Pretty typical Ferentz Recruiting effort

[NikeHawk21]

I think this thread title is fair and I completely agree that recruiting rankings are overrated. I don't view this as a discussion on Iowa's signing day recruitment ranking, but rather on Iowa's recruiting in general.

Real football games (on the field) are all that counts. For this reason, I think the most important aspect of recruiting is developing a complete class of recruits (and not focusing on individuals). This is especially true for the pro-style system. This means that the team's greatest talent weakness will likely be their worst area of production. In general, this is something that Iowa does pretty well. For anyone that's played football, especially in college, you know the importance of depth and breadth across the class, from each position group and position. A football class with really good skill players, but no O Lineman... might struggle. Or the class with huge talent on defense, but no offense... will struggle.

A logical follow up question is: why can't Iowa try to aggressively change their weak areas into strengths, like at WR or with a more mobile QB that can open up the offense? For many fans my age, I think the best Iowa team we've seen had Brad Banks at QB. Why was he the last mobile QB we've had? As committed fans who care, these are not unfair questions to ask.

Wisconsin has done some great things as a program, to which Iowa should aspire. The pinnacle of their program in recent years, was with Russell Wilson. They transformed their team (dominant power running game, strong team defense) with a huge talent at QB. The result was a dominant team that should have competed for a national title. Why can't Iowa do this? Imagine this year's Iowa team (with our defense, with our TEs, OL, and running game)... and receivers like Oliver Martin and a David Bell type guy ? It's exciting. Or, imagine this Iowa team with a Russell Wilson like QB? That might be a stretch, but it's interesting to think about.

I'm satisfied with Iowa's recruiting, because I know what the staff can do and I trust their process. I fully expect guys like Dane Belton, Sebastian Castro, Ezra Miller, to be playing in the NFL someday. Because that's simply what happens at Iowa. But my point is this - why can't Iowa leverage their nationally recognized strengths (#1 producer of TEs, elite team Defense, strong O Line and power running game) for the recruitment of high level QBs and WRs, every couple of years? The WR argument is a bit tougher... it's harder to overcome that hurdle that Iowa WRs won't get enough touches. But what's holding us back from getting an elite QB prospect? You're not going to get the star QB recruit that wants to go win the Heisman at Oklahoma... But there's plenty of talent out there. And I think it should be an easy sales pitch.

Also, very excited about Padilla. He looks like as talented of a thrower as I've seen Iowa get in a long time.

CJ Beathard when healthy was a mobile QB.

Our QB recruiting has been very solid recently.

WR recruiting still sucks, but maybe if Smith and ISM have great junior and senior years we can attract some better WRs.

 

[NikeHawk21]

I’ll maintain what I’ve been saying. Iowa’s recruiting has seen an uptick over the last few years. We are landing guys with higher quality offers than we had in prior years and I think on paper at least we should have some very talented team the next few years.

Last years class (2018) has a chance to go down as one of the best in the Ferentz era. Secondary (Brents, Craddieth, DJ Johnson) has to be the most talented group we’ve ever brought in back there. Dline (Waggoner & Nixon) you’re talking about guys that could have played pretty much anywhere they wanted to. Petras is rated a 4 star by Rivals at QB. If Tracy pans out at WR, and a couple others emerge from that class again I think you’re looking at potentially the best class in the KF era (admittedly it’s still early).

This years class isn’t sexy as it is Oline and TE heavy but I still think is a high quality class. Let’s recall our staff chose Goodson over a 4* RB. If that kid didn’t commit earlier in the process who knows what his offer list would have looked like. Jacobs might be the best LB recruit KF has landed. We still have a couple scholarships to play with so we will see how this class closes up.

Overall I’m very excited about the talent Iowa is going to have over the next few years, and I think it is due to an uptick in recruiting. Now we need to turn that talent into more wins on the field and hopefully a few trips to Indy.

 

[IowaTeddy]

CJ Beathard when healthy was a mobile QB.

Our QB recruiting has been very solid recently.

WR recruiting still sucks, but maybe if Smith and ISM have great junior and senior years we can attract some better WRs.

Agreed, but that's very hypothetical as he was rarely healthy enough to be much of a mobile threat. He continually gave the impression of a guy that was one hit or fall away from a bad injury. And in all fairness, if Beathard is our only example of a mobile QB, I think that makes my point.

I'm very pumped about our talent at QB, including Petras and Padilla. Watching Petras' highlights, it's hard to not get excited. I thought Petras didn't have any big offers from the West coast... but in checking again, it looks like he got an offer from Cal. So that's legit and pretty cool to have him at Iowa.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Agreed, but that's very hypothetical as he was rarely healthy enough to be much of a mobile threat. He continually gave the impression of a guy that was one hit or fall away from a bad injury. And in all fairness, if Beathard is our only example of a mobile QB, I think that makes my point.

I'm very pumped about our talent at QB, including Petras and Padilla. Watching Petras' highlights, it's hard to not get excited. I thought Petras didn't have any big offers from the West coast... but in checking again, it looks like he got an offer from Cal. So that's legit and pretty cool to have him at Iowa.

Tate also could be considered a mobile QB from what I recall. If Mansell does win the starting job in 2020 he has shown to be a pretty mobile guy who likes to run.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Tate also could be considered a mobile QB from what I recall. If Mansell does win the starting job in 2020 he has shown to be a pretty mobile guy who likes to run.

Tate was a mobile within the pocket kind of player. He didn't have many rushing yards I bet. Mansell ran the ball a bunch in HS he'd be a canidate for zone read/option kind of plays if he were to be mixed in at all

 

[1017HAWKSQUAD]

I like that the recruiting has improved over the early to mid 2010's but I'd like to see it get even better. I don't want to sacrifice the splendid evaluation of the players just to get higher star kids. Stick with the Iowa way and continue to be very diligent with offers but aim higher. Of course winning more games each season would go along ways to improving recruiting.

 

[revkev73]

I think he’s talking about skill position players. Qb’s, wideouts and running backs. His inability to pull in speedy difference makers is not only puzzling, frustrating but for the detractor camp will likely go down as the most frustrating part of the Ferentz era when it ends someday

High talent WRs don't see their future being enhanced by blocking, watching off tackle plays, and seeing the QB throwing the ball their way, 10-15 yards off the target once they get open. It isn't that complicated.

 

[Hawkboys]

High talent WRs don't see their future being enhanced by blocking, watching off tackle plays, and seeing the QB throwing the ball their way, 10-15 yards off the target once they get open. It isn't that complicated.

If only they had a former NFL WR coach on staff!!!

 

[Adam]

High talent WRs don't see their future being enhanced by blocking, watching off tackle plays, and seeing the QB throwing the ball their way, 10-15 yards off the target once they get open. It isn't that complicated.

Yet somehow Georgia Tech puts out a NFL WR every 3 to 4 years. They pass less than us.

 

[revkev73]

Yet somehow Georgia Tech puts out a NFL WR every 3 to 4 years. They pass less than us.

Anecdotal yet accurate (for one program GT) argument...Iowa has a long, established history of low scoring, boring, exclude exciting wide receivers and their personalities that recruits are well aware of. I'll pass on the offer...and catch passes somewhere else, thanks.

 

[Adam]

Anecdotal yet accurate (for one program GT) argument...Iowa has a long, established history of low scoring, boring, exclude exciting wide receivers and their personalities that recruits are well aware of. I'll pass on the offer...and catch passes somewhere else, thanks.

We just need a crop of good receivers to grow up in the state as die hard Hawk fans lol. It is clear that elite talent from elsewhere does not want to come here to play WR.

 

[Northside Hawk]

We just need a crop of good receivers to grow up in the state as die hard Hawk fans lol. It is clear that elite talent from elsewhere does not want to come here to play WR.

Off the top of my head I can think of four who were in state and still went elsewhere-Dedric Ward (UNI) Josh Lenz (Iowa State) Adrian Arrington and Oliver Martin (Michigan) . We must still be working on the "die hard Hawk fan" part.

 

[revkev73]

We just need a crop of good receivers to grow up in the state as die hard Hawk fans lol. It is clear that elite talent from elsewhere does not want to come here to play WR.

You are our #1 target at WR, come to join us at Iowa, great place to showcase your talents ---Ummm, I have watched Iowa games for the last 10 years. Why would I? --- I'll get back to you on that one.

 

[karras]

Off the top of my head I can think of four who were in state and still went elsewhere-Dedric Ward (UNI) Josh Lenz (Iowa State) Adrian Arrington and Oliver Martin (Michigan) . We must still be working on the "die hard Hawk fan" part.

Darboh (yes I count him, I know the rebuttal)
Keenan Davis - 4 star - 2 years as a starter - under-targeted
D. Willies - passed over for the feel-good story
Noah Fant - "specialist" posing as a TE
Elite WRs come with huge egos typically. Some coaches can manage those types, some can't, and because of ridiculous contracts . . . some don't have to.

 

[BVHawk95]

Darboh (yes I count him, I know the rebuttal)
Keenan Davis - 4 star - 2 years as a starter - under-targeted
D. Willies - passed over for the feel-good story
Noah Fant - "specialist" posing as a TE
Elite WRs come with huge egos typically. Some coaches can manage those types, some can't, and because of ridiculous contracts . . . some don't have to.

Davis' JR year he shared targets with the best WR in school history. Kinda hard to get him more looks then. SR year you have a point, but that was also the beginning of Gerg Davis.

Willies could not and would not learn the playbook (yes, outside of blocking too). Multiple times he ran the wrong route or was asking KMM the play right before the snap. While that isn't entirely damning itself, he left midseason, and would not put in the work to come back.

Fant, no explanation there, though I think he's on better terms with KF than it seems.

Anybody can work with egos as long as said egos put in the work. Usually not worth it if they don't.

 

[Aaronhawkeye45]

I think Shadrick Byrd is the dark horse in this class. I live in the Birmingham area and watched this kid torch defenses full of Alabama, Auburn, LSU, etc recruits every Friday night. The 7a area he played in is absolutely loaded, and he dominated.

 

[1017HAWKSQUAD]

I think Shadrick Byrd is the dark horse in this class. I live in the Birmingham area and watched this kid torch defenses full of Alabama, Auburn, LSU, etc recruits every Friday night. The 7a area he played in is absolutely loaded, and he dominated.

What was his stat line to end the season? I was impressed with his agility and physicality watching his highlight. I'm hoping going against the high degree of competition he did makes him a good college player for us.

 

[MoseSchrute]

I think Shadrick Byrd is the dark horse in this class. I live in the Birmingham area and watched this kid torch defenses full of Alabama, Auburn, LSU, etc recruits every Friday night. The 7a area he played in is absolutely loaded, and he dominated.

Sounds good. Hope we can keep the guy. Our attrition rate with southern players seems to be atrocious.