3 keys for Iowa football as 2023 season looms 3 weeks away
Aug. 11, 2023 6:00 am
IOWA CITY — It’s that time of year again for Iowa football.
Its preseason local media day is Friday afternoon, and its Kids’ Day open practice is Saturday. (Gates open at 11 a.m., and the practice begins at noon.) Like last year, the open practice is three weeks ahead of Iowa’s first game of the season.
But unlike some other years, the Hawkeyes have some metaphorical clouds hanging over the football facility in the August sky.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has already charged backup kicker Aaron Blom with tampering with records as part of its “ongoing” sports wagering investigation. More charges are possible.
Kirk Ferentz previously said “not a large number” of football players are involved in the probe, though.
Meanwhile, if Iowa’s offense does not average 25 points per game this year, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz’s contract will terminate as part of a stipulation added by former athletics director Gary Barta.
The investigations and contract ultimatum aside, here are three on-field keys for the Hawkeyes with three weeks to go until the 2023 season:
How reliable will the offensive line be?
It is no secret Iowa’s offensive line had underwhelming results last year.
An improvement to Iowa’s offense — the one ranked 130th out of 131 teams last year in yards per game and worse than 100th in several other key categories — must include an improvement up front.
Offensive-line-specific statistics are not plentiful, but the football analytics website Football Outsiders tracks line yards per carry — a stat that weighs the offensive line’s contributions on running plays. Iowa’s line ranked 128th out of 131 FBS teams last year.
The Hawkeyes will need to make major strides this season on the offensive line. There are some reasons for optimism in 2023.
Six of the seven offensive linemen to start at least one game last year are returning. That includes center Logan Jones, who was in his first season playing on the offensive side of the ball in 2022. Rusty Feth and Daijon Parker transferred from FCS-level Miami (Ohio) and Division II-level Saginaw Valley State, respectively.
Iowa’s upgrade at quarterback with Cade McNamara could alleviate some of the pressure on Iowa’s offensive line. However, McNamara’s addition is hardly a magic bullet for the past troubles up front. When McNamara was Michigan’s full-time starting quarterback in 2021, he averaged 2.5 seconds to throw, according to Pro Football Focus. Iowa’s Spencer Petras, meanwhile, averaged 2.7 seconds in 2021 and 2.6 seconds in 2022.
Does Iowa’s offensive scheme maximize the talents of its new playmakers?
The Hawkeyes have an influx of talent in the receiving corps with the arrivals of tight end Erick All and wide receivers Kaleb Brown and Seth Anderson.
But Iowa’s offensive talent can only go so far if Iowa’s offensive play-calling does not properly use that talent.
Iowa’s reputation for maximizing its offensive talent, particularly at wide receiver, has taken a toll over the last two years.
Take Arland Bruce IV, who has since transferred to Oklahoma State, as an example.
Whether it be his 20-yard touchdown run against Kentucky or impressive sideline catch against Illinois, Bruce had no shortage of plays that showed his potential as a true freshman in 2021.
Bruce saw a dramatic increase in snaps in 2022 — from 272 to 445, per PFF — but his receptions and receiving yards were down from his true freshman season.
Fellow former Iowa wideout Charlie Jones had 21 catches at Iowa in 2021 — the fifth-most on the team. He then transferred to Purdue, where he starred and became a second-team All-American.
Adding players like Brown and Anderson was an important step for improving Iowa’s results in the air. Now, it is up to Brian Ferentz to schematically put the newcomers in a position to succeed.
Does Iowa have the depth to withstand any potential injuries at defensive back or linebacker?
All of Iowa’s first-team defensive backs — Cooper DeJean, Jermari Harris, Quinn Schulte, Xavier Nwankpa and Sebastian Castro — have started games in Phil Parker’s renowned secondary.
The second-team defensive backs on the preseason depth chart — T.J. Hall, Koen Entringer and Deshaun Lee — have much less experience. All three players are in their second years on campus.
Meanwhile, Iowa’s linebacker corps includes Jay Higgins and Virginia transfer Nick Jackson, both of whom have plenty of in-game defensive snaps. The others — Kyler Fisher, Carson Sharar and Jaxon Rexroth, among others — do not have that same wealth of experience.
Injuries are an inevitability in college football, and Iowa’s secondary has been Exhibit A for that in recent years.
Cornerbacks Riley Moss, Matt Hankins and Terry Roberts all missed time in 2021 with injuries. Then in 2022, Jermari Harris and again Roberts missed either most or all of the season.
When DeJean exited Iowa’s Nov. 25 game against Nebraska, Iowa’s lack of experience behind him proved costly in a division-title-spoiling loss.
If a key injury happens in 2023 at either position group, it will be up to a player who has not necessarily proven himself in game action yet to fill the void.
IOWA CITY — It’s that time of year again for Iowa football.
Its preseason local media day is Friday afternoon, and its Kids’ Day open practice is Saturday. (Gates open at 11 a.m., and the practice begins at noon.) Like last year, the open practice is three weeks ahead of Iowa’s first game of the season.
But unlike some other years, the Hawkeyes have some metaphorical clouds hanging over the football facility in the August sky.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has already charged backup kicker Aaron Blom with tampering with records as part of its “ongoing” sports wagering investigation. More charges are possible.
Kirk Ferentz previously said “not a large number” of football players are involved in the probe, though.
Meanwhile, if Iowa’s offense does not average 25 points per game this year, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz’s contract will terminate as part of a stipulation added by former athletics director Gary Barta.
The investigations and contract ultimatum aside, here are three on-field keys for the Hawkeyes with three weeks to go until the 2023 season:
How reliable will the offensive line be?
It is no secret Iowa’s offensive line had underwhelming results last year.
An improvement to Iowa’s offense — the one ranked 130th out of 131 teams last year in yards per game and worse than 100th in several other key categories — must include an improvement up front.
Offensive-line-specific statistics are not plentiful, but the football analytics website Football Outsiders tracks line yards per carry — a stat that weighs the offensive line’s contributions on running plays. Iowa’s line ranked 128th out of 131 FBS teams last year.
The Hawkeyes will need to make major strides this season on the offensive line. There are some reasons for optimism in 2023.
Six of the seven offensive linemen to start at least one game last year are returning. That includes center Logan Jones, who was in his first season playing on the offensive side of the ball in 2022. Rusty Feth and Daijon Parker transferred from FCS-level Miami (Ohio) and Division II-level Saginaw Valley State, respectively.
Iowa’s upgrade at quarterback with Cade McNamara could alleviate some of the pressure on Iowa’s offensive line. However, McNamara’s addition is hardly a magic bullet for the past troubles up front. When McNamara was Michigan’s full-time starting quarterback in 2021, he averaged 2.5 seconds to throw, according to Pro Football Focus. Iowa’s Spencer Petras, meanwhile, averaged 2.7 seconds in 2021 and 2.6 seconds in 2022.
Does Iowa’s offensive scheme maximize the talents of its new playmakers?
The Hawkeyes have an influx of talent in the receiving corps with the arrivals of tight end Erick All and wide receivers Kaleb Brown and Seth Anderson.
But Iowa’s offensive talent can only go so far if Iowa’s offensive play-calling does not properly use that talent.
Iowa’s reputation for maximizing its offensive talent, particularly at wide receiver, has taken a toll over the last two years.
Take Arland Bruce IV, who has since transferred to Oklahoma State, as an example.
Whether it be his 20-yard touchdown run against Kentucky or impressive sideline catch against Illinois, Bruce had no shortage of plays that showed his potential as a true freshman in 2021.
Bruce saw a dramatic increase in snaps in 2022 — from 272 to 445, per PFF — but his receptions and receiving yards were down from his true freshman season.
Fellow former Iowa wideout Charlie Jones had 21 catches at Iowa in 2021 — the fifth-most on the team. He then transferred to Purdue, where he starred and became a second-team All-American.
Adding players like Brown and Anderson was an important step for improving Iowa’s results in the air. Now, it is up to Brian Ferentz to schematically put the newcomers in a position to succeed.
Does Iowa have the depth to withstand any potential injuries at defensive back or linebacker?
All of Iowa’s first-team defensive backs — Cooper DeJean, Jermari Harris, Quinn Schulte, Xavier Nwankpa and Sebastian Castro — have started games in Phil Parker’s renowned secondary.
The second-team defensive backs on the preseason depth chart — T.J. Hall, Koen Entringer and Deshaun Lee — have much less experience. All three players are in their second years on campus.
Meanwhile, Iowa’s linebacker corps includes Jay Higgins and Virginia transfer Nick Jackson, both of whom have plenty of in-game defensive snaps. The others — Kyler Fisher, Carson Sharar and Jaxon Rexroth, among others — do not have that same wealth of experience.
Injuries are an inevitability in college football, and Iowa’s secondary has been Exhibit A for that in recent years.
Cornerbacks Riley Moss, Matt Hankins and Terry Roberts all missed time in 2021 with injuries. Then in 2022, Jermari Harris and again Roberts missed either most or all of the season.
When DeJean exited Iowa’s Nov. 25 game against Nebraska, Iowa’s lack of experience behind him proved costly in a division-title-spoiling loss.
If a key injury happens in 2023 at either position group, it will be up to a player who has not necessarily proven himself in game action yet to fill the void.
Players mentioned in this article
Aaron Blom
Brian Ferentz
Logan Jones
Rusty Feth
Daijon Parker
Aidan McNamara
Erick All
Kaleb Brown
Arland Bruce IV
Charlie Jones
A.J. Brown
Aaron Anderson
Cooper DeJean
Jermari Harris
Xavier Nwankpa
Sebastian Castro
Koen Entringer
Deshaun Lee
Jay Higgins
Dominick Jackson
Kyler Fisher
Jaxon Rexroth
Riley Moss
Matt Hankins
Terry Roberts
AJ Roberts
Cameron DeJean
Recent Stories
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann — a 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The former University of Wisconsin football ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any time laying out his expectations to “do ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference for the Longhorns, if you haven’t heard. ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing a memorandum of understanding that paves ...
Latest Player Notes
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...
Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback
San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...
Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall
Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...
Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather
CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...
Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense
Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...
Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game
With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...