and Mark Kallenberger.
Djimon Colbert should make an impact right away in the secondary.
MLB Josey Jewell
Iowa’s
non-conference results the last two years indicated which way their season
would go. In 2015, their hard-fought
victory over Pittsburgh led to an undefeated regular season; their loss to
North Dakota State last year led to an up-and-down season the rest of the
way. November is very demanding,
starting out with Ohio State and road trips to Wisconsin and Nebraska. Iowa will be in the mix to get to
Indianapolis, but they’ll need more consistency on both sides of the ball than
last year.
PREDICTION: 8-4 (5-4) 3rd
in B1G West
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