homerHAWKeye777
Well-Known Member
The good news is that even in spite of a somewhat disappointing season ... we still enjoyed our 3rd bowl victory in a row! Furthermore, it was against a pretty highly BCS ranked foe in Mizzou. Thus, a little bit of winning ALWAYS helps recruiting.
Hawk positives:
- Coming off a bowl victory
- We're coming off a season where we let A LOT of young guys play. That tends to give recruits more hope that they might see early playing time.
- I anticipate that the O will look really good in practice and that there will be a lot of confidence in the locker room ... particularly on the O-side of the ball. The vibe that recruits get from the players about a program plays a HUGE role in their decision.
- Iowa obviously has a great NFL rep ... and recruits notice that (having to have a 2nd pro day because of the high demand for Hawk players definitely doesn't hurt)
- Ferentz and Co continue to have one of the best reputations when it comes to integrity. Many recruits really appreciate the fact that the Iowa coaches do not sugar coat the recruiting process.
- The Iowa coaches have obviously made some improvements in how they go about recruiting and the proof has been in the pudding when you look at the past 2 recruiting classes. Look for the trend to continue ...
- The recruiting game can kinda take on a life of its own. Once you gain recruiting momentum through a few years ... that energy tends to carry over. Players continue to recruit for the program and underclassmen high-schoolers take notice to where their older buddies go to college.
- The Iowa coaches have A LOT to brag about when it comes to the academic accomplishments of their players. While, in general, parents have been getting more annoying when its come to the recruiting-game ... there are still plenty of "good ones" who will appreciate the emphasis that the Iowa coaches place on academics.
- The Iowa coaching staff has enjoyed tremendous continuity. Players like knowing that the guys who recruit them will be sticking with the program.
- The Iowa vs Nebraska matchup should provide a lot of positive buzz. It's the sort of rivalry game that can get used to really excite recruits.
- Doyle is always a huge positive for us.
External events that help Iowa recruiting:
- A good bit of coaching turnover throughout the Big 10 ... and on many levels too, not just with the head coaches. There are new head coaches at Minny, Indiana, and Michigan. There are a good number of staff-changes at Nebraska and MSU. Also, the Wisky and Northwestern coaching staffs have taken a few hits too.
- Coaching changes out east, particularly at Pitt, UConn, and Maryland, will likely help our recruiting cause out there.
- Rutgers has dropped off the map a little bit. Schiano is not longer being viewed as a wunderkind on the national stage. The fact that Rutgers has dropped off, combined with Pitt's coaching issues, is arguably a significant reason why Iowa seems to be regaining some recruiting momentum back in New Jersey.
- South Florida has dropped a bit from the national scene, Miami failed to capitalize off of its increased exposure over the past few years, and Urban Meyer has officially "left the building" in Florida. The immediate implication is that Iowa's chances of landing some decent talent in Florida has gone up. Of course, Alabama and Auburn are reaping some of the most immediate spoils ... however, every little bit helps.
- Negative tOSU press will possibly help Iowa's chances in some recruiting battles.
Recruiting negatives/obstacles:
- Unfortunately, the fact that Notre Dame actually won a bowl game matters to many folks. While they typically kick our butts in many recruiting battles anyhow ... a bowl victory could give them a bit more recruiting momentum.
- The fact that the Illini didn't suck means that the Zook "recruiting machine" might have regained some teeth and claws.
- Wisky's recent success will only help their cause in recruiting. Furthermore, they're likely going to try to be a bigger force in recruiting Illinois too. Thus, we should probably look for there to be a lot of scrapping for recruits in Illinois in 2011.
- Iowa's rhabo scare is going to get used against us in the recruiting game big and bad. Wisky and MSU are already known for their negative recruiting strategies ... and they're going to keep applying the pressure.
- The fact that Iowa didn't fare all that well in a season where we were VERY hyped will likely get used against us in the recruiting game.
- The fact that Nebraska is no longer in the Big 12 implies that they're likely going to now try to get entrenched in some of the more fertile Big 10 recruiting grounds. When you consider that Pelini is an Ohio boy ... he's likely going to try to tap into that fact.
Hawk positives:
- Coming off a bowl victory
- We're coming off a season where we let A LOT of young guys play. That tends to give recruits more hope that they might see early playing time.
- I anticipate that the O will look really good in practice and that there will be a lot of confidence in the locker room ... particularly on the O-side of the ball. The vibe that recruits get from the players about a program plays a HUGE role in their decision.
- Iowa obviously has a great NFL rep ... and recruits notice that (having to have a 2nd pro day because of the high demand for Hawk players definitely doesn't hurt)
- Ferentz and Co continue to have one of the best reputations when it comes to integrity. Many recruits really appreciate the fact that the Iowa coaches do not sugar coat the recruiting process.
- The Iowa coaches have obviously made some improvements in how they go about recruiting and the proof has been in the pudding when you look at the past 2 recruiting classes. Look for the trend to continue ...
- The recruiting game can kinda take on a life of its own. Once you gain recruiting momentum through a few years ... that energy tends to carry over. Players continue to recruit for the program and underclassmen high-schoolers take notice to where their older buddies go to college.
- The Iowa coaches have A LOT to brag about when it comes to the academic accomplishments of their players. While, in general, parents have been getting more annoying when its come to the recruiting-game ... there are still plenty of "good ones" who will appreciate the emphasis that the Iowa coaches place on academics.
- The Iowa coaching staff has enjoyed tremendous continuity. Players like knowing that the guys who recruit them will be sticking with the program.
- The Iowa vs Nebraska matchup should provide a lot of positive buzz. It's the sort of rivalry game that can get used to really excite recruits.
- Doyle is always a huge positive for us.
External events that help Iowa recruiting:
- A good bit of coaching turnover throughout the Big 10 ... and on many levels too, not just with the head coaches. There are new head coaches at Minny, Indiana, and Michigan. There are a good number of staff-changes at Nebraska and MSU. Also, the Wisky and Northwestern coaching staffs have taken a few hits too.
- Coaching changes out east, particularly at Pitt, UConn, and Maryland, will likely help our recruiting cause out there.
- Rutgers has dropped off the map a little bit. Schiano is not longer being viewed as a wunderkind on the national stage. The fact that Rutgers has dropped off, combined with Pitt's coaching issues, is arguably a significant reason why Iowa seems to be regaining some recruiting momentum back in New Jersey.
- South Florida has dropped a bit from the national scene, Miami failed to capitalize off of its increased exposure over the past few years, and Urban Meyer has officially "left the building" in Florida. The immediate implication is that Iowa's chances of landing some decent talent in Florida has gone up. Of course, Alabama and Auburn are reaping some of the most immediate spoils ... however, every little bit helps.
- Negative tOSU press will possibly help Iowa's chances in some recruiting battles.
Recruiting negatives/obstacles:
- Unfortunately, the fact that Notre Dame actually won a bowl game matters to many folks. While they typically kick our butts in many recruiting battles anyhow ... a bowl victory could give them a bit more recruiting momentum.
- The fact that the Illini didn't suck means that the Zook "recruiting machine" might have regained some teeth and claws.
- Wisky's recent success will only help their cause in recruiting. Furthermore, they're likely going to try to be a bigger force in recruiting Illinois too. Thus, we should probably look for there to be a lot of scrapping for recruits in Illinois in 2011.
- Iowa's rhabo scare is going to get used against us in the recruiting game big and bad. Wisky and MSU are already known for their negative recruiting strategies ... and they're going to keep applying the pressure.
- The fact that Iowa didn't fare all that well in a season where we were VERY hyped will likely get used against us in the recruiting game.
- The fact that Nebraska is no longer in the Big 12 implies that they're likely going to now try to get entrenched in some of the more fertile Big 10 recruiting grounds. When you consider that Pelini is an Ohio boy ... he's likely going to try to tap into that fact.
