Projecting Iowa’s 1st Depth Chart for 2017

[RobHowe]

Thanks, Rob, for an absolutely fascinating article! I had more fun reading this and thinking about next season than I like to admit! I cannot help but feel very positive about the 2017 team, given the experience coming back, the depth that seems very promising. I was actually amazed at the number of wide receivers on the squad...just did not sink in until I read your article. Geez. You would certainly think we could put 4 or 5 darn good pass catchers on the field with that many candidates. This seems the most unpredictable area in terms of who rises to the top, after Vandeberg, of course. I certainly hope we can find someone the quality of LeShun to run with Akrum next year. l will continue to enjoy my season basketball ticket, but wow, I am just crazy about Iowa football.

Thank you. I think the RB position is in good shape with Wadley, Akinribade, Mitchell and Young.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Is having 6 fullbacks on a college roster normal?

Sometimes nails get bent...so you need a bunch of them.

 

[IowaTeddy]

I like the O Line and the entire defense (with a few uncertainties like interior D Line). But skills positions will be a major question mark. Wadley is great and a much better player than most people would have ever guessed. But I think he had a magical role this year as a change of pace guy. That's not to say he was a backup or that he was our second best back. But he is a change of pace back at his core. As the primary ball carrier next year, I'm worried about his durability and overall performance.

And there are some major holes at WR that hopefully will start to get filled in through age and experience. But there's not one guy on that list that's a real playmaker. With Iowa's O Line talent, the lack of big time WRs is a real shame. But again, we'll see. Jerminic Smith is more talented than I'm giving him credit for. If Jay Scheel can channel his inner Clinton Solomon, the entire dynamic of the offense changes.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Jaleel Johnson is a big hole to fill...big game player. I'm intrigued though as they moved Newborg to DT and Slater appears to finally be getting healthy. If we have a player take the leap on the interior, the 2017 should be pretty solid. Desmond King will be sorely missed...but it's not like we are throwing guys out there that haven't played. Jackson and Rugumba have experience now.