The Des Moines Sunday Register put together Iowa's possible 2014 starting lineup as follows by Rick Brown:
Offense
QB--Jake Rudock: Started every game. Will get competition from C.J. Beathard.
RB--Mark Weisman: Personifies power football, Iowa style. Finished 25 yards shy of 1,000.
FB--Adam Cox: Mr. Dependable as a lead blocker. Can catch passes, too.
WR--Kevonte Martin-Manley: Rudock's go-to-guy with team high 40 catches, five touchdowns.
SE--Tevaun Smith: Made one of the biggest jumps on team. Playmaker potential.
TE--Ray Hamilton: Saw a lot of action in 2013. Jake Duzey on the same line.
LT--Brandon Scherff: Passed on NFL to return. Legit star.
LG--Andrew Donnal: Team's most versatile lineman has played guard and tackle.
C--Austin Blythe: Rock solid over the ball. Tremendous upside with two seasons left.
RG--Jordan Walsh: Started every game as sophomore. Will be challenged to keep his spot.
RT--Ryan Ward: Redshirt sophomore next man in. Donnal could slide here.
P--Connor Kornbrath: Needs to improve consistency. Had good day at Outback.
Defense
LE--Drew Ott: Emerged in second half of season. Big upside with two seasons left.
LT--Carl Davis: Made huge strides against double teams all year. All-Big Ten potential.
RT--Louis Trinca-Pasat: Grind-it-out gritty performer. Outworks opponents.
RE--Mike Hardy: Filled in for injured Dominic Alvis and got valuable experience.
LB--Quinton Alston: Fifth-year senior has waited his turn behind James Morris in middle.
LB--Travis Perry: Walk-on has emerged at outside spot.
LB--Reggie Spearman: Anthony Hitchens' understudy got experience as true freshman.
CB--Desmond King: True freshman started 12 games. Exciting future.
CB--Jordan Lomax: Started first game but was injured. Could get look at free safety.
SS--John Lowdermilk: Solid, consistent starter in 2013. Will be a senior.
FS--Anthony Gair: No. 2 behind Tanner Miller in 2013. Three years of eligibility left.
PK--Marshall Koehn: Leading candidate to replace four-year kicker Mike Meyer.
First-year starter Jake Rudock threw for 2,383 yards, 18 TDs and 13 interceptions this season.
Defensive tackle Carl Davis made 42 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1 1/2 sacks as a junior. A Michigan native, Davis said, "I don't think I'm NFL ready." It took Davis four years in the program to make the starting lineup in 2013. He's a player not heavily recruited by college football's bluebloods, one who quitely works his way from the potential that got him recruited to the field. Redshirt freshman Jaleel Johnson, who is backing him up, will learn patience from Davis, who will be called on to be a leader.
All-Big Ten left tackle Brandon Scherff will anchor the offensive line.
Running backs Jordan Canzeri, Damon Bullock and freshman LeShun Daniels should help improve the running game, along with redshirt freshmen Akrum Wadley and Jonathan Parker.
Any thoughts on this possible 2014 starting lineup?
Offense
QB--Jake Rudock: Started every game. Will get competition from C.J. Beathard.
RB--Mark Weisman: Personifies power football, Iowa style. Finished 25 yards shy of 1,000.
FB--Adam Cox: Mr. Dependable as a lead blocker. Can catch passes, too.
WR--Kevonte Martin-Manley: Rudock's go-to-guy with team high 40 catches, five touchdowns.
SE--Tevaun Smith: Made one of the biggest jumps on team. Playmaker potential.
TE--Ray Hamilton: Saw a lot of action in 2013. Jake Duzey on the same line.
LT--Brandon Scherff: Passed on NFL to return. Legit star.
LG--Andrew Donnal: Team's most versatile lineman has played guard and tackle.
C--Austin Blythe: Rock solid over the ball. Tremendous upside with two seasons left.
RG--Jordan Walsh: Started every game as sophomore. Will be challenged to keep his spot.
RT--Ryan Ward: Redshirt sophomore next man in. Donnal could slide here.
P--Connor Kornbrath: Needs to improve consistency. Had good day at Outback.
Defense
LE--Drew Ott: Emerged in second half of season. Big upside with two seasons left.
LT--Carl Davis: Made huge strides against double teams all year. All-Big Ten potential.
RT--Louis Trinca-Pasat: Grind-it-out gritty performer. Outworks opponents.
RE--Mike Hardy: Filled in for injured Dominic Alvis and got valuable experience.
LB--Quinton Alston: Fifth-year senior has waited his turn behind James Morris in middle.
LB--Travis Perry: Walk-on has emerged at outside spot.
LB--Reggie Spearman: Anthony Hitchens' understudy got experience as true freshman.
CB--Desmond King: True freshman started 12 games. Exciting future.
CB--Jordan Lomax: Started first game but was injured. Could get look at free safety.
SS--John Lowdermilk: Solid, consistent starter in 2013. Will be a senior.
FS--Anthony Gair: No. 2 behind Tanner Miller in 2013. Three years of eligibility left.
PK--Marshall Koehn: Leading candidate to replace four-year kicker Mike Meyer.
First-year starter Jake Rudock threw for 2,383 yards, 18 TDs and 13 interceptions this season.
Defensive tackle Carl Davis made 42 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1 1/2 sacks as a junior. A Michigan native, Davis said, "I don't think I'm NFL ready." It took Davis four years in the program to make the starting lineup in 2013. He's a player not heavily recruited by college football's bluebloods, one who quitely works his way from the potential that got him recruited to the field. Redshirt freshman Jaleel Johnson, who is backing him up, will learn patience from Davis, who will be called on to be a leader.
All-Big Ten left tackle Brandon Scherff will anchor the offensive line.
Running backs Jordan Canzeri, Damon Bullock and freshman LeShun Daniels should help improve the running game, along with redshirt freshmen Akrum Wadley and Jonathan Parker.
Any thoughts on this possible 2014 starting lineup?