Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawk Talk Monthly — Oct. 2016 | Football Notebook bye week
1st and 10
1: QB C.J. Beathard’s .783 winning percentage (18-5) is the fourth best among Hawkeye starting quarterbacks since 1954. Among quarterback’s with at least 20 career starts, Beathard is No. 1 ahead of Ricky Stanzi (.743), Chuck Long (.739), Matt Rodgers (.656), and Chuck Hartlieb (.636).
2: Desmond King has been named a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist and Lott IMPACT Award quarterfinalist. King in the only Big Ten Player in the last 20 years with 12+ intercpetions and 1,500+ combined kickoff/punt return yards. King has 12 career interceptions and 1,580 career KO/P return yards.
3: RB Akrum Wadley (636) and RB LeShun Daniels, Jr. (624) rank eighth and ninth, respectively, in the Big Ten in rushing yards. Ohio State (Weber, Samuel) is the only other Big Ten school with two players in the top 10.
4: DT Jaleel Johnson is tied for third in the Big Ten with 5.5 sacks (36 yards). Johnson recorded a career-high two sacks against Wisconsin, raising his season total to a career-best 5.5 and more than doubling his career total entering his senior season. He entered the year with five career sacks.
5: WR Riley McCarron leads the Hawkeyes in receptions (30), receiving yards (336), and receiving touchdowns (3), all career highs.
6: LB Josey Jewell leads the Big Ten with 77 tackles. Jewell matched his career high with 16 stops in Week 8 against Wisconsin. He has 254 career tackles, 29th all-time.
7: Following a career day against Wisconsin, leading rusher RB Akrum Wadley is now Iowa’s third leading receiver. Wadley posted career bests in receptions (7) and receiving yards (72) in Week 8, raising his season total in receptions to 18, behind WR Matt VandeBerg’s (19) and team-leader WR Riley McCarron (30).
8: The Hawkeyes rank second in the Big Ten and seventh in the nation, averaging 27.8 yards per kickoff return. DB Desmond King leads the league and ranks sixth nationally, averaging 32.0 yards per kickoff return. His 77-yard kickoff return against Wisconsin is Iowa’s longest play this season.
9: The Hawkeyes have scored points on 25-of-27 trips to the red zone, including 19 touchdowns (7 pass, 12 rush) and seven field goals. Its .929 red zone success rate ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 13 nationally.
10: Iowa is plus-seven in turnover margin. Only Ohio State (+9) has a greater turnover margin among Big Ten schools. The Hawkeyes have 12 takeaways (five interceptions, seven fumble recoveries) and have turned eight of the 12 into touchdowns.
FERENTZ CLOSES ON CARR, WILLIAMS
Head coach Kirk Ferentz has 79 Big Ten wins, seventh among the conference’s all-time winningest coaches in Big Ten games. Lloyd Carr is sixth with 81 Big Ten victories.
Ferentz has 132 wins in all games played as a member of the Big Ten Conference, seventh most all-time. He is four victories from equaling Henry Williams of Minnesota, who won 136 games.
BACK ON CAMPUS
Head Coach Kirk Ferentz has four former players on the 2016 staff. His son, Brian Ferentz, was a three-year letterman from 2003-05 and is in his fifth year as Iowa’s offensive line coach. He is also Iowa’s run game coordinator.
LeVar Woods, a three-year letterman from 1998-2000, is in his ninth year on the Iowa staff. He is in his second season coaching tight ends after coaching linebackers for three seasons. He also assists with special teams. Woods rejoined the program as an administrative assistant in 2008.
Kelvin Bell joined the Iowa program as a defensive lineman in 2000, but had his career cut short due to injury. He returned to the program as a graduate assistant and recently served as director of on-campus recruiting (2012-13) before being named recruiting coordinator and defensive assistant coach in February, 2016.
Broderick Binns, a four-year letterman from 2008-11, was named director of player development in April, 2016. Binns previously served as a graduate assistant in 2014 and 2015, working with the Hawkeye special teams.
HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,215 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 630-546-39 (.535). That includes a 395-216-16 (.641) record in home games, a 235-330-23 (.418) record in games away from Iowa City, a 317-368-25 (.464) mark in Big Ten games and a 278-180-15 (.600) record in Kinnick Stadium.
RUN AFTER THE HANDOFF, RUN AFTER THE CATCH
Following a career day against Wisconsin, leading rusher RB Akrum Wadley is now Iowa’s third leading receiver. Wadley posted career bests in receptions (7) and receiving yards (72) in Week 8, raising his season total in receptions to 18, third on the team behind WR Matt VandeBerg’s 19 receptions (out with injury) and team-leader WR Riley McCarron (30). His 18 receptions rank third among Big Ten running backs. Wadley’s 188 receiving yards ranks fourth on the team.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, AKSHUN
RB Akrum Wadley and RB LeShun Daniels, Jr. rank eighth and ninth, respectively, in the Big Ten in rushing yards. Ohio State (Weber, Samuel) is the only other Big Ten school with two players in the top 10. Twelve yards separate Iowa’s leading rushers. Wadley has 636 rushing yards (79.5 ypg) and Daniels has 624 rushing yards (78.0 ypg). Wadley’s eight rushing touchdowns ties for the league lead. Daniel’s six rushing scores ties for eighth.
Both players topped 100 yards in Week 7 at Purdue, marking the first time since 2008 Iowa had two 100-yard rushers in the same game (Shonn Greene, 115; Jewel Hampton, 114 yards vs. Indiana). It marked the 24th time two players rushed for 100 yards or more in the same game, but the first time two players reached the 150-yard plateau.
Daniels had two rushing touchdowns (1, 4) against the Boilermakers, his fifth career multi-touchdown game. His 67-yard rush in the third quarter was the longest of his career. He finished with 23 carries for 150 yards.
Wadley’s 75-yard touchdown rush was a career long rush, and Iowa’s longest play of the season from scrimmage. He finished with 15 carries for 176 yards, his sixth career 100-yard rushing game, second in a row.
The duo helped Iowa rush for 365 yards against the Boilermakers, tying for the second most rushing yardage total in the Ferentz era (Minnesota, 2002).
Daniels has 1,454 career rushing yards (26th) and Wadley 1,318 (29th). Wadley has scored 108 career points, Daniels has 92.
DUAL THREAT
DB Desmond King is the only Big Ten player in the last 20 years to have 12 or more interceptions and 1,500 or more combined kickoff and return yards. King has 12 career interceptions, tied for sixth most in program history, and 1,580 combined return yards on kickoff and punt returns.
King averages 32 yards per kickoff return, best in the Big Ten (minimum six returns) and sixth in the nation. He is also averaging 9.2 yards on punt returns. King had a career-best 77-yard kickoff return last weekend against Wisconsin. He has one interception this season, returning it 41 yards for a touchdown at Purdue.
KING NAMED THORPE AWARD SEMIFINALIST
DB Desmond King is one of 16 semifinalists for the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the best defensive back in college football.
Highlighted by King, last year’s Thorpe Award recipient, this year’s watch list includes nine seniors, four juniors, and three sophomores. Three finalists will be announced on Monday, Nov. 21, with the winner being announced Dec. 8 at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show airing on ESPN. The Thorpe Award winner will be honored at a banquet in Oklahoma City on Feb. 7, 2017.
King (5-foot-11, 200-pounds) has started all eight games at cornerback this season and has 46 career starts. This season he has recorded 26 solo tackles and 15 assists, leads Iowa with six pass break-ups, and had a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown in a win at Purdue.
King, a native of Detroit, also leads Iowa’s special teams through eight games. He is averaging 32 yards per kickoff return to rank sixth in the nation. He is also averaging 9.2 yards on punt returns. King had a career-best 77-yard kickoff return last weekend against Wisconsin.
KING NAMED A QUARTERFINALIST FOR LOTT TROPHY
DB Desmond King is one of 19 quarterfinalists for the 2016 Lott IMPACT Trophy.
he Lott IMKPACT Trophy winner will be announced live on FOX Sports on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. PST. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Iowa linebacker James Morris was a finalist for the award in 2013.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy was founded in 2004, and is named after College and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Ronnie Lott. The quarterfinalists include nine linebackers, seven defensive backs, and three defensive linemen.
A semifinal list will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 9, with four finalists being announced on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Each school of the four finalists will receive $5,000 for their general scholarship fund, while the school of the winner will receive $25,000.
THE LONELY ISLAND
It took 28 quarters, but reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner DB Desmond King recorded his first interception in Week 7 at Purdue. Leading 42-28, King stepped in front of Purdue QB David Blough’s throw and picked off his 12th career pass, tying Brett Greenwood and Steve Wilson for sixth all-time. King returned the interception 41 yards for a touchdown, the third of his career. Iowa has at least one interception return for a touchdown in each of the last nine seasons, and 14 of the last 16.
King has recorded 26 solo tackles and 15 assists, along with six pass breakups, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble, and one interception (returned for a touchdown). He averages 84.1 all-purpose yards per game, second among Hawkeyes and most among Big Ten defensive players. He has 184 yards in punt returns, 448 yards in kickoff returns, and 41 yards in interception returns. He averages 32.0 yards per kickoff return, sixth nationally and best in the Big Ten, and 9.2 yards per punt return, third in the Big Ten among defensive players.
On Oct. 24, 2016, he was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, an honor he won in 2015. King is the only Thorpe winner ever to play a college season after winning the award. He led the Big Ten and ranked second in the country with eight interceptions in 2015, 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.
SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE BEEN SPECIAL
The Hawkeyes rank second in the Big Ten and seventh in the nation, averaging 27.8 yards per kickoff return. DB Desmond King leads the league and ranks sixth nationally, averaging 32.0 yards per kickoff return. His 77-yard kickoff return against Wisconsin is Iowa’s longest play this season and a career long for King.
King had 162 combined return yards against Northwestern in Week 5 (77 punt, 85 kick). It marked the first time since 1998 a Hawkeye had 75-plus return yards on both punt and kickoffs (Khalil Hill). King totaled 107 yards in returns in Week 6 at Minnesota (48 kickoffs, 59 punts).
In addition, senior WR Riley McCarron had a 54-yard kickoff return and a 38-yard punt return versus Northwestern, both career longs.
P Ron Coluzzi leads the Big Ten in touchbacks. Coluzzi has recorded a touchback on 33-of-43 kickoffs. No other Big Ten kicker has more than 25 touchbacks.
Freshman K Keith Duncan has been perfect on all 28 PAT attempts, and has connected on 6-of-7 field goal tries.
I’LL TAKE THAT
Iowa is plus-seven in turnover margin. Only Ohio State (+9) has a greater turnover margin among Big Ten schools. The Hawkeyes have 12 takeaways (five interceptions, seven fumble recoveries) and have turned eight of the 12 into touchdowns, including DB Desmond King’s interception return for a touchdown Week 7 at Purdue. It was King’s third career pick-six. Iowa has at least one interception return for a touchdown in each of the last nine seasons, and 14 of the last 16.
FS Brandon Snyder has four of Iowa’s 12 takeaways. He recorded his first career interception in Week 3 vs. NDSU, caused and recovered a fumble that led to the winning touchdown at Rutgers in Week 4, and had two takeaways at Minnesota in Week 6 (one interception, one fumble recovery). He also forced a fumble against Northwestern in Week 5 that led to an Iowa touchdown.
Iowa has lost just one fumble this year, tying Washington State and Nevada for the NCAA lead.
MAKING HAY IN THE RED ZONE
The Hawkeyes have scored points on 25-of-27 trips to the red zone, including 19 touchdowns (7 pass, 12 rush) and seven field goals. Iowa turned it over on downs in its only failed red zone appearance at Rutgers, and missed a field goal after reaching the red zone against Wisconsin. Its .929 red zone success rate ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 13 nationally.
Eight different Hawkeyes have scored red zone touchdowns. Iowa’s rushing touchdowns include five by RB Akrum Wadley, four by RB LeShun Daniels, two by QB C.J. Beathard, and one by RB Derrick Mitchell. The receiving touchdowns have gone to WR Matt VandeBerg (3), WR Jerminic Smith (1), WR Riley McCarron (1), TE George Kittle (1), and TE Noah Fant (1).
STREAKING ON THE ROAD
The Hawkeyes have won a school-record nine consecutive road games (the final road game at Illinois in 2014, all five road games in 2015, and three road games in 2016).
Eight of Iowa’s nine consecutive road victories have come against Big Ten competition. The eight-game Big Ten road win streak is the longest in program history. Iowa’s current road winning streak is the second longest active streak in the nation (Alabama, 10; Iowa, 9; Clemson, 8; Oklahoma 8).
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).
VANDEBERG TO MISS GAMES DUE TO INJURY
Senior WR Matt VandeBerg is out of action indefinitely, due to a foot injury sustained in practice on Sept. 26. VandeBerg (6-1, 190), played in the first four games of the season, leading the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns (19-284-3 TDs).
VandeBerg has 106 career receptions, tying Quinn Early for 19th in program history. He has 1,302 career receiving yards, 27th in program history. Should he miss the entire season, the fourth-year senior could be granted a medical redshirt and return for a fifth season in 2017.
COLUZZI EARNED BIG TEN HONOR
Senior Ron Coluzzi was named Big Ten Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his play in Iowa’s 14-7 win at Rutgers. The weekly honor is the first for the graduate transfer who is in his first season with the Hawkeyes. Coluzzi (5-11, 182-pounds) is a native of Naperville, Illinois, who previously played at Central Michigan.
In Iowa’s win over Rutgers, Coluzzi averaged 42 yards on seven punts, with a long of 55 yards. Four of his kicks were placed inside the 20, as Rutgers recorded zero yards on just one return. Coluzzi also had recorded touchbacks on all three of his kickoffs, allowing no returns.
Through eight games, Coluzzi is averaging 40.8 yards on 46 punts, with Hawkeye opponents recording just four returns for 57 yards. Coluzzi has also recorded a Big Ten-best 33 touchbacks on 43 kickoffs.
Coluzzi is the second Hawkeye to be honored in 2016, as redshirt freshman Anthony Nelson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week following Iowa’s opening win over Miami, Ohio.
BEATHARD EARNED COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS WEEKLY AWARD
QB C.J. Beathard was named College Sports Madness Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week following his performance against Iowa State in Week 2. Beathard accounted for four first half touchdowns — three passing and one rushing — to lead Iowa to a 42-3 win in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. He completed 19-of-28 passes for 235 yards and matched his career best with three touchdown passes.
REMOVE THE REDSHIRT
Ten true freshmen have seen action in 2016, including RB Toks Akinribade, K Keith Duncan, TE Noah Fant, DB Amani Hooker, LB Amani Jones, DE Cedrick Lattimore, DB Manny Rugamba, QB Nathan Stanley, LB Kristian Welch, and WR Devonte Young.
Fant caught a touchdown pass at Purdue in Week 7, becoming the first true freshman to catch a touchdown pass since Jordan Canzeri in 2011.
Stanley has played in five games. He is the first true freshman to play quarterback since Drew Tate in 2003. Tate appeared in six games (no starts) and was 6-of-11 for 55 yards and one touchdown (no interceptions).
NELSON NAMED BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
DE Anthony Nelson was named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week for his performance in Iowa’s 45-21 win over Miami, Ohio in Week 1.
Nelson forced two Miami fumbles in his first career game, with both leading to Iowa touchdowns. He recorded 2.5 sacks for minus 16 yards, and had yet another sack nullified by a Miami delay of game penalty. Nelson was credited with two solo tackles, four assists and one pass breakup.
Nelson’s first caused turnover came in the first quarter as Miami had reached the Hawkeye eight-yard line. Matt Nelson recovered the fumble and the Hawkeye offense traveled 81 yards in two plays for a touchdown and a 21-0 advantage.
Nelson’s second forced fumble came late in the game and led to Iowa’s final touchdown in the closing minutes.
The Big Ten honor is the first for Nelson. Iowa players earned weekly honors from the Big Ten on six occasions in 2015, including DE Parker Hesse, who earned Freshman of The Week honors in the regular season finale at Nebraska, a 28-20 Hawkeye win.
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).
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.
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. Iowa plays five Big Ten road games and hosts four conference schools, including Northwestern (L, 38-31), Wisconsin (L, 17-9), 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 Floyd of Rosedale with a 14-7 triumph at Minnesota. Iowa lost to Wisconsin 17-9 in a battle for the Heartland Trophy. Iowa will defend one more rivalry trophy this season, Nov. 25 against Nebraska.
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. CT).
WE’LL GO FIRST
In 18 seasons as Iowa’s head coach, Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes received the opening kickoff in 175-of-222 games (105-70). Iowa has started the game on defense in 46-of-222 games under Ferentz (26-20). Iowa has won the toss four times this season (3-1), and contrary to its previous history, has elected to defer to the second half and start the game on defense each time. The Hawkeyes are 1-2 this year starting on offense.
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, Keegan Render, 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 CAPTURES NATIONAL AWARDS
Head coach Kirk Ferentz returns to the Iowa sideline for an 18th season as the reigning national coach of the year. Ferentz was named Woody Hayes Coach of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year by the FWAA, and winner of the 2015 Dodd Trophy, presented annually by the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. He was named American Football Coaches Association Region 3 Coach of the Year, and was a finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year and George Munger Coach of the Year awards.
Ferentz was also named Dave McClain and Hayes-Schembechler Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career (2002, 2004, 2009, 2015), being recognized by both league coaches and media. Only Michigan’s Bo Schembechler (6) has more conference coach of the year awards. Iowa’s Hayden Fry and Penn State’s Joe Paterno both won the award three times.
Ferentz led Iowa to a school record 12 wins in 2015. The Hawkeyes won the Big Ten West Division title (8-0) and advanced to the Big Ten title game for the first time in the game’s five-year history. The Hawkeyes reclaimed all four of their rivalry trophies in 2015, and reached as high as third in the Associated Press poll (Nov. 22).
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.
