Game Notes: Iowa at Penn State

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1st and 10 
 
1: The Hawkeyes have won a school-record nine consecutive road games, which ties as the second longest active streak in the nation (Alabama, 10; Iowa, 9; Clemson, 9; North Carolina, 9; Oklahoma 9).
 
2: Iowa has won the last four meetings when Penn State enters the game ranked (2010, 24-3 vs. #22 PSU; 2009, 21-10 at #5 PSU; 2008, 24-23 vs. #3 PSU; 2002, 42-35 OT at #12 PSU). Iowa is 6-10 all-time when playing a ranked Penn State team.
 
3: 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).  
 
4: Desmond King is a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist and Lott IMPACT Award quarterfinalist. King in the only Big Ten Player in the last 20 years with 12+ career intercpetions and  1,500+ combined kickoff/punt return yards. King has 12 career interceptions and 1,580 career KO/P return yards.
 
5: DT Jaleel Johnson is tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 5.5 sacks (36 yards). Johnson recorded a career-high two sacks against Wisconsin in Week 8, raising his season total to a career-best 5.5. He entered the year with five career sacks.
 
6: LB Josey Jewell is a Butkus Award Semifinalist and ranks second in 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 lead the Big Ten and rank sixth in the nation, averaging 27.8 yards per kickoff return. DB Desmond King leads the league and ranks fourth 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 .926 red zone success rate ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 12 nationally.
 
10: Iowa is plus-seven in turnover margin. Only Ohio State (+10) and Minnesota (+10) have 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. Iowa has lost just one fumble this year, tying Nevada for the NCAA lead.
 
    THE SERIES
    Saturday will be the 26th meeting between Iowa and Penn State, and the first since 2012. The Nittany Lions have won the last two meetings and hold a 13-12 advantage in the series. Iowa has won the last four meetings when Penn State enters the game ranked (2010, 24-3 vs. #22 PSU; 2009, 21-10 at #5 PSU; 2008, 24-23 vs. #3 PSU; 2002, 42-35 OT at #12 PSU). Iowa is 6-10 all-time when playing a ranked Penn State team.
    The Hawkeyes have won seven of the last 10 and hold a 9-7 advantage since 1993 when the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten Conference.  Iowa is 7-5 in games played at University Park.
    The teams first met Nov. 15, 1930, with Iowa winning 19-0 in Iowa City.  PSU won five in a row, as Iowa didn’t defeat PSU again until 1976.
    Both teams have had a five-game winning streak in the series.  Penn State won each game played between 1971 and 1975.  Iowa’s longest streak in the series began with a double-overtime win in 2000 and included wins from 2000-04.  The teams did not meet in 2005 and 2006.
    The teams have played two overtime games, both at Penn State.  Iowa won in two overtimes in 2000 (26-23) and in single overtime in 2002 (42-35). 
 
     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.
 
     JEWELL A FINALIST FOR BUTKUS AWARD
     LB Josey Jewell is a semifinalist for the 2016 Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s best linebacker.
     This year’s watch list includes a dozen collegiate linebackers from 10 universities.  Jewell is among four Big Ten student-athletes up for the award, joining Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan of Ohio State and Wisconsin’s Jack Cichy.  Finalists for the award will be announced on Monday, Nov. 21, with the winner being announced on or before Dec. 6.
     Jewell (6-foot-2, 230-pounds) has started every game this season, and is second in the Big Ten with 77 tackles.  Jewell matched his career high with 16 stops in Week 8 against No. 10 Wisconsin.  His 254 career tackles rank 30th in program history.  In 2015, Jewell garnered second team All-Big Ten honors by league coaches and media, the Associated Press, and Phil Steele. 
     Former Hawkeye Larry Station was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 1985, while Chad Greenway was a semifinalist in 2005.
 
     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 ties as the second longest active streak in the nation (Alabama, 10; Iowa, 9; Clemson, 9; North Carolina, 9; Oklahoma 9).
 
     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 fifth 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 seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Big Ten in rushing yards. The Hawkeyes are the only team in the Big Ten 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 third in the league. Daniel’s six rushing scores ties for sixth.
     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 (30th).  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 five returns) and fourth 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. Iowa has at least one interception return for a touchdown in each of the last nine seasons, and 14 of the last 16.
     King is a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, an honor he won last season, and is a quarterfinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
 
     SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE BEEN SPECIAL
     The Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten and rank sixth 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 28 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 (+10) and Minnesota (+10) have 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 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 .926 red zone success rate ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 12 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).
 
     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) before the injury.
     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.
 
     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 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.
 
     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. 
 
     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.
 
     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.
 
     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 is playing 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.
 
     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.