IowaLaw's Class of 2019 Recruiting Review

MoseSchrute said:
Linderbaum is moving to OL, but Duwa is moving back to DL per Lestikow tweet. Kind of surprising about Linderbaum.
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Shows how much Ferentz is concerned about DT depth.

But he only coaches the team. ILWW is a columnist, reporter, and recruiting expert in his own mind.
 
Nike - your analysis seems to be that of an angry ninth grader who got his lunch money stolen.

Who "missed the LB, RB, and CB we just flipped?" The OP, which was posted two days before signing day, states that Iowa "upgraded at LB" and is "loaded at RB & CB." Did you have a point in your nonsensical rant? No one denies that LB, RB & CB recruiting have been solid.

You then attempt to argue that there was no need to recruit a DT because we have Reiff? While your grasp of football is impressive, you get that Reiff has a grand total of...wait for it...10 career tackles in 3 years, and graduates next year. You advocate waiting until guys graduate to recruit for their position? You then cite Golston and Linderbaum as DTs waiting in the wings? Linderbaum didn't take to DT and switched to Center, so that's not happening, and Golston is a DE. I hope for the best with Nixon, but no one knows if he will even be on campus next year. Please continue ranting against an innocuous observation that this class could have used a DT (we go 4 deep at DT every game) rather than a third TE (we barely got our 2nd TE in most games and he was an all-American). Just know that when you do so, you embarrass yourself.

Next, you say "if you're truly Iowa football fan you know about attrition at RB." Wow, that's deep, calling out one's allegiance because they don't see the logic in having 3 soph RBs split carries. As a "true" Hawk fan, perhaps you can enlighten me on the major RB attrition the Hawks have faced in recent years that would necessitate 3 RBs in each class? In 2018, Sargent & Young played in all 12 games. Wadley started every game in 2017. Daniels and Wadley split all but 16 carries all year in 2016. In 2015, Canzeri & Daniels carried the load despite having a vastly more talented Wadley and Mitchell on the bench itching for an opportunity. The only attrition Iowa has suffered in transfers is 5th and 6th string backs. Yikes, you're wrong again.

In the future, might I suggest limiting your posts to the "Nebraska sucks" type threads where people spout off without a rational basis? IowaLaw threads require substantive discussion.


NikeHawk21 said:
Where to begin with this nonsense.

-I take it you missed the LB, RB, and CB we just flipped within the last 24 hours? For a guy yearning for credibility it helps if you know what you’re talking about.

-DT void? Wtf are you talking about. We return Reiff and Lattimore, Golston has played some inside. We have Nixon, Linderbaum, and Shannon coming into the fold next year.

-Having 3 RBs in the same class isn’t ideal, but if you are truly Iowa football fan you know about attrition at the RB position. Also they didn’t bring in 3 guys together to cannibalize each other, they brought in Sargent this year because they thought he could be better than the other two, and if you ask me he is. I will never complain about upgrading a position. Honestly I don’t think IKM is that good, and it is on the coaches for taking so long to figure that out.

-The only thing you are on the right track on is WR recruiting, but every one and their brother knows that’s an issue.
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Meh, it would have been nice to get a high powered wr or two, but it's a very solid class. Hopefully they pull off a hail Mary and we can get a juco or 5 star Randy Moss type of wr still.
 
I wish we'd have landed a kid like Bell at WR.... That's about the only thing to nit pick about the class really. We got a QB that seems solid that other good programs wanted.

We loaded up with what looks like 4 stud Olineman in a class that'd be amazing if they all pan out.

We got 3 TEs when we have 2 that are underclassman most likely leaving along with 2 seniors next yr. So nothing wrong with that at all even if TJ were to come back.

We got 2 RBs when if nobody transfers out we are pretty much stacked at that position with capable bodies. 3 to be JRs and 2 RS Freshman. I love Goodson and the similarities to his game and Wadleys are why Harbaugh put the full court press on him last week. But that said I kinda hope he redshirts this year... I myself am not a huge fan of burning RBs redshirts for a small handful of touches. Thankfully the 4 game rule may let us tinker with it and see how it goes.

WR obviously we only got Hutson and he wasn't exactly a highly sought after kid. But you can't teach 6'4 and he's got room to get stronger. On his tape he has some leaping ability and he fights to make tough catches so he's got potential. I'm not sure about his overall speed or athleticism yet but I assume the coaches think he's got potential. Just wish we'd have gotten another one too of the more polished variety.

On the defensive side we are in great shape too. Parker knows what he's doing no need to second guess him. The DBs he got look awesome. The Detroit kid he grabbed last will be compared to D King so if you heard it here first it won't be the last time you do.
 
IowaLawWasRight said:
Nike - your analysis seems to be that of an angry ninth grader who got his lunch money stolen.

Who "missed the LB, RB, and CB we just flipped?" The OP, which was posted two days before signing day, states that Iowa "upgraded at LB" and is "loaded at RB & CB." Did you have a point in your nonsensical rant? No one denies that LB, RB & CB recruiting have been solid.

You then attempt to argue that there was no need to recruit a DT because we have Reiff? While your grasp of football is impressive, you get that Reiff has a grand total of...wait for it...10 career tackles in 3 years, and graduates next year. You advocate waiting until guys graduate to recruit for their position? You then cite Golston and Linderbaum as DTs waiting in the wings? Linderbaum didn't take to DT and switched to Center, so that's not happening, and Golston is a DE. I hope for the best with Nixon, but no one knows if he will even be on campus next year. Please continue ranting against an innocuous observation that this class could have used a DT (we go 4 deep at DT every game) rather than a third TE (we barely got our 2nd TE in most games and he was an all-American). Just know that when you do so, you embarrass yourself.

Next, you say "if you're truly Iowa football fan you know about attrition at RB." Wow, that's deep, calling out one's allegiance because they don't see the logic in having 3 soph RBs split carries. As a "true" Hawk fan, perhaps you can enlighten me on the major RB attrition the Hawks have faced in recent years that would necessitate 3 RBs in each class? In 2018, Sargent & Young played in all 12 games. Wadley started every game in 2017. Daniels and Wadley split all but 16 carries all year in 2016. In 2015, Canzeri & Daniels carried the load despite having a vastly more talented Wadley and Mitchell on the bench itching for an opportunity. The only attrition Iowa has suffered in transfers is 5th and 6th string backs. Yikes, you're wrong again.

In the future, might I suggest limiting your posts to the "Nebraska sucks" type threads where people spout off without a rational basis? IowaLaw threads require substantive discussion.
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Good effort.

Point 1. You’re OP might have been two days ago but your post complaining about flipping a TE wasn’t. While aligning positions is part of the game, in recruiting you want to bring in as much talent as you can. Did you think there wasn’t going to be some 4* WR out there ready to flip to Iowa. They did pursue a WR from Cedar Falls, who I’m sure you would have ripped if they landed. Again our WR recruiting sucks, but at least we return a couple guys next year with experience.

Point 2. I’ll admit I hadn’t heard about Linderbaum moving to C, but to me that move in itself tells you the coaches are comfortable with the DT depth. The name you are forgetting about is Cedrick Lattimore, who started games as a sophomore. Historically, Iowa hasn’t always gone four deep at the position. The coaches must feel comfortable with Nixon and Shannon for depth going forward. Not sure where Duwa fits in the mix and like I said one of the ends from this years class may eventually move inside. Edit, it looks like Jalen Hunt projects as a DT.

Point 3. What you fail to mention about the RB position is that Sargent was brought in this offseason. It turns out he is probably the best back of the bunch. Are you saying you wish the coaches didn’t go out and get him this offseason?
 
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IowaLawWasRight said:
And our last minute commit this year is...ANOTHER tight end?

Not a game changing WR. Not a much needed punter. Not a DT who can fill a void...but to a THIRD ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL TE. A guy who was going to go to Bowling Green before Iowa offered.

Regardless of whether Hock opts for the NFL, recruiting three TEs in the same class makes zero sense. TEs virtually never have an impact right away anyway.

Just when you try to apply logic to this glaring tactical error, you remember that this is the same coaching staff that brought in three soph RBs to cannibalize each other for playing time, daring one to transfer next year. I can't say that I've ever seen 3 soph RBs on any team share time (not only is it unfair to the 3, but it kills any chance at a RB in the class behind them getting any carries.
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To counter your issue with TE recruitment, I know for a fact that in the past Iowa has recruited TEs and converted them to OTs. One such example is CJ Barkema (from Muscatine). While he never played a lot for Iowa, he was recruited as a TE and was flipped to an OT. (6-8 260 as a HS senior) And he was a first team all state TE in Iowa. Another such example of recruiting a TE and successfully flipping to an OT was Robert Gallery.
 
CP87 said:
Maybe he has a different definition of "lose" he is working from (he mentions players that we might lose in "a year or two in advance"). Players he listed with remaining eligibility include:
Welch (true Jr)
Lattimore (true Jr)
Reiff (RS Jr)
Paulsens (RS Jrs)
Hockenson (RS So)
Weiting (RS Jr)
Cook (RS Jr)
Rastetter (RS Jr)

Ezra Miller has "not much interest outside Iowa" like Wirfs did.
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Yes, the OP's post really got lame when he said we were losing underclassmen who are not starters and are not going to the NFL. And did Hock announce for the NFL, I may have missed it.

Pretty lame making predictions on win, lose, or draw on recruiting at positions when he has next years JR and SR starters not being listed as even being on the roster.
 
I'm just starting to wonder if any of these Db's can catch the ball?
We turned a QB into a a wr. We turned a de (or whatever people were saying about Fant) into a stud TE.
I can't imagine at DBU, we don't have some athletes that can run, turn on a dime, jump and catch a ball.

Just saying, sometimes you miss the forest because of the trees.
Idk. Just thinking.
 
IowaLawWasRight said:
With the advent of the early signing period, December is an exciting time in recruiting. Fans get a peek into what their teams will become over the next 5 years. Hawk fans are enthusiastic every year regarding their in-coming recruits, so I thought I would take an objective look to see whether the excitement is warranted. After all, every fan base from Alabama to lowly Rutgers has recruits they are super excited about. How does Ferentz's class stack up?

1. MOMENTUM - We've done a good job at keeping the blue bloods away from our commits in recent weeks. Fighting off Michigan for one and Ohio State for another. As far as momentum goes, however, Iowa does not have a single commitment since October despite dozens of recruiting visits. Each of the 13 other Big 10 schools has received recent commits. We are going to get a slew of signing day commits.

2. CLASS SIZE - The Hawks currently have 16 commits. They are expected to take around 22. While Wisconsin, Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State & Minnesota are all pretty much done with recruiting, the Hawk staff still has some work to do to fill out the class. Hopefully they close with a bang, landing some key JUCOs and flipping some Power 5 commits rather than going the low hanging fruit fallback MAC/UNI poaching route.

3. CLASS RANK - Regardless of where you stand on stars, Rivals ranks the current class 11th in the Big 10, and 48th nationally. They rank ahead of just Rutgers (1-11), Illinois (4-8), and Maryland (5-7) in the conference. 24/7 rates them 9th in the conference. While Hawk fans do not expect to see a top 20 recruiting class nationally, they do expect one of the highest paid staffs in the land to consistently bring in recruiting classes that are in the top 2/3 of their own conference.

4. BLUE CHIP DIFFERENCE MAKERS - The Hawks currently have commits from zero 4 star recruits (according to rivals). By comparison, Nebraska got seven 4****, Wisconsin got six 4****, Purdue got five 4****, and Minnesota got two 4**** recruits. Let's just hope the other coaches aren't also developmental program coaches (based on their background, however, they very much are developmental coaches).

5. NEEDS MET - Looking ahead a year or two in advance, we know we have immediate holes at positions like: LB, DT, OL, WR, P, and TE. We also know that we are pretty well loaded for years to come at: RB, QB, CB, S, K. So did the Hawks do at addressing upcoming needs? It's a mixed bag.

LB: Will lose upperclassmen: Hockaday & Welch. Bringing in: Jacobs, Campbell, and last minute Jeudy. Jacobs was the crown jewel of the class. He is only a 3 star, but could have gone anywhere, including OSU and Nebraska. Campbell was very productive playing Iowa HS football, although he didn't have much out of state interest. Jeudy had just 1 other power 5 offer in KSU, but he's a Florida kid who was coming on strong. NET GAIN.

DT: Will lose upperclassmen: Nelson, Brinks, Lattimore & Reiff. Bringing in: Jalen Hunt. Hunt was the 29th rated prospect out of Michigan, and had offers from Michigan State and Missouri. At 6'2, 262, he has potential to bulk up and be a run stuffer. Surprisingly, no other DTs recruited. Must have had some recruiting misses. NET LOSS.

OL: Will lose upperclassmen: Reynolds (2 star), Render, Fergeson (2 star) & the Paulsons. Bringing in: Endres & Miller. Two massive 6'6, 310 lb small-town Iowa farm boys without much interest outside Iowa. Also got Justin Britt, a highly touted kid out of Indiana. NET GAIN.

WR: Will lose upperclassmen: Easely & Groeneweg. Bringing in: Hutson, a 6'4 possession type receiver with ZERO Division 1 offers. Very frustrating that the staff continues to be incompetent recruiting WRs despite the constant need at the position year in and year out. All we lose are a couple of walk-ons from North Dakota, yet the WR corp actually gets worse next year. NET LOSS.

P: Will lose upperclassmen: Raestetter. Bringing in: N/A. No one's mourning the loss of Raestetter. He set the mark for futility. Does the staff have a plan going into next year? The lone scholarship punter on the roster has been unable to beat out Raestetter for two years straight (or any class 4A high school punter). He likely will not provide an instant improvement at the position. Will our highly paid special teams coach takes a break from designing trick passes from the holder to the backup defensive end, and starts making calls to some Big 10 caliber punters? NET LOSS.

TE: Will lose upperclassmen: Fant, Hock, Cook & Weiting. Bringing in Lee & Miaman. Replacing First Team all-Big 10 TEs is tough. However, the recruits are two of the most highly touted recruits we got. Both Lee & Miaman have offers from Michigan, Michigan State, etc. Neither is 4 star talent (per Rivals), even though I think Iowa should be able to lure 5 star TEs if they tried. However, both recruits have enough potential to carry on the TE U mantra. DRAW (Net gain based on recruiting stars, net loss knowing what we know about how Hock developed).

Overall, the staff beat out just 3 Big 10 schools in recruiting. Hawks filled some holes at linebacker. Adding athleticism to the position was key. On the other hand, the Hawks dropped the ball like no other staff could by failing for the 5th year in a row to fill the gaping hole at WR, and failing to fill the hole that cost Iowa four games this year in Punter. Coaching is not rocket science...the staff should know better on this.
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Iowa's 16 year class would have gotten this same kind of grade from most - ya never know at a developmental program at Iowa. It's as much as about fit as anything.
 
Knight78 said:
To counter your issue with TE recruitment, I know for a fact that in the past Iowa has recruited TEs and converted them to OTs. One such example is CJ Barkema (from Muscatine). While he never played a lot for Iowa, he was recruited as a TE and was flipped to an OT. (6-8 260 as a HS senior) And he was a first team all state TE in Iowa. Another such example of recruiting a TE and successfully flipping to an OT was Robert Gallery.
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I'm pretty sure that Boettger was also recruited as a tight end.
 
The only real glaring disappointment is at WR, but you could say that every year. It's a bit discouraging looking at the WRs they offer every year. No way to know if they just don't spend the time on WRs or if the recruits are just up front and tell them they have no interest.
 
4thngoal said:
I'm just starting to wonder if any of these Db's can catch the ball?
We turned a QB into a a wr. We turned a de (or whatever people were saying about Fant) into a stud TE.
I can't imagine at DBU, we don't have some athletes that can run, turn on a dime, jump and catch a ball.

Just saying, sometimes you miss the forest because of the trees.
Idk. Just thinking.
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Yep, I mentioned Brents with his length or someone Moss being a WR on 6-8 plays a game. It would be a nice wrinkle to try in the bowl game to see what you got.
 
Knight - your general theme is rational. But if you have to cite an example of a kid who committed in 1998 to support your theory that the Hawks convert TEs to OTs, it probably not a very common thing. Three TE recruits in one class is an anomaly, so I guess it makes sense to come up with far fetched explanations.

4thngoal - excellent point. The Hawks have had a ton of attrition at DB due to playing time. Most of the guys, like Trey Creamer, were infinitely more talented at WR in high school than WRs on Iowa's roster. Why isn't there someone on the coaching staff talking to the guys and convincing them to stick around with a position switch. Lord knows we need the help at WR.

There is still room in the recruiting class and I am certain that Iowa's recruiting coordinator has received an ear full from the media/fans about the staff's inability to fill the most glaring position of need on the roster, year after year. Throwing walkon WRs out there is not acceptable in any year, let alone in 5 years in a row.


Knight78 said:
To counter your issue with TE recruitment, I know for a fact that in the past Iowa has recruited TEs and converted them to OTs. One such example is CJ Barkema (from Muscatine). While he never played a lot for Iowa, he was recruited as a TE and was flipped to an OT. (6-8 260 as a HS senior) And he was a first team all state TE in Iowa. Another such example of recruiting a TE and successfully flipping to an OT was Robert Gallery.
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Bob Sanders wasn't highly rated and look at how he turned out!

Kirk recruits young men who will develop into great citizens!

The WR with athletic position isn't relevant in Kirk Ball, blocking, blocking, blocking.

Did we pick up an elite PG?

This is the time of year when UNI, SDSU, NIU shudder to think of which players Iowa will be after off their commit list.
 
hawkdrummer1 said:
Tight ends are an afterthought many places...because they throw to their wide receivers.
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You mean like UCLA and TAMU, who, despite running spread offenses, had TEs who were Mackey semifinalists?

I'm not trying to downplay the role of a WR, but TEs or the spread equivalent in H-backs are NOT afterthoughts in the football world.
 
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