RobHowe
Administrator
An Iowa Football Quintet Ready to Rise
5 Hawkeyes Poised for '23 BreakOut
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
guffus
Well-Known Member
This is always my favorite piece of all of the pre-season articles. Always fun to see young athletes make that big jump to the next level. As noted, some of these we already got a taste of their potential last year. Now the next test is can they perform at a high level consistently. Makes me excited for upcoming season.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
This is why I luv college football, still, with all that is changing. Those up and comers that come out of the woodwork.
I have a sleeper pick I think all need to keep an eye on that I think could have a real impact on this years team and help make the offense progress. This player is HAYDEN LARGE. I didn't hear or know anything about him until I was listening to a local sports show one afternoon coming home from work. From what I heard he is intriguing and could play a huge role. This if BF and KF use him and his talents.
He's a fullback and graduate transfer from Dort College. He will have 2 yrs of eligibility left. So he's from Dort College, not so intimidating, huh. Well, he has great metrics for size and seems to be quite athletic. One of his skills that sticks out is his receiving capability as he has caught 62 receptions for 950 yrd in 3 seasons.
BF needs to use this skill in the offense and trust the FB position as another option. Think of defenses having to deal with another legit option and scheme against it. Think of how that could even more help open up the passing game and loosen up the LB'ers trying to cover the TE's. I have been lobbying the Iowa staff to use the FB more for years. His blocking could continue to support a power running game.
Most, like me, know nothing about him but take a look at him.
Remember the name HAYDEN LARGE (#88) people. He might just be that last missing piece. I know I'm going to be excited to see what he does.
Ok. after I posted this after I investigated a little more on Google. This player has mad skill. The blocking was the unknown to me, but watching this I am really impressed with that as well. I think he could be a nightmare for defenses if he's coming out of the FB position along with two TE sets. His hands also stuck out to me.
I have a sleeper pick I think all need to keep an eye on that I think could have a real impact on this years team and help make the offense progress. This player is HAYDEN LARGE. I didn't hear or know anything about him until I was listening to a local sports show one afternoon coming home from work. From what I heard he is intriguing and could play a huge role. This if BF and KF use him and his talents.
He's a fullback and graduate transfer from Dort College. He will have 2 yrs of eligibility left. So he's from Dort College, not so intimidating, huh. Well, he has great metrics for size and seems to be quite athletic. One of his skills that sticks out is his receiving capability as he has caught 62 receptions for 950 yrd in 3 seasons.
BF needs to use this skill in the offense and trust the FB position as another option. Think of defenses having to deal with another legit option and scheme against it. Think of how that could even more help open up the passing game and loosen up the LB'ers trying to cover the TE's. I have been lobbying the Iowa staff to use the FB more for years. His blocking could continue to support a power running game.
Most, like me, know nothing about him but take a look at him.
Remember the name HAYDEN LARGE (#88) people. He might just be that last missing piece. I know I'm going to be excited to see what he does.
Ok. after I posted this after I investigated a little more on Google. This player has mad skill. The blocking was the unknown to me, but watching this I am really impressed with that as well. I think he could be a nightmare for defenses if he's coming out of the FB position along with two TE sets. His hands also stuck out to me.
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#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
Solid list.
Playing time will be hard to come by at DE, but I'd keep an eye on Max Llewellyn. He is poised for a break-out, next year at the latest.
Diante Vines is also an under-the-radar player that could surprise with the new QB and all the attention that will be focused on the TEs.
Playing time will be hard to come by at DE, but I'd keep an eye on Max Llewellyn. He is poised for a break-out, next year at the latest.
Diante Vines is also an under-the-radar player that could surprise with the new QB and all the attention that will be focused on the TEs.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
Of that list, Logan Jones is the one I am least certain about having a break out year, but probably the guy we most need to have a breakout year. He was shaky last year and as Rob explains, there are good reasons why. The guy is a freak athlete and I am guessing he is closer to 290 by the time games start. The extra bulk and confidence of a year under his belt, along with a talented QB, should allow some appreciable improvement. Without a strong center, I fear for the OL.
I think Graves will become a household name this yr much like Van Ness did last yr. With Shannon most likely being out for a little while at the start of the yr that opens the door for him to play a lot early against the inferior opponents and I just think Graves is going to start out the yr with his hair on fire. Even when Shannon comes back I think Graves will be too good to not have play a ton of snaps. So even though he may not be a 'starter' I think he'll turn into the headliner of the Dline.
Yeah feels like picking him is a leap of faith. The good thing is if he is that bodes extremely well for the O.
Super wishful breakout list:
Jacob Bostick (no indications he is about to break out, but could sure use his combo of height and speed)
A couple OL besides the 3 entrenched (Richman, Colby, and Jones); if one of Stephens, Dunker, Feth, Elsbury, or Dejong could become an All-B1G caliber interior mauler, or Dejong or Parker could be a consistent RT, the offense would flow a lot more smoothly.
I don't think Addison Ostrenga will exactly "breakout" because of the 2 really good guys in front of him (barring injury), but I think he will flash enough that he will be an obvious player for this list going into the '24 season.
Jacob Bostick (no indications he is about to break out, but could sure use his combo of height and speed)
A couple OL besides the 3 entrenched (Richman, Colby, and Jones); if one of Stephens, Dunker, Feth, Elsbury, or Dejong could become an All-B1G caliber interior mauler, or Dejong or Parker could be a consistent RT, the offense would flow a lot more smoothly.
I don't think Addison Ostrenga will exactly "breakout" because of the 2 really good guys in front of him (barring injury), but I think he will flash enough that he will be an obvious player for this list going into the '24 season.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
KF usually has a pretty good eye when it comes to position changes. Seems like they work out more often than not. He clearly saw something in Jones that made him believe he could be the next great center. He won the job immediately and KF stuck with him all year. If I was betting my own money, I would wager on Jones having a really good year, but only because of KF's track record in this setting, not because of what I saw most of the season on the field.
ChosenChildren
Well-Known Member
There is a lot of talent on this Iowa team. I really hope Shannon plays most of the season
thedukeofearl
Well-Known Member
Excellent analysis, Rob
This is exactly how things should turn out, barring injuries, and any other unpredictables
We should have beaten Illinois at their house last season and a dropped pass within the 5 yard
line and nobody in position to block the pass or 2 steps into the end zone
Think we will pay them back this time
Non-Sports Fun Fact - The Hawkeyes' Week 3 opponent has gone by five different names - Western State Normal School, Western State Teachers College, Western Michigan College of Education, Western Michigan College, and, since 1957, Western Michigan University.
Would be impossible to make the names up...
This is exactly how things should turn out, barring injuries, and any other unpredictables
We should have beaten Illinois at their house last season and a dropped pass within the 5 yard
line and nobody in position to block the pass or 2 steps into the end zone
Think we will pay them back this time
Non-Sports Fun Fact - The Hawkeyes' Week 3 opponent has gone by five different names - Western State Normal School, Western State Teachers College, Western Michigan College of Education, Western Michigan College, and, since 1957, Western Michigan University.
Would be impossible to make the names up...
RobHowe
Administrator
Logan Jones told us during interviews this summer that he found himself trying to replicate what he saw from Linderbaum on film right out of the gate. He wanted to fire off the ball like Tyler. He got ahead of himself.
In doing so, he rushed snaps, which created problems there. I think there was snowball effect after that and he struggled with confidence as well.
You can see the potential on this play against Michigan last season. While he'll experience some turbulence like most players throughout an entire season, I'm betting he finds the consistency to be a really good player.
In doing so, he rushed snaps, which created problems there. I think there was snowball effect after that and he struggled with confidence as well.
You can see the potential on this play against Michigan last season. While he'll experience some turbulence like most players throughout an entire season, I'm betting he finds the consistency to be a really good player.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
Thanks, Rob. Its funny, because from the average fan's perspective it never looked like he rushed snaps, it looked everyone else moved a half a beat before the snap suggesting he was a little late. I was flabergasted we were not called for more false start penalties in that regard.
That said, I could see how a guy who has never played center, and was following a legend, could spend too much time trying to emulate the play of one of the best that has ever played the position collegiately, but who was just not ready to play at that level yet. Whatever the issue, having 13 starts and a full off season of teaching under three really good OL coaches should lead to much improved play this season. Having experienced OL returning, a legitimate QB, and a RB who looks like a beast should aid in that development as well.
99topdawg
Well-Known Member
I don't think he fits in to the "break out" category, but he's definitely flying under the radar.
--Full time starter the last 3 years, part time starter as a freshman
--3 time all conference player
--more than 100 tackles each of the last 3 years (missed 2 games because of injury one year and covid another)
--averaged 9.8, 10.3, and 10.4 tackles per game in those 3 seasons (Jack averaged 9.8 and 10.0 in the last two seasons and no, I'm not saying he is as good as Jack, just a point of reference)
--led conference in tackles/tackles per game the past 2 seasons, was second the other season
--ranked 9th and 16th in nationally tackles in 2 seasons
--has 354 career tackles, 161 solo, 20 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks
--preseason all Big Ten
--named to the NSCA Strength and Conditioning All-America Team based on academic achievement, personal integrity, athletic accomplishments and dedication to strength and conditioning
--Full time starter the last 3 years, part time starter as a freshman
--3 time all conference player
--more than 100 tackles each of the last 3 years (missed 2 games because of injury one year and covid another)
--averaged 9.8, 10.3, and 10.4 tackles per game in those 3 seasons (Jack averaged 9.8 and 10.0 in the last two seasons and no, I'm not saying he is as good as Jack, just a point of reference)
--led conference in tackles/tackles per game the past 2 seasons, was second the other season
--ranked 9th and 16th in nationally tackles in 2 seasons
--has 354 career tackles, 161 solo, 20 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks
--preseason all Big Ten
--named to the NSCA Strength and Conditioning All-America Team based on academic achievement, personal integrity, athletic accomplishments and dedication to strength and conditioning
