Iowa Receiver options breakdown

nickhawk

Well-Known Member
The receiver position is not considered an area of strength heading into the season, but here is a brief breakdown of the receiving options the Hawks have this Fall.

Seniors:
#23 Jordan Cotton – Cotton’s main contribution will probably be as the primary kick return man, and a few preseason magazines have him as a 1st team All Big 10 return man. He has the speed to serve as an occasional deep threat but I don’t see Jordan having more than 15 catches on the year.

# 8 Don Shumpert – Hasn’t done much in his Hawk career, so any production from him would be a nice bonus – maybe gets 10 catches this year.

Juniors:
#11 Kevonte Martin-Manley – Iowa’s most productive returning receiver. Look for somewhere in the range of 55 catches for somewhere close to 600 yards and hopefully a handful of TD’s.

#22 Damond Powell – The JUCO transfer is the most intriguing unknown in the receiver mix. He averaged 30 yards a catch last year in JUCO, so I am hoping he can be utilized to stretch the field this fall for the Hawks. I think 30 catches for upwards of 400 yards is reachable for him.

#9 Blake Haluska – Hawk fans recognize the name and he proved in the Spring game that he has plenty of athletic ability to make the tough catch. He might become a nice surprise for a team that needs reliable options that don’t drop critical passes.

Sophomores:
#4 Tevaun Smith – Listed as a starter on the 2-deeps, but hasn’t shown the ability to consistently catch everything thrown his way. I am hoping he has a good fall camp and really emerges as a playmaker, otherwise I think that Powell may take his starting spot relatively quickly.

#17 Jacob Hillyer – Big, tall receiving option that might get an opportunity to be more involved this fall, maybe with some fade routes around the goal line.

Freshman:
#83 Riley McCarron – Spring ball sensation that may see some playing time if he can consistently catch and convert some big 3rd downs.

#18 Derrick Willies – Not a lot of people know this guy yet, but physically he looks ready to contribute right now, and he may end up opening some eyes this fall if he gets an opportunity to make some plays.

It would be great if Powell and Smith really make big strides this Fall and Haluska and McCarron prove to be capable options as well. Since only Cotton and Shumpert are lost to graduation this year, the receiver position may flip to be perceived as an area of strength next year depending on how things shape up for these guys this Fall.
 








Cotton- A good return specialist, but not a good receiver.
Shumpert- An absolute recruiting miss!
KMM- He will catch the ball if he's open, but that's it.
Powell- We know nothing about him other than the fact that he's fast.
Haluska- He flashed in the spring game and afterwards Ferentz seemed surprised he played well. He said that's the best he's ever looked.
Smith- He didn't catch much of anything in the spring game.
Hillyer- We know nothing about him other than the fact that he's tall.
McCarron/Willies/Incoming freshman- We know nothing about these guys.

I hope all these guys improve and have good years, but there's no way, on Aug. 13th, you can describe Iowa's WR's as "talented and deep". I think you can say WR was the worst position group on the team last year, and is a major concern entering this year.
 


That would depend on the player some have shown talent and potential in different ways. With 9-10 guys for 2 positions they are truly deep. It should also open up the team to running some more wide open formations and 2 minute drills.
 


It has been a while since Iowa has had this level of athleticism with size in the WR corps. Should be fun to watch, no matter who's throwing.
 


Anyone know what they're doing with Andre Harris? Kind of small but a speedster. Also, what about Mabin? Haven't heard anything about.
 






My hope is smith can become the receiver that he has the ability to be on the outside. Then Powell is as good as advertised. Those two things would allow KMM to play in the slot where he is most effective. Also playing 2 or 3 tight ends can help mitigate some of the receiver deficiencies.
 






Here's the bottome line, folks:

Our receivers could be great, and they could be horrible. We have no idea because they either spent their time running around aimlessly trying to learn an offense and having 85 mph fastballs aimed 6 feet in front of them, or they were in high school.

We don't know what we have.
 


Here's the bottome line, folks:

Our receivers could be great, and they could be horrible. We have no idea because they either spent their time running around aimlessly trying to learn an offense and having 85 mph fastballs aimed 6 feet in front of them, or they were in high school.

We don't know what we have.

I think we know what we have with Cotton, KMM, and Shumpert.
 


I think we know what we have with Cotton, KMM, and Shumpert.

I don't fully agree. I think any or all of those guys could show significant improvement being instructed by a WR coach who is experienced teaching the types of routes that Davis uses in his system. I think the disconnect between Campbell and Davis had A LOT to do with how poorly Iowa's passing game performed last year, and that disconnect should be eliminated by Kennedy's experience teaching WRs Davis' system.

(That being said, I'm much more optimistic than most.)
 




I don't fully agree. I think any or all of those guys could show significant improvement being instructed by a WR coach who is experienced teaching the types of routes that Davis uses in his system. I think the disconnect between Campbell and Davis had A LOT to do with how poorly Iowa's passing game performed last year, and that disconnect should be eliminated by Kennedy's experience teaching WRs Davis' system.


(That being said, I'm much more optimistic than most.)

You make a good point, and that being said, I'm much more pessimistic than most. ;)
 


It has been a while since Iowa has had this level of athleticism with size in the WR corps. Should be fun to watch, no matter who's throwing.

Huh? A while as in since DJK, McNutt, Stross, Davis and Sandeman just a few years ago?

This receiving core is a mile away from that in terms of just plain talent let alone size and athleticism.

This one reminds me of the Herb Grisby years.
 






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