Two of a Kind

Jan. 14, 2010

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EDITOR’S NOTE:The following first appeared in the Jan. 13 edition of the University of Iowa’s Official Sports Report, a free daily e-newsletter. For more information about the UI’s OSR, click HERE.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl offered an interesting juxtaposition of a pair of Iowa Hawkeyes, both of whom appear destined for special things.

First, you have Tony Moeaki. The extremely gifted senior tight end from Wheaton, Ill., closed his collegiate career with an impressive night: Four catches, a total which tied for the team high and included a 54-yarder that set up the Hawkeyes’ first score of the game.

Moeaki was the 2009 Iowa football team’s “Superman.” He could catch. He could run. He could block. The perfect young man for the tight end position at Iowa. And, to boot, a perfect young man: Great personality, great family, great work ethic, great teammate.

One of those one-in-a-million that is a difference-maker in so many ways.

Moeaki’s four catches against Georgia Tech gave him a career-high 30 for 2009, four of which resulting in seven points for the good guys. A healthy Moeaki from Game 1 to Game 13 probably closes his collegiate career with 15 or so more catches. He was that big a target with big, soft hands, and the athleticism to make a catch in tight spaces and advance the ball once he secured possession.

His 10 catches in the season-opening victory over Northern Iowa was clear evidence of what a healthy Tony meant to the Hawkeyes. The coaching staff would be quick to point out that he was the complete tight end, e.g. he could block and block very well. If you have the Orange Bowl on tape or DVD or DVR, take a moment to check out his work on runs by Robinson and Wegher. He’s often the guy sealing the corner, giving his teammate a clean lane to daylight.

Moeaki, who undoubtedly will hear his name called during this year’s NFL Draft, will be missed. Fortunately for fans of the Hawkeyes, the heir apparent, Allan Reisner, appears more than ready, willing and able. The junior from Marion completed 2009 with a career-high 14 catches and a touchdown in action that spread across all 13 games the FedEx Orange Bowl champions played.

At the other end of the spectrum, you have Marvin McNutt. You don’t have to be a football genius to appreciate what McNutt accomplished in 2009 and to recognize that the sky appears to be the limit for the talented product from St. Louis.

McNutt’s story has been told and retold and told again: In short, he took his coaches up on the offer to move from quarterback to wide receiver and, today, the decision by both is an unqualified success.

Like Moeaki, McNutt closed the book on 2009 with four catches in Miami. His second covered four yards and capped a seven-play, 80-yard drive that gave the Hawkeyes a lead they never relinquished. That catch was a thing of beauty. Made over the defender in the back right corner of the end zone, it put on full display for the nation to see the great strides made by the Hawkeyes’ 6-foot-4 sophomore. McNutt was strong with his hands, was perfect with his timing, and was confident and deliberate with his feet.

McNutt is one of a handful – a very large handful – of very, very talented skill players who will return to historic Kinnick Stadium next fall. He’ll bring to spring drills, summer workouts, and two-a-days in August the confidence borne from a season that included 34 receptions for a team-high average of 19.8 yard per catch and a team-high eight touchdowns.

And if you were to ask Eric Campbell, Iowa’s wide receivers coach, there’s a good chance that he’d tell you that McNutt the receiver is just a very talented baby learning to crawl.