Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | 2017 Outback Bowl Media Guide | Hawk Talk Monthly — December | Game Notes PDF
#21 IOWA vs. #17 FLORIDA | 2017 OUTBACK BOWL |
DATE | Monday, Jan. 2, 2017 | 12 p.m. (CT) |
LOCATION | Tampa, Florida | Raymond James Stadium (65,657) |
TICKETS | hawkeyesports.com |
TELEVISION | ABC |
RADIO | LISTEN | Hawkeye Radio Network | Hawkeye All-Access |
LIVE UPDATES | @IowaFBLive |
IOWA TO MEET FLORIDA AT OUTBACK BOWL
The University of Iowa has accepted an invitation to play the University of Florida at the 2017 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. The Outback Bowl is scheduled for noon (CT), on Monday, Jan. 2. Iowa will be the home team. The game will be televised by ABC from Raymond James Stadium (65,422).
The Hawkeyes are making their fifth appearance in the Outback Bowl, and their first appearance in Tampa since 2014. The Hawkeyes are 2-2 in previous Outback Bowl contests. Iowa defeated Florida (37-17) in 2004, lost to Florida (31-24) in 2006, defeated South Carolina (31-10) in 2009, and lost to LSU (21-14) in 2014. Ferentz has been the Hawkeyes’ head coach in all of Iowa’s five Outback Bowl appearances. The opposing coaches have included Ron Zook, Urban Meyer, Steve Spurrier, Les Miles, and Jim McElwain.
Iowa tied for second in the Big Ten Conference West Division with a record of 8-4, including 6-3 in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes won their final three games of the season, including home wins over No. 2 Michigan (14-13) and No. 15 Nebraska (40-10). The Hawkeyes are 11-13 all-time against current teams in the SEC.
Iowa is bowl eligible for the 15th time under coach head Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has posted a 6-7 bowl record under Ferentz, including wins in four January bowl games. The Hawkeyes are playing in their 10th January bowl game under Ferentz. Since the 2001 season, only Ohio State has won more bowl games or has a higher winning percentage in bowl games than Iowa. Iowa has posted a 14-14-1 record in 29 previous bowl appearances.
1st and 10
1: Iowa has won six bowl games under Kirk Ferentz. Only Ohio State has more bowl wins (8) than Iowa since 2001. Iowa is playing in a bowl game for the 14th time in the last 16 seasons.
2: The Hawkeyes are 2-2 in previous Outback Bowl contests. Iowa defeated Florida (37-17) in 2004, lost to Florida (31-24) in 2006, defeated South Carolina (31-10) in 2009, and lost to LSU (21-14) in 2014.
3: Iowa finished the regular season with three straight wins and outscored its opponents 71-10 over the last 129:34. The Hawkeyes shutout Illinois in Week 11, recording their first Big Ten shutout since 2009 (12-0 vs. Minnesota). Iowa defeated Michigan 14-13 in Week 10 on a last second field goal, and Nebraska 40-10 in Week 12.
4: Iowa leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth in the nation in red zone offense. The Hawkeyes have scored points on 35-of-38 trips to the red zone, including 27 touchdowns (11 pass, 16 rush) and eight field goals.
5: QB C.J. Beathard’s .777 winning percentage (21-6) is No. 1 all-time among Iowa starting quarterbacks with at least 20 career starts. He is one of five players in program history to win 20 games as starting quarterback. The others include Chuck Long (34), Ricky Stanzi (26), Matt Rodgers (21), and Drew Tate (21).
6: DB Desmond King has played in 52 career games, most in program history. He leads the Big Ten averaging 27.2 yards per kickoff return (minimum seven returns) and ranks second in the conference averaging 9.8 yards per punt return. He is the only Big Ten player in the last 20 years with 12+ career interceptions and 1,500+ combined kickoff/punt return yards.
7: LB Josey Jewell is a Butkus Award finalist and leads the Big Ten with 114 tackles. Jewell matched his career high with 16 stops in Week 8 against Wisconsin. He has 291 career tackles, 18th all-time. Jewell is a two-time second team All-Big Ten recipient, earning honors by league coaches and media in 2015 and 2016.
8: RB LeShun Daniels, Jr. (1,013) and RB Akrum Wadley (966) are the second set of running backs in program history to have 900-plus rushing yards in the same season, joining Owen Gill (920) and Ronnie Harmon (907) in 1984. Iowa has never had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season.
9: DT Jaleel Johnson leads Iowa and is tied for sixth in the Big Ten with 7.5 sacks (50 yards). He entered the year with five career sacks. The last DT to lead the Hawkeyes in sacks was DT Mike Daniels in 2011 (9-53).
10: Ferentz has 135 wins in all games played as a member of the Big Ten Conference, 7th most all-time. He is one victory from equaling Henry Williams of Minnesota. Ferentz has 82 B1G wins, 5th most among the conference’s all-time winningest coaches in Big Ten games.
THE SERIES
The Hawkeyes and Gators have met three times, all in bowl games. Florida leads the all-time series, 2-1. The Gators defeated Iowa, 14-6 at the 1983 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, and 31-24 at the 2006 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. Iowa’s lone win in the series was a 37-17 victory at the 2004 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has been on staff for all three Florida matchups. Ferentz was Iowa’s offensive line coach in 1983 and the Hawkeyes’ head coach in 2004 and 2006. The series game recaps are available in Iowa’s 2016 media guide and 2016 postseason media guide.
BIG TEN BOWL GAMES SINCE 2001
Iowa has posted a 6-7 bowl record under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Since the 2001 season, only Ohio State has won more bowl games (including the FBS championship game), than Iowa. The following is the record for Big Ten teams in bowl games since 2001:
FERENTZ CLOSES ON WILLIAMS
Head coach Kirk Ferentz has 82 Big Ten wins, fifth most among the conference’s all-time winningest coaches in Big Ten games.
Ferentz has 135 wins in all games played as a member of the Big Ten Conference, seventh most all-time. He is one victory from equaling Henry Williams of Minnesota, who won 136 games.
Iowa is one of two Big Ten programs (Michigan) with two head coaches among the top seven in overall and Big Ten wins (Hayden Fry 143 overall wins, 96 conference wins).
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has two of his three sons involved in the Iowa program again in 2016. Ferentz has had a son on the team in 14 of his 18 seasons at Iowa’s head coach. Steven, a redshirt senior offensive lineman, is the youngest of Kirk’s five children (Brian, Kelly, Joanne, James and Steven) and is playing his final game at the Outback Bowl. 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. 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).
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.
KING, JOHNSON LEAD HAWKEYES’ ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
DB Desmond King and DT Jaleel Johnson were named first-team All-Big Ten by vote of league coaches. King was also named first team by vote of Big Ten media, while Johnson was named second-team by the media. Junior linebacker Josey Jewell, who led the Big Ten in tackles, was named second-team by both coaches and media.
Four members of the University of Iowa offensive unit earned third team All-Big Ten recognition. G Sean Welsh and C James Daniels earned third team recognition from both Big Ten coaches and media. OL Cole Croston and junior RB Akrum Wadley were named third team by coaches and honorable mention by media.
Hawkeye offensive players earning honorable mention include senior quarterback C.J. Beathard, junior tackle Ike Boettger, senior running back LeShun Daniels, Jr., senior tight end George Kittle, and senior wide receiver Riley McCarron. Hawkeye defensive players who earned honorable mention recognition include DE Parker Hesse, who was tabbed by both groups, senior DB Greg Mabin (coaches) and DT Nathan Bazata (media).
BEATHARD AMONG BEST IN PROGRAM HISTORY
QB C.J. Beathard’s 21 wins as Iowa’s starting quarterback tie for third all-time in program history. He is one of five players in program history to win 20 games as starting quarterback. The other include Chuck Long (34), Ricky Stanzi (26), Matt Rodgers (21), and Drew Tate (21). Beathard won his 20th game in his 26th career start, matching Long and Stanzi for the program’s fastest 20-game winners. Rodgers won his 20th game in his 29th start, and Tate won his 20th in his 33rd career start.
Beathard is 21-6 in 27 career starts. He has the highest winning percentage (.778) of any quarterback in program history with a minimum 20 starts. His record includes an 11-3 mark at Kinnick Stadium, a 10-1 record in true road games, a 14-4 record in Big Ten games, a 4-4 record against AP top 25 teams, and a 7-1 record in rivalry games. His 40 career touchdown passes rank sixth all-time, and his 5,507 career passing yards rank eighth all-time. The Hawkeyes are 4-0 in games Beathard throws for fewer than 100 yards (77 yards at Wisconsin 2015, 97 yards at Nebraska 2015, 66 yards vs. Michigan 2016, 80 at Illinois 2016).
HAWKEYES ARE BOWL ELIGIBLE
K Keith Duncan kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired to help Iowa beat No. 2 Michigan 14-13, and become bowl eligible for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa clinched eligibility in Game 10 for the fifth time under Kirk Ferentz (2013 Outback, 2008 Outback, 2005 Outback, 2001 Alamo).
Iowa made its 29th Bowl game appearance (14-14-1) at the 102nd Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1, 2016. 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 15 of the last 16 seasons under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa’s 13 bowl appearances since 2001 tie as the 11th best total in the nation.
HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,219 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 633-547-39 (.535). That includes a 397-216-16 (.641) record in home games, a 236-331-23 (.418) record in games away from Iowa City, a 320-369-25 (.464) mark in Big Ten games and a 280-180-15 (.600) record in Kinnick Stadium.
KING NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG TEN
DB Desmond King was named first team All-Big Ten for the second consecutive season.
King has started all 12 games at cornerback in 2016 and has 50 career starts. This season he has recorded 37 solo tackles and 16 assists, seven pass break-ups, and had a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown in a win at Purdue.
King also leads Iowa’s special teams through 12 games. He leads the Big Ten averaging 27.2 yards per kickoff return (minimum seven returns) and ranks second in the conference averaging 9.8 yards per punt return (minimum eight returns). King had a career-best 77-yard kickoff return in Week 8 against Wisconsin.
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 13 career interceptions, tied for fifth most in program history, and 1,873 combined return yards on kickoff and punt returns.
King was one of 16 semifinalists for the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award, (best defensive back in college football), one of 18 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award (most outstanding defensive player), and one of 10 semifinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity).
JEWELL A FINALIST FOR BUTKUS AWARD
LB Josey Jewell, the Big Ten’s second leading tackler, was a finalist for the 2016 Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s best linebacker.
Jewell was one of five finalists for the award. He was joined by Kendall Beckwith (LSU), Zach Cunningham (Vanderbilt), Farrad Davis (Florida), and award winner Reuben Foster (Alabama). Former Hawkeye Larry Station was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 1985, while Chad Greenway was a semifinalist in 2005.
Jewell (6-foot-2, 230-pounds) has started every game this season and ranks second in the Big Ten with 114 tackles. His 291 career tackles tie for 18th in program history.
Jewell is a two-time second team All-Big Ten recipient, earning honors by league coaches and media in 2015 and 2016.
RUN AFTER HANDOFF, RUN AFTER CATCH
RB Akrum Wadley was named third team All-Big Ten by Big Ten coaches. Wadley is Iowa’s second leading rusher (966 yards) and receiver (32 receptions). He combined for 21 catches, 178 yards receiving, and two receiving touchdowns the final five weeks of the regular season. He posted career bests in receptions (7) and receiving yards (72) in Week 8 against Wisconsin, and shared the team lead with five receptions in Week 9 at Penn State (32 yards, TD). He led Iowa with five catches, 52 receiving yards, and scored the team’s only touchdown (3-yard reception) against Michigan. Wadley entered the season with seven career receptions (93 yards, TD).
Wadley’s 13 touchdowns (10 rush, 3 receiving) tie for fourth in the Big Ten.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, AKSHUN
RB LeShun Daniels, Jr. and RB Akrum Wadley rank seventh and ninth, respectively, in the Big Ten in rushing yards. Daniels has 1,013 rushing yards (84.4 ypg) and Wadley has 966 rushing yards (80.5 ypg). They are the second set of running backs in program history to have 900-plus rushing yards in the same season, joining Owen Gill (920) and Ronnie Harmon (907) in 1984.
Wadley is 34 yards from giving Iowa two 1,000-yard rushers in a single season. It has never been done in program history. Five schools have two 1,000-yard rushers in 2016. They include Kentucky (Stanley Boom Williams 1,135/Benjamin Snell, Jr. 1,057), New Mexico (Teriyon Gipson 1,209/Tyrone Owens 1,084), South Florida (Quinton Flowers 1,425/Marlon Mack 1,137), and Tulsa (James Flanders 1,529/1,330).
Wadley and Daniels have combined for 1,979 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns.
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. The duo also accomplished the feat in the win over Nebraska (Daniels 158 yards; Wadley 105 yards).
Daniels had two rushing touchdowns (1, 4) against the Boilermakers. His 67-yard rush in the third quarter was the longest of his career. He finished with 23 carries for 150 yards. He added his second 150-yard, two-touchdown performance of the season Week 11 at Illinois. He has four career games of 150 rushing yards and at least two touchdowns (2015 vs. Minnesota, 195 yards, 3 TDs; 2016 at Purdue, 150 yards, 2 TDs; 2016 at Illinois, 159 yards, 2 TDs; 2016 vs. Nebraska, 158 yards, 2 TDs). He is the only player in the Ferentz era with four such games. Shonn Greene had two such games in 2008. Daniels was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week vs. Illinois.
Wadley’s 75-yard touchdown rush at Purdue was a career long rush. 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 1,853 career rushing yards (16th) and Wadley 1,638 (21st). Wadley has scored 132 career points (T-20th), Daniels has 116 (26th). Only 39 players in program history have scored 100 or more points.
I’LL TAKE THAT
Iowa is plus-seven in turnover margin, fourth in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have 16 takeaways (seven interceptions, nine fumble recoveries) and have turned nine of the 15 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.
Iowa has lost two fumbles this year, tying Nevada and Old Dominion for the NCAA lead.
MAKING HAY IN THE RED ZONE
Iowa leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth in the nation in red zone offense. The Hawkeyes have scored points on 35-of-38 trips to the red zone, including 27 touchdowns (11 pass, 16 rush) and eight field goals.
Eight different Hawkeyes have scored red zone touchdowns. Iowa’s 16 rushing touchdowns include seven by RB LeShun Daniels, six by RB Akrum Wadley, two by QB C.J. Beathard, and one by RB Derrick Mitchell. The 11 receiving touchdowns have gone to George Kittle (3), WR Matt VandeBerg (3), Wadley (2), WR Jerminic Smith (1), WR Riley McCarron (1), TE and TE Noah Fant (1).
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 played a nine-game conference schedule. Iowa played five Big Ten road games (4-1) and hosted four conference schools (2-2), including Northwestern (L, 38-31), Wisconsin (L, 17-9), Michigan (W, 14-13) and Nebraska (W, 40-10).
The Hawkeyes did not face Big Ten opponents Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, or Ohio State.
Eight of Iowa’s 12 opponents are playing in the postseason, including seven bowl games and the FCS national championships (North Dakota State).
Iowa had four trophy games on its schedule in 2016 and defended three of them. The Hawkeyes retained the Cy-Hawk trophy with a 42-3 win against Iowa State, the Floyd of Rosedale trophy with a 14-7 triumph at Minnesota, and the Heroes Trophy with a 40-10 over Nebraska in the regular season finale. Iowa lost to Wisconsin 17-9 in a battle for the Heartland Trophy. Iowa won seven of its eight rivalry trophy games over the past two seasons.
For the second straight year, and second time in program history, Iowa played 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 defeated Michigan, 14-13, on Nov. 12 in a game that kicked off at 7: 15 p.m.
IOWA WILL KICKOFF, TWICE IF NECESSARY
Iowa has deferred to the second half six times this season when winning the coin toss, bucking the “we will receive” philosophy practiced in Kirk Ferentz’s first 17 seasons. The Hawkeyes won the toss at Illinois, chose which end zone they wanted to defend (wind 24 mph), and kicked to the Illini to start the first and second halves. Illinois did not kick off in the game.
Iowa is 5-2 this season when starting the game on defense. In 18 seasons as Iowa’s head coach, Ferentz and the Hawkeyes have opened on defense in 49-of-226 games (28-21). Iowa has started the game on offense in 177-of-226 games (107-70).
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.
IOWA PROGRAM NOTES
• The Hawkeyes have earned bowl eligibility in 15 of the last 16 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).
• Since the start of the 2003 season, Iowa has 113 wins, a total that ranks 24th-best in the nation.
• 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 312 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. Iowa is 54-36 (.600) since 2010.
• 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.