March 28, 2024

Iowa’s Ferentz approaching record-setting victory

IOWA CITY — The Iowa Hawkeye football program will celebrate a few milestones this season.

When the Hawkeyes kick off against Northern Illinois inside Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 1, it will mark the 130th anniversary of Iowa football.

And long-time head football coach Kirk Ferentz is one victory away from becoming the school’s all-time winningest coach. Ferentz tied Hayden Fry with his 143rd win following the Hawkeyes’ 27-20 victory over Boston College in last year’s Pinstripe Bowl.

Ferentz himself will be glad to get that record out of the way though.

“As many of you may know, this is my 20th year, and for the record that’s the last time I’ll mention that this year,” Ferentz said at the team’s annual media day on Friday afternoon.

“But one thing I’ve learned is that for a team to be competitive and to be successful, it all begins with just setting high expectations, clear expectations and then trying to create an environment where we have great accountability and great teamwork.”

The Hawkeyes are coming off back-to-back 8-5 seasons after finishing 12-2 in 2015.

Ferentz is 143-97 in his 19 years at the helm. That averages out to 7.5 wins and 5.1 losses per season.

Like most schools in the country, Iowa has to fill in some holes left by graduation.

Iowa welcomes back 13 seniors, six three-year letter winners and 17 two-year letter winners. There are 28 juniors, 25 sophomores, 17 redshirt freshmen and 39 true freshmen.

“We have a few incumbents. But it’s everyone’s job to keep their positions,” Ferentz said. “It’s a fluid situation. That’s the attitude everyone has to have.”

The Hawkeyes bring back starting quarterback Nate Stanley, who threw for 2,437 yards and 26 touchdowns with just six interceptions.

Stanley is one of a few guys whose position at the top of the depth chart is secure. There really is no competition behind as redshirt freshman Peyton Mansell and true freshman Spencer Pietras battle for the backup spot.

Besides quarterback, the wide receiver position has four leaders on the two-deep depth chart, including Newton’s own Nick Easley. The other three players are senior transfer Kyle Groeneweg and sophomores Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith.

“We have a lot of guys who are stepping up,” said Easley, who led the Hawkeyes with 51 catches and 530 yards last year. “They are doing a great job and getting better every day, but there are a lot of challenges ahead and we still have a lot of improvements to make. I am excited about our unit. There’s a lot of versatility.”

The most talented and proven offensive unit comes at the tight end position. Junior Noah Fant and redshirt sophomore T.J. Hockenson return after compiling more than 800 yards and 14 TDs combined.

The offensive line brings back three starters in senior center Keegan Render and sophomore tackles Alaric Jackson and Tristan Wirfs. Jackson and Wirfs, along with defensive tackles Brady Reiff and Cedrick Lattimore, will not be available for the season opener because of a separate one-game suspensions.

“All four guys are practicing right now,” Ferentz said. “They will be on scout teams during the week of the game and they won’t be on the field during the season opener.”

Render will be the starter at center, while senior Ross Reynolds and sophomore Cole Banwart are expected to start at the two guard positions. Replacing Jackson and Wirfs will come down to senior walk-on Dalton Ferguson, junior Levi Paulsen and freshman Mark Kallenberger.

Paulsen is listed as Banwart’s backup at guard, while Ferguson and Kallenberger are listed as the backup tackles on the depth chart.

“It’s a work in progress,” Ferentz said about the offensive line. ‘We have some guys who have played. Keegan Render is underrated. I think he’s better than you think. He’s consistent and a model for what we are looking for.

“Ross Reynolds played well when he played last year. He’s a fifth year guy. I will be disappointed if he doesn’t have a good year.”

The biggest change offensively comes at running back where 1,000-yard rusher Akrum Wadley and backup James Butler are both gone to the NFL.

The replacements include the sophomore trio of Toren Young, Ivory Kelly-Martin and Iowa Western transfer Mekhi Sargent. Ferentz expects all three players to get significant snaps this season.

Young and Kelly-Martin combined for 377 rushing yards and five TDs last season in limited action. Kelly-Martin averaged 9.2 yards per carry.

“We have three guys we feel good about that but all of them have little to no experience,” Ferentz said. “We have never had too many backs in my time here. We will strategize how we use all three guys, but I think we will need all three and we’ll have plenty of opportunities to use all three.”

The defense returns a solid defensive line but welcomes in an entire new trio of linebackers as well as a few new players in the secondary.

The line is led by senior end Parker Hesse and junior end Anthony Nelson. Senior Matt Nelson also will start inside at defensive tackle. All three players are former Iowa prep standouts.

Hesse had 43 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks last year, while Nelson had a team-high 9.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss.

Ferentz will have to find someone to fill in for Lattimore in the opener, but he’s slated as the other starter at defensive tackle. Candidates to start for Lattimore in game one include senior Sam Brincks, sophomore Chauncey Gholston or true freshman Tyler Linderbaum, a U.S. Army All-American recruit from Solon.

Sophomore end A.J. Epenesa also is expected to shoulder a large load this season. He had 4.5 sacks as a true freshman in 2017.

Returners in the secondary include senior Jake Gervase, junior Amani Hooker and sophomore Geno Stone at safety and junior Michael Ojemudia and sophomore Matt Hankins at cornerback. Hankins takes over for All-American Josh Jackson, who had nine picks last year.

Others who could action in the back of the defense are redshirt freshmen Josh Turner and Trey Creamer at cornerback.

Gervase had 59 tackles and three interceptions last season, while Hooker collected 56 tackles and two picks.

“We know who the top two guys are at cornerback,” Ferentz said. “The other spots are wide open. Young guys will have a shot to play. The top three guys at safety are clear, too.”

Defensive Coordinator Phil Parker breaks in three brand new linebackers after Josey Jewell, Ben Niemann and Bo Bower all departed for the NFL. That trio led the team in tackles.

Junior Amani Jones is the clear-cut favorite to replace Jewell at middle linebacker. Sophomore Nick Niemann also has a strong chance to start at another spot.

“All we have right now is practice. We still have to see how we all will play when the game is live and things matter,” Jones said. “We are looking forward to that.”

The final position could come down to junior Kristian Welch, senior Jack Hockaday, sophomore Barrington Wade and redshirt freshman Djimon Colbert.

True freshman Seth Benson and Dillon Doyle also saw plenty of snaps at Iowa’s annual Kids Day on Saturday.

“All those guys are competing and hopefully we’ll figure it out soon,” Ferentz said.

Fant and Nelson have garnered plenty of preseason accolades.

Fant is on three different Watch Lists and has been picked as a first team All-American by three different publications. Nelson is listed on three different Watch Lists, too.

“I don’t pay much attention to that personally. We are trying to get better,” Nelson said. “I am too caught up in the team and getting ready for the first game to be focused on the outside stuff. I don’t really care about it to be honest.”