Confusing tea leaves ....

H

homerHAWKeye777

Well-Known Member
- Most signs point to Kouandjio not going to Iowa
- Iowa continues to seem to be recruiting DB more from a position of "power" ... at least in terms of guys whom they seem to like
- Iowa seems to NOT be recruiting DL from much of a "power" position ... many guys we seem to like seem to be swaying in other directions (e.g. Sturdivant to PSU, Simmons/Jackson likely away from Iowa)
- Iowa's chances for Tabb looked bleak not all that long ago ... now we're on the cusp of having a chance. Tabb has family ties in Arkansas ... not a good sign. Furthermore, UNC has remained in the picture for his services for the long term ... that means that he really likes them.
- Iowa's chances for Cooper are probably a bit above 33.3%. I think Iowa owns an advantage over MSU ... however, he's liked Georgia Tech for a long time.

Lastly, I could easily see Iowa land 5 or 6 guys to complete the class ... and that wouldn't lead to any oversigning. However, given the MO of Iowa's coaches ... they don't mind banking ships and nabbing late qualifiers ... or simply rewarding deserving walk-ons. So it could end up being an awfully intriguing finish to the recruiting season.
 
The guys at the UA game all say Cyrus to Bama and the Bama insiders have him in their class as well. Would be a pretty big upset for him to end up anywhere else at this point.
 
CK more than likely will be going elsewhere however, from everything I have been reading, Cooper looks like a lot better odds than the 33% you stated. I would put us around 50% or higher. Getting Cooper would be a huge piece of the CK puzzle because then you can have both Coker and Cooper (both former HS teammates of CK) work some magic on him. I think Cooper is the key. Get him, and the odds we get CK improve.
 
I don't understand how we can read into CK at all, he doesn't say a whole lot. Harrington could also play a bit of a part with cooper and ck.
 
Cooper and Kouandjio are separate individual ... and consequently separate puzzles. There is currently ZERO buzz suggesting that Iowa had a legit shot with Cyrus anymore. However, I would agree that Iowa still has more than a fighter's chance of landing Cooper.

Lastly, most of the buzz swirling around Harrington suggests that he's out of the picture. That's part of the "recruiting from a position of power" bit that I was suggesting. He seems like a quality recruit to me ... thus, if Iowa's recruitment of Harrington has cooled as many outlets seem to indicate ... then that suggests that the Iowa coaches like how they sit with some other candidates at DB.

Thus, with Harrington out of the picture and with Iowa just trying to remain in contention for Cooper's services ... Iowa fans are simply being foolishly hopeful about Cyrus.

I'd rather be focussed on who Iowa has and who we're most likely to land. As it is ... we have an awfully nice recruiting class RIGHT NOW. Those guys deserve plenty of props for having already determined that they WANT to be Hawks!
 
Big Cy is visiting which is sweet - but Homer you are right he is not coming to Iowa.

I think you are low on the chances of Big Coop coming to IC though - I'd be up near 45%.

What happens with the Safety from FL? Williams kid who is committed to Zook - Homer?
 
Random recruiting thought.

It seems like we're venturing more and more into the area of continuing to recruit kids even after they have committed elsewhere. I seem to recall hearing a while back that Ferentz hates the idea of talking to a kid after he has given his commitment to another school. I know that other schools, in particular Illinois and Wisconsin have raided our cupboard and was wondering if we've started giving them a little tit for tat (CJF) or if it's mostly just circumstance (Alston)?

Any thoughts?
 
Homer is right

I think 40% chance for Coop

Cy less than 2% - WOuld be nice but I'm guessin hes havin dinner with the Saban's next year
 
HawKCP said:
Random recruiting thought.

It seems like we're venturing more and more into the area of continuing to recruit kids even after they have committed elsewhere. I seem to recall hearing a while back that Ferentz hates the idea of talking to a kid after he has given his commitment to another school. I know that other schools, in particular Illinois and Wisconsin have raided our cupboard and was wondering if we've started giving them a little tit for tat (CJF) or if it's mostly just circumstance (Alston)?

Any thoughts?
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Alston decommited from Pitt. Also CJF had an Iowa offer and I'm sure he kept in touch with them. My guess is that the players we recruit from other schools are ones that are "soft" or opening up their recruitment and are reaching out to Iowa, not the other way around, but I have no way of saying for sure.
 
More intrigue ...

- Jake Reed resolidifies his commitment to Indiana and chooses NOT to visit Iowa

- Many Iowa fans who also seem to follow recruiting closely seem to be under the impression that Iowa is cooling on many recruits prematurely and are opting more for "plan B" guys (who are more walk-on worthy than scholarship worthy). FWIW, my impression is that faint heart never won fair lady ... I simply think that those fans are reading the "tea leaves" incorrectly.

- Many impressions are that Pitts will be remaining out east. I suppose that some of this is due to Pitts being interested in Maryland and Rutgers. Many Hawk fans probably like our chances less of landing him because Price pulled the trigger for tOSU rather than Iowa (they were high-school teammates).

- News on the Raymon Taylor and Hendy fronts remains VERY quiet.

- Kerry Swarn is no longer an Arizona commit. He's a DB from Texas who received Iowa interest earlier. He may have gotten dropped by Arizona due to grades ... not sure about that though.


A few of my takes:

1. I really don't think that the Iowa coaches will throw out ships just to fill spots ... they're going to have to really like the guys who fill perceived needs

2. I still think that the Iowa coaches are going to wait til late and see if we can enjoy some late game "poaching." With the trend these days of filling up so early and with oversigning ... most schools do not have spots available to exploit late "pick-ups." There's also the issue of recruits having late "changes of heart" ... we are talking about young people, after all!

3. I also think that Iowa will keep their options open to take on late qualifiers. There are several guys we have liked through the recruiting process who are probably borderline with regard to grades. Guys like Rawls and Pierson are but two of them.

4. Never underestimate the ability of the coaches to pull out quality "suprise" guys out of their hats late in the game ... more recent examples being Tanner Miller and Dominic Alvis ... both of whom have reportedly been "direct hits" when it comes to talent, athleticism, and work ethic.

5. Lastly, the Iowa coaches like to reward walk-ons who are already "on board" the program. We invariably "spend ships" on departing SR walk-ons who are major contributers and/or starters. Continuing to feed and build our walk-on program REMAINS a critical element to the success of our program.

PARTING SHOT: Do NOT worry! The current recruiting class is EXCELLENT as it is. Any extra guys we land are simply ICING on the cake! Many folks continue to worry too much about our depth in the secondary. What folks quickly forget is that BJ Lowery is LEGIT and that Campbell very well could prove to be an up-and-comer ... and that's not even accounting for the fact that Lowe and Castillo have past starting experience. We're necessarily going to have to contend with a transition at safety ... however, that comes with the territory of replacing 2 multi-year starters. The good news is that we return some nice potential at safety ... including high ceiling guys like Miller and Bernstine. Furthermore, I'm VERY excited about Hitchens and Law.
 
Another remark:

- Counting the current commits we have ... that would bring our scholarship count to 76 guys on scholarship. And, mind you, that doesn't count any Iowa players who were FORMER walk-ons. I'm currently ignorant concerning walk-ons who have earned a 'ship.

- The above would imply 9 "available" scholarships.

- Out of the walk-ons who have received playing time or are slated to make a significant impact in 2011 ... I foresee the coaches possibly handing out 4 to 6 'ships to walk-ons.

- The above implication is that the coaches have AT MOST 2 to 4 more 'ships to give out.
 
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homerHAWKeye777 said:
Another remark:

- Counting the current commits we have ... that would bring our scholarship count to 77 guys on scholarship. And, mind you, that doesn't count any Iowa players who were FORMER walk-ons. I'm currently ignorant concerning walk-ons who have earned a 'ship.

- The above would imply 8 "available" scholarships.

- Out of the walk-ons who have received playing time or are slated to make a significant impact in 2011 ... I foresee the coaches possibly handing out 4 to 6 'ships to walk-ons.

- The above implication is that the coaches have AT MOST 2 to 4 more 'ships to give out.
Click to expand...

how many scholarships will we then have open in 2012? (Aka, how many seniors leaving?)
 
hawkfarmer said:
how many scholarships will we then have open in 2012? (Aka, how many seniors leaving?)
Click to expand...

13 SRs who are DEFINITELY occupying 'ships

+

2 to 4 SR walk-ons who possibly could snag 'ships

+

the usual few who we lose to "normal" attrition (homesickness, 4th year JRs, etc)

+

roughly around 2 to 4 "banked" ships (or thereabouts)


Thus, the above would suggest that we're looking at next years recruiting class landing in the ball-park of 17 to 21 guys. It could certainly end up being larger though.
 
homerHAWKeye777 said:
13 SRs who are DEFINITELY occupying 'ships

+

2 to 4 SR walk-ons who possibly could snag 'ships

+

the usual few who we lose to "normal" attrition (homesickness, 4th year JRs, etc)

+

roughly around 2 to 4 "banked" ships (or thereabouts)


Thus, the above would suggest that we're looking at next years recruiting class landing in the ball-park of 17 to 21 guys. It could certainly end up being larger though.
Click to expand...

Wow, only 13 seniors. I knew it would be small after this year, but not that small. Ok, so with that information, I wouldn't mind saving a few ships for next year. Sounds like there is a lot of interest in the hawks so far. I would hate to be limited because we "gave away" a ship this year. I don't mind giving it to some walk ons that have earned them as long as it doesn't hurt you for the next year.
 
hawkfarmer said:
Wow, only 13 seniors. I knew it would be small after this year, but not that small. Ok, so with that information, I wouldn't mind saving a few ships for next year. Sounds like there is a lot of interest in the hawks so far. I would hate to be limited because we "gave away" a ship this year. I don't mind giving it to some walk ons that have earned them as long as it doesn't hurt you for the next year.
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I think that some of the upper-classmen walk-ons who could earn ships are legit. I definitely don't think that it would hurt the team at all. Furthermore, as you mentioned ... those ships are going to then "free up" for the 2012 recruiting class. Thus, it keeps us in a win-win scenario.

Besides, I've always been one who has believed that our walk-on program is still a critical element of our developmental program. The walk-ons come in hungry and even as upperclassmen, they outwork other guys ... and that then sets a terrific example for everybody else. And, that particularly ends up being big when the turn out being impact players too. Given our long list of former walk-ons who were impact players ... I think that history proves me correct.
 
hawkfarmer said:
Wow, only 13 seniors. I knew it would be small after this year, but not that small. Ok, so with that information, I wouldn't mind saving a few ships for next year. Sounds like there is a lot of interest in the hawks so far. I would hate to be limited because we "gave away" a ship this year. I don't mind giving it to some walk ons that have earned them as long as it doesn't hurt you for the next year.
Click to expand...

Not a big fan of banking ships in football. Has a big chance of burning you in areas like ST.
 
- Wright III possibly being "on the market" adds a little intrigue here. It would be particularly cool if Wright III was also open to being as an ATH. Iowa could definitely use an ATH/DB-type recruit ... particularly one who is open to playing at EITHER spot.

- If the AAA-bowl actually provided Coe with a more open mind concerning a possible future position change ... that would provide our class with added versatility. We've been needing a guy who could "fit the bill" at the LEO LB and/or speed rushing DE.
 
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