Nixon redshirting

[4thngoal]

Jumping the gun there a bit, aren't we?

He was expected to contribute this year. If he keeps working his arse off, being north of 300 pounds already, plus another year in the program.
I would say it's a logical conclusion.
All he can really do is get stronger, faster and refine his technic over the next 17 months.
Granted it's all up to him, but I've never heard anything bad about his attitude or work ethic.

 

[4thngoal]

Btw this is a newer thing.
"In 2016, a new status could be applied to prospective student athletes, dubbed an academic redshirt. That year, the NCAA started enforcing new, stricter admissions requirements for incoming athletic freshmen. Under these new requirements, a student athlete who meets a school’s own academic admission requirements yet does not meet the NCAA requirement of a 2.3 GPA across four years, may enter school as an academic redshirt. This student can receive an athletic scholarship and practice with the team, but may not participate in competition. An academic redshirt does not lose a year of eligibility, and may later take an injury redshirt if needed. Finally, academic redshirts must complete nine academic credit hours in their first semester and may then compete in their second year, free of restrictions."
Sounds to me like this was the plan all along. Get him into the program for a year and a half before he would play.
The dude has a chance to be an absolute beast.

 

[deanvogs]

meh, I doubt he would have made much of a difference this year anyway. Lattimore with a year in the program didn't do much. AJ in his first year as a 5* stud wasn't some game changer. It typically take a couple years for guys in the trenches to be the studs they end up being.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

He'll still have 3 yrs to play... I get the negative Nancys suggesting he may never play and this year will determine that. But we'll see. If he got it together last yr in juco then he's hopefully closer to making it than not. It sorta sucks for this year but just imagine the monster he can be for 3 yrs after that.

 

[4thngoal]

meh, I doubt he would have made much of a difference this year anyway. Lattimore with a year in the program didn't do much. AJ in his first year as a 5* stud wasn't some game changer. It typically take a couple years for guys in the trenches to be the studs they end up being.

You could be right, depth is nice though. I think it will all work out exactly how it works out.
18 months of practice, workouts, film, never hurts.
It does kind of suck though. We seem to have a goofy situation on the DL. Lots of ends, but a pretty good drop from having a few really good ones and the next level.
Who knows what we have in the middle. I mean come on you have to reconize that while our D has been decent to good, but that's about it. Not setting the world on fire and certainly not like times in the past.

 

[Kennyfromminne]

meh, I doubt he would have made much of a difference this year anyway. Lattimore with a year in the program didn't do much. AJ in his first year as a 5* stud wasn't some game changer. It typically take a couple years for guys in the trenches to be the studs they end up being.

I agree. The mental aspect is huge, and maturity.

 

[Xerxes]

Anyone else think we never see Nixon on the field at Iowa?

That's the first thought that entered my mind. I think if he's still at Iowa this fall then he's there for the long haul. The question is, when things set in that he's not playing for another 18 months, does he hit the road this summer?

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Much as we'd all like to see this kid doing well academically and battling for playing time... most above are right. It doesn't look likely. Unless something magic happens and he's been approaching his studies all wrong.. he may not have what it takes to succeed at a major University.

 

[4thngoal]

Much as we'd all like to see this kid doing well academically and battling for playing time... most above are right. It doesn't look likely. Unless something magic happens and he's been approaching his studies all wrong.. he may not have what it takes to succeed at a major University.

Well given it wasn't a surprise to the staff, let's just assume they know what they are doing.
I think they knew all this for awhile now. Because if the gpa requirements for such a redshirt go back 4 years, well then they knew almost the day this became a rule in the ncaa, that this could be Nixon's path to college football.
If they didn't they should have.
But I think they are fairly intelligent.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Well given it wasn't a surprise to the staff, let's just assume they know what they are doing.
I think they knew all this for awhile now. Because if the gpa requirements for such a redshirt go back 4 years, well then they knew almost the day this became a rule in the ncaa, that this could be Nixon's path to college football.
If they didn't they should have.
But I think they are fairly intelligent.

Let's hope DN gets it going. Good for him and good for the team. Kids can grow a lot from 18-21

 

[BVHawk95]

Well given it wasn't a surprise to the staff, let's just assume they know what they are doing.
I think they knew all this for awhile now. Because if the gpa requirements for such a redshirt go back 4 years, well then they knew almost the day this became a rule in the ncaa, that this could be Nixon's path to college football.
If they didn't they should have.
But I think they are fairly intelligent.

Not to mention it's taking care of his schooling first, which is most important. Everything I've heard about Daviyon leads me to believe he's no slacker, so I've no doubt he'll attack the books and the weights and be ready to tear the field up in '19.

 

[4thngoal]

Not to mention it's taking care of his schooling first, which is most important. Everything I've heard about Daviyon leads me to believe he's no slacker, so I've no doubt he'll attack the books and the weights and be ready to tear the field up in '19.

That's my thought as well. Get him acclimated, let him settle in to a routine with school work.
I mean don't get me wrong, I think he has worked pretty hard to get this far and I don't see him quitting now.
He keeps pushing for the next year in all areas and he will be fine. Better than fine.
Get Shannon some reps early and often this year.
With Eppy, Shannon, Nixon and some others just getting started or coming in, they could be a pretty salty bunch in the near future.

 

[Fryowa]

...he may not have what it takes to succeed at a major University.

Which is sad if that's the case. Sport Studies (the old Leisure Studies major) ain't exactly molecular biology, and all of your undergrad 1st and 2nd year classes are just a repeat of high school. He obviously graduated high school, if he can't pass the least rigorous program in any college, especially with all of the free tutoring, mentoring, and general "helicopter parenting" that a P5 scholarship athlete gets, I'd be inclined to think it's an issue of effort.

 

[uihawk82]

why? He is closer to LB size than DT

Yeah I just looked and he is listed as 261 pounds. I thought he weighed more like 280 which isnt the biggest of DTackle sizes but not bad for a few plays now and then. Hesse, like Drew Ott, got thrust in there as freshmen and you remember them back then at 240+ pounds and now they look so much bigger you think they have to be 285.

I would think if Hesse is still the starter that any play 2nd and 3rd and long Hesse could move to DTackle and Eppy would come in at DEnd if the offense gives the hawks a chance to sub.

What does everyone think of that as someone mentioned third and long could be 4 DEnds in the game?

 

[4thngoal]

Yeah I just looked and he is listed as 261 pounds. I thought he weighed more like 280 which isnt the biggest of DTackle sizes but not bad for a few plays now and then. Hesse, like Drew Ott, got thrust in there as freshmen and you remember them back then at 240+ pounds and now they look so much bigger you think they have to be 285.

I would think if Hesse is still the starter that any play 2nd and 3rd and long Hesse could move to DTackle and Eppy would come in at DEnd if the offense gives the hawks a chance to sub.

What does everyone think of that as someone mentioned third and long could be 4 DEnds in the game?

I mentioned it and could totally see it working in certain situations.
All you have to do is rotate the ends and see who's winning battles that day. Then you know who. From there it's a matter of lining them up in such a way to give the most amount the best chance.

 

[DDThompson]

What does everyone think of that as someone mentioned third and long could be 4 DEnds in the game?

sounds good to me. Iowa is notoriously bad at 3rd and 7s to 3rd and 11s in crossing routes under the LB. more pressure = good thing

 

[kameltoez102]

Isn't he at Iowa to get an education as well! My hats off to him to make the commitment to get his education as well as focus on football. Not everyone can come into a big college and succeed in both. instead of whining about how he won't be on the field this year I think we need to step back and admire his commitment to himself and his future.