Game Notes: Iowa at Rutgers

24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawkeyes in the NFL | Hawk Talk Monthly — September 2016 | Game Notes

1st and 10
1: The Hawkeyes have a Big Ten best eight-game regular season conference winning streak. Iowa has not won nine consecutive Big Ten regular season games since stringing together 10 straight from 2001-02.
 
2: The Hawkeyes have won six consecutive road games (the final road game at Illinois in 2014, and all five road games in 2015). It’s their longest road winning streak since winning six straight from 2002-03.
 
3: Saturday marks the 14th time in Kirk Ferentz’s 18 years at Iowa that the Hawkeyes open the conference season on the road. Iowa has won its last three Big Ten openers (24-10 at Purdue in 2014; 23-7 at Minnesota in 2013; 10-6 at Wisconsin in 2015).
 
4: Senior QB C.J. Beathard is 15-3 as Iowa’s starting quarterback, including  9-0 in Big Ten regular season games  and 6-0 in true road games.  
 
5: WR Matt VandeBerg ranks third in the Big Ten averaging 89.0 receiving yards per game. His 15 receptions tie for fourth most in the conference.  He has eight career receiving TDs, three in the last two games.
 
6: DE Anthony Nelson ranks second in the Big Ten with 3.5 sacks (20 yards). He recorded 2.5 sacks for a loss of 16 yards in his Hawkeye debut in Week 1, earning B1G Freshman of the Week honors.
 
7: The Hawkeyes are 12-for-12 in the redzone, converting 11 touchdowns (6 rush, 5 pass) and one field goal (22). Rutgers has allowed just three scores in its opponents’ seven trips to the redzone.
 
8: The Hawkeyes are +4 in turnover margin. Iowa has five takeaways — two interceptions, three fumble recoveries – and has turned four of the five takeaways into touchdowns.
 
9: The Hawkeyes are the only Big Ten team yet to cover a punt return. P Ron Coluzzi averages 43.9 yards on 13 punts and is yet to have a punt returned. Rutgers’ Janarion Grant averages 16 yards per punt return with one touchdown (69 yards).
 
10: Kirk Ferentz has 76 Big Ten wins. With a win Saturday, he will pass Robert Zuppke (Illinois) and move into sole possession of seventh place among the conference’s all-time winningest coaches in Big Ten games. Lloyd Carr is sixth with 81 Big Ten victories.
 
     HAWKEYE HUDDLE AT SHERATON NYC TIMES SQUARE
     Hawkeye fans following the University of Iowa football team to Rutgers for its first road game of the season are encouraged to attend the Hawkeye Huddle Friday evening in New York City.
     Fans are invited to join the National I-Club and University of Iowa Alumni Association from 6-8 p.m. (ET) at the Sheraton NYC, Times Square (811 7th Avenue/W 53rd Street) in the third floor ballroom.
     For more details visit jointheiclub.com or find the National I-Club (@jointheiclub) or UI Alumni Association (@uIowaAlumni) on Facebook and Twitter.
 
     BIG TEN PERFECTION
    University of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has twice navigated the Big Ten regular season schedule with an undefeated record. The Hawkeyes were 8-0 in 2002 and shared the Big Ten championship with Ohio State, and 8-0 in 2015, winning the Big Ten West Division title.
     Since 1954, when the conference schedule expanded to seven games, only six Big Ten coaches, including Ferentz, have multiple undefeated Big Ten seasons.

     Coach (School)                                    Record    Year
     Duffy Daugherty (MSU)                            7-0        1965
     Duffy Daugherty (MSU)                            7-0        1966
     Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)                                 8-0        2002
     Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)                                 8-0        2015
     Woody Hayes (OSU)                                7-0        1954
     Woody Hayes (OSU)                                7-0        1957
     Woody Hayes (OSU)                                7-0        1968
     Woody Hayes (OSU)                                7-0        1970
     Woody Hayes (OSU)                                8-0        1975
     Urban Meyer (OSU)                                  8-0        2012
     Urban Meyer (OSU)                                  8-0        2013
     Urban Meyer (OSU)                                  8-0        2014
     Bo Schembechler (Michigan)                    8-0        1971
     Bo Schembechler (Michigan)                    8-0        1980
     Bo Schembechler (Michigan)                    8-0        1989      
     Jim Tressel (OSU)                                   8-0        2002
     Jim Tressel (OSU)                                   8-0        2006
 
     STREAKING ON THE ROAD, THROUGH THE BIG TEN
     The Hawkeyes have a Big Ten best eight-game regular season conference winning streak. Iowa was 8-0 in the Big Ten last year, including a 4-0 mark at home and a 4-0 mark on the road. The eight-game winning streak is Iowa’s longest since winning eight in a row between the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Iowa has not won nine consecutive Big Ten regular season games since stringing together 10 straight from 2001-02. The school record for consecutive Big Ten regular season wins is 13, set between the 1920 and 1923 seasons.
     The Hawkeyes have won six consecutive road games (the final road game at Illinois in 2014, and all five road games in 2015). It’s their longest road winning streak since winning six straight from 2002-03. The school record for consecutive road wins is eight, set from 1920-23.
 
     FERENTZ CLOSING IN ON ROBERT ZUPPKE, LLOYD CARR
     Head coach Kirk Ferentz has 129 wins in all games played as a member of the Big Ten Conference. He ranks eighth in conference history, trailing Illinois’ Robert Zuppke, who won 131 games as a member of the Big Ten while coaching at Illinois.
     Ferentz has 76 Big Ten wins. With a win Saturday, he will pass Zuppke and move into sole possession of seventh place among the conference’s all-time winningest coaches in Big Ten games. Lloyd Carr is sixth with 81 Big Ten victories.
 
     HAWKEYE HISTORY
     Iowa has played 1,210 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 627-544-39 (.533). That includes a 395-214-16 (.641) record in home games, a 232-330-23 (.413) record in games away from Iowa City, a 314-366-25 (.457) mark in Big Ten games and a 278-178-15 (.600) record in Kinnick Stadium.
 
      THE SERIES
      Saturday’s game marks the first all-time meeting between two schools that have played a combined 2,486 games. Iowa has played 1,210 games since beginning football in 1889. Rutgers has played 1,276 games since beginning football in 1869. The Hawkeyes are 314-366-25 in conference games since joining the Big Ten in 1900. Rutgers is 4-12 since joining the Big Ten in 2014.
 
    IOWA/RUTGERS NOTES
•   Kirk Ferentz has 250 games as a college head coach (141-109). He has 76 Big Ten wins, tying Robert Zuppke (Illinois) as the seventh winningest coach in conference history. Chris Ash has coached three college games (2-1) as head coach and is making his Big Ten head coaching debut.
•   Rutgers head coach Chris Ash is a native of Ottumwa, Iowa, earned his bachelor’s degree from Drake in 1996, and his master’s degree from Iowa State in 2005. 
•   Rutgers head coach Chris Ash has been an assistant coach on the sideline opposite Iowa nine times. Against the Hawkeyes, he was 1-0 as an assistant at Wisconsin (2010), and 4-4 as an assistant at Iowa State (2000-06, 2009). 
•   Rutgers offensive line coach AJ Blazek was a two-year letterwinner at Iowa from 1999-2000. A former center, Blazek earned all-conference honors in 2000. He was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Following his playing career, Blazek coached on the Iowa sideline from 2001-04, first as a student assistant and later as a graduate assistant. Iowa won Big Ten titles in 2002 and 2004.
•   Iowa has two players from New Jersey on its roster, including RB Akrum Wadley and DE Brandon Simon, both from Newark.  Rutgers has no native Iowans on its playing roster.
•   The Hawkeyes are 12-for-12 in the redzone, converting 11 touchdowns (6 rush, 5 pass) and one field goal (22). Rutgers has allowed just three scores in its opponents’ seven trips to the redzone.
•   Rutgers defensive coordinator Jay Niemann is a native of Avoca, Iowa.  His two sons are both members of the Iowa football team.  Ben is a Hawkeye junior who starts at outside linebacker.  He leads the team in tackles (23) and has one interception.  Nick is a true freshman who has not yet seen action and is a redshirt candidate.
 
      COACH TO CURE MD CELEBRATES NINTH SEASON
      This week the Iowa and Rutgers coaching staffs will be wearing special arm patches in honor of the AFCA’s Coach to Cure MD program. This is the ninth year coaches around the country join together to raise funding and awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Fans are encouraged to donate by texting “CURE” to 90999 or visiting www.CoachtoCureMD.org.
      Other background:
•   Coach to Cure MD is a partnership between the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Parent Project MD.
•   The program has raised more than $1.2 million over the last eight years.
•   Last year, more than 10,000 coaches at 525 colleges at all levels participated.
 
     ALL IN THE FAMILY
     Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has two of his three sons involved in the Iowa program again in 2016. Brian, a former Hawkeye letterman and captain (2003-05), is in his fifth season as Iowa’s offensive line coach and second year as running-game coordinator. Steven is an offensive lineman who is in his fifth season as a redshirt senior. James Ferentz was a three-year starter on the Hawkeye offensive line and a team captain before graduating in 2013.
     Kirk and Steven are one of seven father-son head coach-player duos in FBS. The others include Mike and Jay Macintyre (Colorado), Mark and Gunner Hudspeth (UL-Lafayette), Rick and Brent Stockstill (Middle Tennessee), Bobby and Derek Wilder (Old Dominion), Butch and Alex Jones (Tennessee), and Kyle and Alex Whittingham (Utah).
 
     FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS
     Iowa has nine players on its 2016 roster whose father played for the Hawkeyes. WR Brandon Bishop (Willie in 1986), QB Drew Cook (Marv in 1985-88), OL Cole Croston (Dave in 1984-86), OL Mitch Keppy (Myron in 1986-87), LS Tyler Kluver (Todd in 1986-87), TE George Kittle (Bruce in 1977-80), DE Anthony Nelson (Jeff in 1990-92), TE Peter Pekar (Jim in 1980-81), and QB Ryan Schmidt (Rick 1984-85).
 
      REMOVE THE REDSHIRT
      Ten true freshmen have seen action through three games, including RB Tokes Akinribade, K Keith Duncan, TE Noah Fant, DB Amani Hooker, LG Amani Jones, DE Cedrick Lattimore, DB Manny Rugamba, QB Nathan Stanley, LB Kristian Welch, and WR Devonte Young.
      Stanley has played in each of the first three games of the season. He is the first true freshman to play quarterback since Drew Tate in 2003. Tate appeared in six games (0 starts) and was 6-of-11 for 55 yards and one touchdown (no interceptions).
 
     HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
     Iowa’s roster of 117 players includes 53 players from Iowa.  The roster includes 18 players from Illinois; seven from Michigan, six from Maryland, five from Missouri and Texas, four from Wisconsin, three from Ohio and South Dakota, two from Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, and New Jersey, and one from Canada, Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
 
     BAND OF BROTHERS
The Hawkeyes have five sets of brothers on the 2016 roster. In the season opener against Miami (Ohio), C James Daniels and RB LeShun Daniels became the first Hawkeye brothers to start in the same game since SS Kent Ellis and CB Kevin Ellis in 1980.
No other school in the country has more sets of brothers than Iowa. OL Ryan Ward and younger brother OLB Kevin return for their fourth and final season together. Twins OL Landan and Levi Paulsen are back after redshirting their freshman year in 2015. They are the sixth set of twins to play football at the University of Iowa. LB Ben Niemann welcomes younger brother LB Nick Niemann to the team this year, as does SS Miles Taylor, whose younger brother LB Kyle is in his first year on campus.
 
     MORE THAN ONE
    Seventeen high schools have contributed more than one player to the current Iowa football roster. Dowling Catholic HS in West Des Moines, Iowa; East English Village HS in Detroit, Michigan; and Providence Catholic HS in Homer Glen, Illinois all graduated three current Hawkeyes. The schools with two current Hawkeyes include Davenport Assumption (Davenport, Iowa), Cedar Falls HS (Cedar Falls, Iowa), Gonzaga College HS (Silver Spring, Maryland), Harding HS (Warren, Ohio), Kennedy HS (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Naperville Central HS (Naperville, Iowa), Pella HS (Pella, Iowa), Regina HS (Iowa City, Iowa), Solon HS (Solon, Iowa), Sycamore HS (Sycamore, Iowa), Waukee HS (Waukee, Iowa), West Branch HS (West Branch, Iowa), West Lyon HS (Inwood, Iowa), and Woodbury Central HS (Moville, Iowa).
 
     THE HAWKEYES, SIZE WISE
    Freshman PK Keith Duncan is the lightest Hawkeyes player at 165 pounds. Freshman DB Manny Rugamba is the lightest position player at 172 pounds. Senior DL Jaleel Johnson and sophomore OL Dalton Ferguson are the heaviest Hawkeyes at 310 pounds. A total of 10 Hawkeye players are listed at 300 pounds or more. The tallest player, at 6-8, is sophomore DE Matt Nelson. The shortest player, at 5-8, is junior WR Jonathan Parker.
 
     IOWA BOWL NOTES
     Iowa made its 29th Bowl game appearance (14-14-1) at the 102nd Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, California. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Rose (six times), Outback (four), Alamo (four), Holiday (three), Orange (two), Peach (two), Sun (two), Insight (two), Gator/TaxSlayer (two), and the Capital One, and Freedom bowls once.
•   Iowa has played 13 bowl games under Kirk Ferentz (6-7), including nine January bowl games (4-5).
•   Iowa has been bowl eligible 14 of the last 15 seasons under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa’s 13 bowl appearances since 2001 tie as the 11th best total in the nation.
•   Iowa ranks third in Big Ten bowl appearances. Ohio State has received a conference-best 46 bowl bids, followed by Michigan (44), Iowa (29), and Wisconsin (27).
 
     GLANCE AT THE SCHEDULE
     The Hawkeyes opened 2016 with three straight home games against Miami, Ohio (W, 45-21), Iowa State (W, 42-3), and North Dakota State (L, 23-21).
     For the first time in program history, Iowa will play a nine-game conference schedule, beginning Sept. 24 at Rutgers. Iowa plays five Big Ten road games and hosts four conference schools, including Northwestern (Homecoming, Oct. 1), Wisconsin (Oct. 22), Michigan (Nov. 12) and Nebraska (Nov. 25).
     The Hawkeyes do not face Big Ten opponents Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, or Ohio State, during the regular season.
     Seven of Iowa’s 12 opponents played in the postseason. Six Big Ten opponents participated in bowl competition (4-2). North Dakota State has won the FCS national championship five consecutive years.
     Iowa has four trophy games on its schedule in 2016. The Hawkeyes defended the Cy-Hawk trophy with a 42-3 win against Iowa State, and will defend three more rivalry trophies at Minnesota (Floyd of Rosedale), and against Wisconsin (Heartland) and  Nebraska (Heroes).
     For the second straight year, and second time in program history, Iowa will play more than one night game at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa defeated Iowa State, 42-3, on Sept. 10 in a game that kicked off at 6:42 p.m. The Hawkeyes host Michigan Nov. 12 at 7 p.m., and also play under the lights at Penn State on Nov. 5 (6:30 p.m.).
     Iowa’s Homecoming game is Oct. 1 against Northwestern (11 a.m.). Iowa is 57-42-5 all-time in Homecoming contests, and has won six of its last seven Homecoming games.
  
     NATION’S TOP DEFENSIVE BACK RETURNS FOR SENIOR SEASON
     DB Desmond King, the Jim Thorpe Award winner and unanimous consensus All-American, announced on Jan. 4 he would return to Iowa for his senior season. King is the only Thorpe winner ever to play a college season after winning the award.
     Through three games, King has recorded 10 solo tackles and five assists, along with a forced fumble.  He is also averaging 27.5 yards per kick return and 8.8 yards per punt return.
     King led the Big Ten and ranked second in the country with eight interceptions, tying a school record. He was named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Conference Defensive Back of the Year and a finalist for Walter Camp Player of the Year.
     The last time Iowa took the field with a national award winner was 2003, when senior PK Nate Kaeding was the reigning Lou Groza Award winner, presented to the nation’s top kicker.
 
     IOWA LEADERSHIP GROUP
     The University of Iowa football program has 16 players in its 2016 Leadership Group, including nine seniors and seven juniors.  The purpose of the group is to assist in formulating policies, and being involved in team decision-making matters regarding the upcoming season.  Players are selected by a team vote.
     The seniors are QB C.J. Beathard, OL Cole Croston, RB LeShun Daniels, Jr., DL Jaleel Johnson, DB Desmond King, TE George Kittle, DB Greg Mabin, WR Riley McCarron, and WR Matt VandeBerg.  The junior class is represented by DL Nathan Bazata, OL Ike Boettger, LB Bo Bower, LB Josey Jewell, OL Boone Myers, LB Ben Niemann, and OL Sean Welsh.
  
     WE’LL GO FIRST
     In 18 seasons as Iowa’s head coach, Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes received the opening kickoff in 173-of-217 games (105-68). Iowa has started the game on defense in 44-of-217 games under Ferentz (24-20). Iowa has twice won the toss this season (1-1), and both times it has elected to defer to the second half, and start the game on defense.
 
     FIND THE NFL-ER
     Austin Blythe, a seventh-round selection of the Indianapolis Colts in 2016, became the 15th offensive linemen selected in the NFL draft since 1999, Kirk Ferentz’s first year as UI head coach. In each of Ferentz’s 17 complete seasons, the Hawkeyes had a future NFL player start on the offensive line.This week’s depth chart includes offensive linemen Cole Croston, Boone Myers, James Daniels, Sean Welsh, and Ike Boettger.
     From 2007-14, an eventual NFL first-round draft pick started on the Iowa offensive line. Brandon Scherff, selected by the Washington Redskins fifth overall in 2015, was Iowa’s left tackle from 2012-14. Riley Reiff, selected 23rd overall by the Detroit Lions in 2012, started at left tackle from 2010-11. Bryan Bulaga, selected 23rd overall by the Green Bay Packers in 2010, started at left guard in 2007 before moving to left tackle in 2008-09.
     From 2005-06, Baltimore Ravens All-Pro Marshal Yanda shared time at tackle and guard for the Hawkeyes. Mike Elgin, a seventh round selection of New England, was Iowa’s starting center in 2004. Pete McMahon, drafted by Oakland in 2005, was Iowa’s right guard in 2003. Oakland’s first round pick in 2004, Robert Gallery, was Iowa’s left tackle from 2001-03. Eric Steinbach (Cincinnati) started at guard for Iowa from 2000-02, and Bruce Nelson (Carolina) was a four-year starter from 1999-02. Steinbach and Nelson were second round draft picks in 2003.
 
     FERENTZ TOPS IN LONGEVITY
     Kirk Ferentz is in his 18th season as Iowa’s head football coach. He is tied with Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops as the longest active FBS head coaches. Ferentz was named Iowa head coach on Dec. 2, 1998, one day after Stoops was named head coach at Oklahoma. Stoops was a Hawkeye letterman from 1979-82.
 
     IOWA AT THE HEAD OF CLASS IN COACHING LANDSCAPE
     The University of Iowa has produced four  active FBS head coaches, tied with Alabama for most in the country. Bret Bielema (Arkansas), Bob Diaco (UCONN), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), and Mark Stoops (Kentucky) all earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Iowa. Bielema, Diaco, Bob Stoops, and Mark Stoops played for former UI head coach Hayden Fry. All four head coaches served as assistants under Fry. Bielema was an assistant coach on Kirk Ferentz’s staff from 1999-2001.
 
     KIRK FERENTZ RADIO SHOW
     Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz is featured on “Hawk Talk with Kirk Ferentz” each week during the regular season. The radio call-in show is hosted by Gary Dolphin, the play-by-play voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes.  The show airs live each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. from Applebee’s in Coralville.
 
     IOWA PROGRAM NOTES
•   The Hawkeyes have earned bowl eligibility in 14 of the last 15 seasons.
•   Iowa played in the Big Ten title game for the first time in program history on Dec. 5, 2015. Iowa earned Big Ten Conference championships in 2002 and 2004 and placed second in 2009. Iowa (8-0, 2002; 8-0, 2015) is one of three Big Ten teams to post a perfect mark in conference play since 1998 (BCS era), joining Michigan State (1) and Ohio State (5).
•   Iowa has ranked in the top 10 in the final Associated Press and CNN/USA Today coaches polls five times since 2002, including a ranking of seventh in both polls at the conclusion of the 2009 season. Iowa ranked eighth in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The Hawkeyes finished 2015 ranked ninth in the AP poll and 10th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. In the Big Ten, only Ohio State has more top 10 finishes since 2002.
•   Since 1936 when the first AP poll was released, Iowa has appeared in the poll 310 times, the fifth highest total in the Big Ten (Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and MSU). Iowa has been the top-ranked team in the country 11 times.
•   Iowa set a school record with 12 wins in 2015. The Hawkeyes won 11 games in 2002 (11-2), and 2009 (11-2).  In 2009, Iowa started 9-0 and won 10 regular season games for just the fourth time in school history.
•   Iowa won 10 or more games in three consecutive years (2002-04) for the first time in school history.
•   Kirk Ferentz has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year four times (2002, 2004, 2009, 2015) and was named National Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2015. Only Michigan’s Bo Schembechler (6) has more conference coach of the year. Iowa’s Hayden Fry and Penn State’s Joe Paterno both won the award three times. 
•   Desmond King became the seventh Hawkeye to earn a national player of the year award under Kirk Ferentz. He won the Jim Thorpe award in 2015, honoring the nation’s top defensive back. Iowa has had national award winners in: Robert Gallery (2003 Outland, Top Lineman); Brad Banks (2002 Davey O’Brien, Top Quarterback; 2002 Associated Press National Player of the Year); Dallas Clark (2002 Mackey, Top Tight End); Nate Kaeding (2002 Groza, Top Kicker); Shonn Greene (2008 Doak Walker, Top Running Back); Brandon Scherff (2014 Outland, Top Lineman), Desmond King (2015 Jim Thorpe).
•   Iowa’s football record in the 2000 decade was 80-45 (.640), a record that ranks as the best decade in Iowa football history, based on total wins.  Iowa posted a record of 77-40-4 (.652) during the 1980’s and the Hawkeyes were 62-53-2 (.538) in the 1990’s.
•   Part of the Hawkeyes’ long term success is due to the stability in the program. Iowa has had just two head coaches since 1979. Hayden Fry took over prior to the 1979 season and coached through the 1998 season, posting a record of 143-89-6. Current coach Kirk Ferentz replaced Fry, leading the program for the 18th season. Ferentz also served as Iowa’s offensive line coach from 1981-89 under Fry.
 
     IOWA FOOTBALL AND THE NFL
•   Since 1999, Kirk Ferentz’s first year as head coach, 120 former Hawkeyes have played in the NFL.
•   At least one Iowa Hawkeye has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1978.
•   Since 2010, Iowa has had 26 players drafted in the NFL. Among Big Ten teams, only Ohio State has had more draft picks in that same time span (39). Nebraska and Penn State have also had 26 players drafted since 2010.
•   Iowa has had four first round picks in the last seven NFL drafts — OL Bryan Bulaga, 2010; DE Adrian Clayborn, 2011; OL Riley Reiff, 2012; OL Brandon Scherff, 2015. Only Ohio State (7) and Wisconsin (5) have more among Big Ten schools.
•   Iowa had 23 players drafted from 2010-16, including four first round picks (OL Bryan Bulaga, 2010; DE Adrian Clayborn, 2011; OL Riley Reiff, 2012; OL Brandon Scherff, 2015).
•   Iowa and Alabama were the only two college football programs to have a first round draft selection following the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. 
•   Iowa had six players drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft, which tied for the most in the Big Ten and tied for fourth in the country.
•   Former Hawkeye Marshal Yanda (Baltimore OL) is a five-time Pro-Bowler (2011-15) and was named NFL All-Pro in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
•   In NFL 2011 regular season statistics, former Hawkeye linebackers Chad Greenway (Minnesota) and Pat Angerer (Indianapolis) finished third and fourth, respectively, in tackles. Greenway was named to the Pro Bowl in 2012 and 2013.
•   Three former Hawkeyes were involved in the 2012 Super Bowl.  DB Tyler Sash played for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, while LB Jeff Tarpinian was on the injured reserve roster of the New England Patriots.   Former Iowa center Brian Ferentz, now is his fourth year as Iowa’s offensive line coach, was New England’s tight ends coach.
•   Former Iowa DB Sean Considine and OL Marshal Yanda won Super Bowl rings with the 2012 Baltimore Ravens in the 2013 Super Bowl.
•   Former Iowa LB James Morris (injured reserve) earned a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots in 2015. Former TE Tony Moeaki played for the Seattle Seahawks in the same game.
•   Former center James Ferentz was a member of the 2016 Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.
•   Entering the 2016 season, every Iowa senior starting tight end (11) under Kirk Ferentz has been drafted in the NFL or made an NFL team.
•   All 11 members of Iowa’s starting defensive unit in 2008 were either drafted or signed to NFL free agent contracts following the drafts.
•   Over the past 15 years, 140-of-157 (89 percent) of Iowa’s senior starters have been drafted in the NFL or signed NFL free agent contracts.