Hawk Talk Monthly — January | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2018-19 | Fight For Iowa | Request for 2019 Football Tickets | Notes14 FINAL NOTES
1st and 10
1: Kirk Ferentz (152-101) became Iowa’s all-time winningest coach on Sept. 1, 2018. The Hawkeyes defeated Northern Illinois, 33-7. It was Ferentz’s 144th win as Iowa’s head coach, one more than his predecessor, Hayden Fry (143-89-6). Fry coached Iowa for 20 years (1979-98). Ferentz completed his 20th season in 2018. Iowa finished the year 9-4 and ranked No. 25 in the AP rankings.
2: T.J. Hockenson was presented the John Mackey Award, presented to the nation’s top tight end on Dec. 6, and was named Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the year in the Big Ten Conference Nov. 28. He was also the recipient of the Ozzie Newsome Award, presented by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, Ohio. Hockenson had a team-high 760 receiving yards on a team-high 49 receptions, both career highs. Hockenson also had a career-high six receiving touchdowns. He was named first team All-Big Ten by conference media, and second team All-Big Ten by conference coaches.
3: The Hawkeyes ranked third in the Big Ten with 35 sacks, their highest single-season total since recording 40 sacks in 2002. A.J. Epenesa and DE Anthony Nelson ranked 1-2 in the Big Ten in sacks. Epenesa led all players with 10.5 sacks (ninth in the country). Nelson had 9.5 sacks, tied for second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally. The 10.5 sacks are the highest single-season total by any Hawkeye since DL Adrian Clayborn had 11.5 sacks in 2009.
4: Iowa had 20 interceptions in 2018, tied for second in the country. Amani Hooker was named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive back of the Year. He is the fourth Hawkeye to earn the defensive back award, and the third in the past four seasons. Iowa led the nation with 21 interceptions in 2017. The Hawkeyes’ 41 interceptions over the last two season are more than any other school. Alabama has 33 and Central Florida 32.
5: QB Nate Stanley threw 26 touchdown passes in 2018, second most in the Big Ten, one shy of tying Chuck Long (1985) for the most in single season school history, and tied for second most all-time in single season history. Stanley also threw 26 touchdown passes in 2017. Stanley’s 52 touchdown passes over the last two seasons are the most ever in school history over a two-year span.
6: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette was named Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year in the Big Ten Conference. Smith-Marsette led the Big Ten and ranked No. 2 in the country, averaging 29.5 yards on 24 returns. The Hawkeyes led the Big Ten and ranked fourth in the country averaging 27.3 yards per kickoff return.
7: Iowa averaged 31.2 points per game, the ninth highest single-season total in school history, and its highest since averaging a school-record 37.2 points per game in 2002. Iowa averaged 42.8 points per game in five road games (3-2), and scored 40 points or more in all three of its road wins.
8: The Hawkeyes ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring defense (17.8), rushing defense (109.5) and total defense (293.6). Iowa’s total defense ranked seventh in the country. Its rush defense ranked 12th nationally and ranks ninth all-time in single-season school history.
9: Iowa won four trophies in 2018. The Hawkeyes defeated Iowa State, 13-3, to retain the Cy-Hawk Trophy in Week 2, lost to No. 18 Wisconsin, 28-17, in a battle for the Heartland Trophy in Week 4, defeated Minnesota, 48-31, to retain Floyd of Rosedale in Week 5, topped Nebraska, 31-28, to retain the Heroes Trophy, and won the Outback Bowl trophy with a 27-22 win over No. 18 Mississippi State.
10: Iowa’s senior class recorded 23 conference wins from 2015-18, tied for the third most by any senior class under Ferentz. The senior class was 12-0 in rivalry games against Iowa State, Minnesota, and Nebraska. In its only meetings with Michigan and Ohio State, the senior class recorded a pair of top five wins (14-13 vs. #2 Michigan in 2016; 55-24 vs. #3 Ohio State in 2017). Iowa has won 37 games over the last four years, tied for the third-best four-year total in program history. Iowa won 38 games from 2002-05, 38 games from 2001-04, and 37 games from 1984-87.
IOWA DEFEATS MISSISSIPPI STATE AT OUTBACK BOWL
Iowa (9-4) defeated No. 18 Mississippi State (8-5) at the 2019 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida, on Jan. 1, 2019. The Hawkeyes improved to 16-15-1 in 32 bowl game appearances.
Iowa was bowl eligible for the 17th time under coach head Kirk Ferentz, and has posted an 8-8 bowl record under Ferentz, including wins in five January bowl games. Since 2001, only Ohio State and Wisconsin have won more bowl games (including the FBS championship game) than Iowa among Big Ten Teams.
BIG TEN BOWL GAMES SINCE 2001
Iowa has posted an 8-8 bowl record under head coach Kirk Ferentz, most recently defeating No. 18 Mississippi State, 27-22, at the 2019 Outback Bowl. Since the 2001 season, only Ohio State and Wisconsin have won more bowl games (including the FBS championship game), than Iowa. The Hawkeyes have been bowl eligible 17 times in the last 18 seasons.
TROPHY GAMES
Iowa won four trophies in 2018. The Hawkeyes defeated Iowa State, 13-3, to retain the Cy-Hawk Trophy in Week 2, lost to No. 18 Wisconsin, 28-17, in a battle for the Heartland Trophy in Week 4, defeated Minnesota, 48-31, to retain Floyd of Rosedale in Week 5, topped Nebraska, 31-28, to retain the Heroes Trophy, and won the Outback Bowl trophy with a 27-22 win over No. 18 Mississippi State.
Iowa is 13-3 in its last 16 rivalry trophy games (Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin), with all three losses coming to Wisconsin.
SENIOR CLASS
Iowa’s senior class recorded 23 conference wins from 2015-18, tied for the third most by any senior class under Ferentz. The senior class was 12-0 in rivalry games against Iowa State, Minnesota, and Nebraska. In its only meetings with Michigan and Ohio State, the senior class recorded a pair of top five wins (14-13 vs. #2 Michigan in 2016; 55-24 vs. #3 Ohio State in 2017).
Iowa has won 37 games over the last four years, tied for the third-best four-year total in program history. Iowa won 38 games from 2002-05, 38 games from 2001-04, and 37 games from 1984-87.
4 HAWKEYES DECLARE FOR NFL DRAFT
Four Iowa football players declared for the NFL Draft, forfeiting their remaining college eligibility. Juniors Noah Fant, Amani Hooker, and Anthony Nelson, and sophomore T.J. Hockenson announced their intentions to leave school and pursue professional football careers. following Iowa’s Outback Bowl victory. Junior tight end Noah Fant declared in December.
The Iowa football program under Ferentz has sent 170 players to the NFL, including 66 draft picks and 104 free agents. At least one Hawkeye has been selected in the NFL Draft every year since 1978. In the past 11 seasons, 40 Hawkeyes have been taken in the NFL Draft, including four first round selections.
Hockenson and Fant are both tight ends, Hooker is a defensive back and Nelson a defensive end. Nelson has played three seasons after redshirting in 2015. Hooker played as a true freshman. Hockenson redshirted in 2016 before seeing action the past two seasons.
6 THROUGH THE AIR
QB Nate Stanley threw 26 touchdown passes in 2018, second most in the Big Ten, one shy of tying Chuck Long (1985) for the most in single season school history, and tied for second most all-time in single season history. Stanley also threw 26 touchdown passes in 2017. Stanley’s 52 touchdown passes over the last two seasons are the most ever in school history over a two-year span. Long tossed 49 touchdown passes from 1984 (22) to 1985 (27).
Stanley has 52 career touchdowns passes, fourth all-time in program history. He trails Long (74), Drew Tate (61), and Ricky Stanzi (56) on the all-time list.
Stanley threw for a career-high 2,852 yards, the seventh-highest single-season total in school history. Stanley ranks ninth in career passing yards (5,351) and career total offense (5,240).
Stanley set a career high with six touchdown passes Week 6 at Indiana. He threw the six touchdowns to five different players, marking just the second time in program history five different Hawkeyes had a receiving touchdown in the same game. He also had 320 yards passing, the fourth 300-yard passing game of his career. His performance earned him Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors.
Stanley had 14 touchdowns combined from Weeks 3-6. That touchdown total tied for the most ever over a four-game stretch in school history (Chuck Long threw 14 touchdowns over a four-game stretch in 1985). He had five multi-touchdown games in 2018, and 12 in his career.
BEST IN THE BIG TEN
DE A.J. Epenesa and DE Anthony Nelson ranked 1-2 in the Big Ten in sacks. Epenesa led all players with 10.5 sacks (ninth in the country). Nelson had 9.5 sacks, tied for second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally. Epenesa’s 10.5 sacks are the highest single-season total by any Hawkeye since DL Adrian Clayborn had 11.5 sacks in 2009. Nelson recorded a career-best three sacks Week 5 at Minnesota. Epenesa recorded at least one sack in nine of 13 games.
Epenesa was named first team All-Big Ten by league media, and second team All-Big Ten by league coaches. Nelson was named to the media’s second team, and the coaches third team. Both players scored a touchdown in 2018. Nelson recovered a fumble for a touchdown Week 7 against Maryland. Epenesa recovered his own forced fumble and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown at Illinois.
The Hawkeyes ranked third in the Big Ten with 35 sacks, the second highest single-season total in the Ferentz era (2002, 40). Eleven Hawkeyes contributed to Iowa’s sack total. DE Parker Hesse had four, DE Chauncey Golston had 3.5, LB Kristian Welch had 1.5, and DB Amani Hooker, LB Amani Jones, DT Cedrick Lattimore, DT Brady Reiff, DT Matt Nelson, and LB Nick Niemann each had one.
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE
The Hawkeyes ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring defense (17.8), rushing defense (109.5) and total defense (293.6). Iowa’s total defense ranked seventh in the country. Its rush defense ranked 12th nationally and ranks ninth all-time in single-season school history.
Iowa ranked 11th in the country in scoring defense. The Hawkeyes held five opponents to a season-low in points (Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Indiana, Maryland, Illinois), and pitched two shutouts (Maryland, Illinois). Iowa has 11 shutouts in the Ferentz era.
In Week 7 against Maryland, the Hawkeyes held the Terps to 115 yards of total offense, the fewest ever allowed to a Big Ten opponent under Ferentz.
Iowa allowed 3.3 yards per carry, 10th in the country, and allowed only nine rushing touchdowns, tied for fifth in the country.
The Hawkeyes limited Iowa State to just 19 yards rushing in Week 2, and held Northern Iowa to six rushing yards in Week 3 – a total that ranks second all-time in the Ferentz era (20 years).
Iowa allowed 214 first downs, third fewest in the Big Ten and 12th in the country.
RETURN TO SENDER
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette was named Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year in the Big Ten Conference. Smith-Marsette led the Big Ten and ranked No. 2 in the country, averaging 29.5 yards on 24 returns.
The Hawkeyes led the Big Ten and ranked fourth in the country averaging 27.3 yards per kickoff return. Iowa returned 30 kickoffs this season. Kyle Groeneweg averaged 27.0 yards on two returns. Devonte Young had three returns for 64 yards.
Groeneweg ranked second in the Big Ten and 19th nationally, averaging 9.9 yards per punt return. Groeneweg returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown against Illinois. It was the 22nd longest punt return in school history, and Iowa’s first punt return for a touchdown since 2016 (Riley McCarron, at Illinois). As a team, Iowa averaged 10.6 yards per punt return, second in the Big Ten.
POCKET PROTECTION
Senior center Keegan Render led an offensive line that allowed 16 quarterback sacks, tied for fewest in the Big Ten (Rutgers). The Hawkeyes started sophomores Alaric Jackson and Tristan Wirfs at tackle. Senior Ross Reynolds started every game at left guard, and sophomore Cole Banwart and senior Dalton Ferguson shared starts at right guard.
TE T.J. HOCKENSON NAMED TIGHT END OF THE YEAR
TE T.J. Hockenson was named the top tight end in the country and in the Big Ten in 2018. He was presented the John Mackey Award, presented to the nation’s top tight end on Dec. 6, and was named Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the year in the Big Ten Conference Nov. 28. He was also the recipient of the Ozzie Newsome Award, presented by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, Ohio. He was named first team All-America by the AFCA and Sporting News.
Hockenson had a team-high 760 receiving yards on a team-high 49 receptions, both career highs. Hockenson also had a career-high six receiving touchdowns. He was named first team All-Big Ten by the conference media, and second team All-Big Ten by conference coaches.
Hockenson’s 760 receiving yards are the third-highest single-season total in school history by a tight end, and the most by a Hawkeye tight end in a single season since Mark Cook caught 63 passes for 767 yards in 1988. The last Hawkeye tight end to lead the team in receptions in a single season was Scott Chandler in 2005 (47). The last Hawkeye tight end to lead the team in single-season receiving yards was Alan Cross in 1992 (600). The single-season school record for receiving yards by a tight end is 803, set by Marv Cook in 1987.
Hockenson added a rushing touchdown to his career stats at Minnesota, taking a direct snap on a fake field goal and rushing four yards for the score. His 15.5 yards per reception ranked second on the team (Smith-Marsette, 15.7).
POINTS ON THE BOARD, POINTS ON THE ROAD
Iowa averaged 31.2 points per game, the 12th highest single-season total in school history, and its highest since averaging a school-record 37.2 points per game in 2002.
Iowa averaged 42.8 points per game in five road contests (3-2). The Hawkeyes scored 40 points or more in all three of their road wins. Iowa scored 27 points in its neutral site win against Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl.
Iowa scored 63 points at Illinois in Week 11, the most by the Hawkeyes since scoring 63 points at Iowa State in 1997, and the most points against a Big Ten opponent since a 64-0 victory against Northwestern in 1981.
The Hawkeyes put up 48 points at Minnesota Week 5 and 42 points at Indiana Week 6. The 40-plus points scored at Minnesota and Indiana marked the first time in program history Iowa has scored 40 points or more in consecutive Big Ten road games in the same season.
Iowa scored 24 points at Penn State, though none came from an offensive set. The Hawkeyes recorded two safeties, kicked two field goals, returned one interception for a touchdown, and scored one touchdown via special teams (fake field goal).
Iowa scored 36 points in a 38-36 loss at Purdue. The 36 points scored were the most by Iowa in a loss since 2011 (44-41 at Iowa State, 3OT), and the most ever in a game that ended in regulation.
RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE
Iowa’s three primary running backs – Ivory Kelly-Martin, Mekhi Sargent, Toren Young – combined for 392 carries, 1,723 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns (nine by Sargent, five by Young, and two by Kelly-Martin).
The sophomore trio shared the workload. Sargent had 40.6 percent of the carries (159-745), Young had 34.7 percent of the carries (136-637), and Kelly-Martin has 24.7 percent of the carries (97-341).
Sargent rushed for 100-plus yards in each of the last two regular season games. He rushed for a career-high 173 yards on a career-high 26 carries against Nebraska in Week 12. He added a rushing score (15) and touchdown reception (5). In Iowa’s 63-0 win at Illinois in Week 11, Sargent rushed for a then career-high 121 yards, becoming Iowa’s first 100-yard back since RB Akrum Wadley in Week 12 of 2017. Sargent had a pair of touchdowns against the Illini. He led the team with 10 total touchdowns.
Iowa had a different running back rush for then career high in yards in Weeks 6-8. Sargent set a then-career best in carries (16) and yards (91) Week 8 at Penn State. Kelly-Martin rushed for a career-high 98 yards Week 7 against Maryland, and Young rushed for a career-best 96 yards Week 6 at Indiana.
The Hawkeyes did not have a junior or senior among the position group in 2018.
HOOKER NAMED BIG TEN DEFENSIVE BACK OF THE YEAR
Junior Amani Hooker was named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive back of the Year. He is the fourth Hawkeye to earn the defensive back award, and the third in the past four seasons. Micah Hyde (2012), Desmond King (2015), and Josh Jackson (2017) previously earned the defensive back honor.
Hooker was named first-team All-Big Ten by coaches and media. He ranked second on the team with 65 tackles, led the team with seven pass break-ups and tied for the team lead with four interceptions (tied for second in the Big Ten). He also had 3.5 tackles for loss. As a team, Iowa is tied for second in the nation with 20 interceptions. The Hawkeyes led the country a year ago with 21.
A STONE’S THROW AWAY
The Hawkeyes had 20 interceptions in 2018, best in the Big Ten and tied for second most in the country (California 21, Utah State 20). Iowa had two interceptions in the first four games of the season, but recorded 18 thefts after SS Geno Stone entered the starting lineup and Amani Hooker moved from safety to outside linebacker in Week 5. Iowa led the nation with 21 interceptions in 2017. The Hawkeyes’ 41 interceptions over the last two season are more than any other school. Alabama has 33 and Central Florida has 32.
In its last nine games, Iowa had 18 interceptions (four at Minnesota, two at Indiana, one vs. Maryland, a pick-six at Penn State, two interceptions at Purdue, two vs. Northwestern, three at Illinois, one vs. Nebraska, two vs. Mississippi State).
Stone, Hooker, and FS Jake Gervase shared the team lead with four interceptions (tied for second in the Big Ten). Three of Stone’s four thefts were in the fourth quarter. He intercepted Trace McSorley on the Penn State 24-yard line and returned it for a touchdown in Week 8. He intercepted Minnesota inside the five-yard line on Minnesota’s final play of the game, and had a fourth quarter interception against Indiana in the end zone. He started at strong safety Weeks 5-13, his first career starts.
Iowa has at least one interception return for a touchdown in each of the last 11 seasons, and 16 of the last 18 seasons.
NEW FACES IN THE CROWD
The 2018 season was the first in Kirk Ferentz’s 20 years that the Hawkeyes opened the season without a linebacker with a single career start. Iowa used five different starting linebacker combinations in 2018.
SS Amani Hooker made his first career start at outside linebacker Week 5 at Minnesota, the first of his nine consecutive starts at the position. Hooker was the sixth different Hawkeye to start at the linebacker position this season. The others included first-time starters LB Djimon Colbert, LB Jack Hockaday, LB Amani Jones, LB Nick Niemann, and LB Kristian Welch.
The five linebackers (not including Hooker) entered the season with a combined 40 career tackles, 832 fewer career tackles than Iowa’s three starting linebackers in 2017 (Josey Jewell 437; Bo Bower, 234; Ben Niemann, 201).
The last time Ferentz went through a season with so little starting experience at the linebacker position was in 2014. That year, Quinton Alston, Bo Bower, and Reggie Spearman were Iowa’s starting linebackers in the season opener. Only Alston had a previous career start (2012 at Michigan).
In Ferentz’s first season in 1999, the opening day starting linebackers — LeVar Woods, Aaron Kampman, and Derrick Davison had two career starts combined. Both starts belonged to Kampman, who started the final two games in 1998.
FERENTZ BECOMES IOWA’S ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH, MOVES UP BIG TEN CHARTS
Head coach Kirk Ferentz (152-101) became Iowa’s all-time winningest coach on Sept. 1, 2018. The Hawkeyes defeated Northern Illinois, 33-7. It was Ferentz’s 144th win as Iowa’s head coach, one more than his predecessor, Hayden Fry (143-89-6). Fry coached Iowa for 20 years (1979-98). Ferentz completed his 20th season in 2018.
Ferentz’s 152 wins in all games coached as a member of the Big Ten Conference rank fifth in league history. He is one of five coaches in Big Ten Conference history to win at least 150 games as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The top five includes Woody Hayes (202), Amos Alonza Stagg (199), Bo Schembechler (194), Joe Paterno (162), and Ferentz (152).
Ferentz has 91 Big Ten wins as Iowa’s head coach. The 91 conference wins rank sixth among the conference’s all-time winningest coaches in Big Ten games.
Both Ferentz (152, 91) and Fry (143, 96) rank in the top six in overall wins and Big Ten wins. Only Iowa and Michigan have two coaches ranked in the top 10 of both win categories (Bo Schembechler 194, 143; and Lloyd Carr 122, 81).
Iowa is the only school in the country to have just two head football coaches since 1979.
FERENTZ TOPS IN LONGEVITY
Kirk Ferentz completed his 20th season as Iowa’s head football coach. He is the longest tenured active head coach in college football. Ferentz was named Iowa head coach on Dec. 2, 1998. Gary Patterson of TCU is No. 2 in coaching tenure. Patterson’s first year with the Horned Frogs was 2001. Among Big Ten coaches, only Pat Fitzgerald (2006) and Mark Dantonio (2007) have been at their current schools for 10 seasons or more. Iowa is the only school to have just two head football coaches since 1979.
Defensive coordinator Phil Parker and strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle also completed their 20th seasons on Iowa’s staff. Defensive line coach Reese Morgan joined the staff in 1999 and completed his 19th season. Quarterbacks coach Ken O’Keefe was on Ferentz’s original coaching staff before he left for the NFL following the 2011 season. He returned to Iowa in 2017 to coach Iowa’s quarterbacks.
Ferentz is the only Division I coach to coach three sons. Brian Ferentz, a former Hawkeye letterman and captain (2003-05), completed his seventh season on Iowa’s coaching staff. James Ferentz was a three-year starter on the Hawkeye offensive line and a team captain before graduating in 2013. Steven was an offensive lineman and letterwinner in 2015 and 2016.
33 HAWKEYES NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-BIG TEN
Thirty-three Hawkeyes were named to the 2018 Big Ten Fall Academic All-Conference team. The Big Ten Conference recognized a total of 1,281 fall sports athletes, including 468 football players.
To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on a varsity team, as verified by being on the official squad list as of November 1 for fall sports, who have been enrolled full time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
Since 1999, Kirk Ferentz’s first year as head coach, 333 Hawkeyes have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
