44 Former Hawkeyes on NFL Rosters

Aug. 16, 2011

• 2011 Fall Camp Central
• 2011 Football Game Day Parking Changes
• America Needs Farmers website
• 2011 UI Football Media Guide
• 2011 UI Football Fact Book
• 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
• gohawks.com
• Iowa Football Wallpaper

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa football team has 44 former players in NFL training camps. The total ranks as the seventh-highest of any school in the country and the second-most in the Big Ten behind Ohio State (49).

Hawkeye squads typically are very solid in the trenches. No surprise that the positions best represented in the NFL are defensive line (nine players) and offensive line (11 players). Two former Hawkeye defensive line standouts, Matt Kroul of the New York Jets and Bryan Mattison of the Baltimore Ravens, have moved to offensive line for their respective teams. Eight former Iowa defensive backs, six linebackers and five former tight ends are also found on NFL rosters.

Special teams, another standout area under Head Coach Kirk Ferentz, are also well represented in the NFL. Two former Hawkeye punters, 11-year NFL veteran Jason Baker and rookie Ryan Donahue, are on rosters. All-Pro kicker Nate Kaeding of the San Diego Chargers returns for his eighth season. Long snapper Andrew Schulze is in his first season with the Atlanta Falcons.

Kansas City Chief Casey Wiegmann is the longest-tenured former Hawkeye. He is in his 16th year. Twelve players from Iowa’s 2010 squad are currently on NFL rosters.

Former Hawkeye football players are represented on 24 of the 32 NFL teams. The Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings each have four former Hawkeyes on their rosters. In addition, five former Hawkeyes with NFL experience are listed as NFL free agents: Ladell Betts, Jared DeVries, Abdul Hodge, Ken Iwebema and Albert Young.

The Hawkeyes open the season Sept. 3, hosting Tennessee Tech (11 a.m., BTN HD).