2016 PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE
SE — Jerminic Smith (soph.): Impressed coaches upon arrival in August with college-ready skill set. Subbed nicely (four catches, 118 yards vs. Illinois) when Tevaun Smith missed two games. Will benefit from first winter with Chris Doyle.
LT — Ike Boettger (jr.): A bit of a dice-roll here, as Brian Ferentz will experiment with his line throughout spring and summer camp. Tons of upside in the former high-school quarterback. Just needs to get healthy.
LG — Boone Myers (jr.): The left tackle to start the season was a rotating left guard to end it after being slowed by injuries. Like most Iowa linemen, has extreme position flexibility.
C — James Daniels (soph.): Learned a lot as Austin Blythe’s road-trip roommate during the season. Now he’ll get a chance to star at his natural position. Four-star talent in 294-pound body played admirably as a true freshman.
RG — Sean Welsh (jr.): Quietly powerful force who went from uncertain status in the offseason to one of Iowa’s most consistent pieces. Started all 13 games, including two at right tackle.
RT — Cole Croston (sr.): Former walk-on came off the bench to start Iowa’s final 10 games at tackle — four on the left side, six on the right. Seems to be most at home on the right side.
TE — George Kittle (sr.): The sky’s the limit. Athletic 235-pounder can block well and led Iowa with six touchdown catches despite backing up Henry Krieger Coble. The real question is, who backs up Kittle?
WR — Matt VandeBerg (sr.): Reliable target’s 65 catches rank as the third-most for an Iowa receiver in a single season. Most effective lining up in the slot, but has sneaky speed when starting outside.
Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard began his career 13-0 as a starter for the Hawkeyes. He was named second-team all-Big Ten this season. (Photo: AP)
QB — C.J. Beathard (sr.): Began career 13-0 as a starter, but still showed there’s room to grow with Rose Bowl inconsistency. Needs to get healthy first. It’s an important spring for backups Tyler Wiegers, Ryan Boyle and Drew Cook.
FB — Drake Kulick (jr.): We don’t know much about the walk-on from Muscatine, but the converted linebacker is "Next Man In" to replace senior bruisers Macon Plewa and Adam Cox.
RB — Akrum Wadley (jr.): If he can get his weight up to 190 – he’s still stuck in the 182-186 range – he is Iowa’s most enticing game-breaking option. LeShun Daniels Jr. (power) and Derrick Mitchell Jr. (third down) will have big roles, too.
PK — Mick Ellis (soph.): Redshirted after missing only career field-goal attempt and going 7-for-7 on PATs as a true freshman. Needs to gain leg strength. He’ll compete with Mason City walk-on Miguel Recinos, who may handle kickoffs.
DEFENSE
LE — Matt Nelson (soph.): Coaches liked the progress they saw from the 6-foot-8 Cedar Rapids native in bowl prep, and he recorded his first career sack against Stanford.
LT — Jaleel Johnson (sr.): The 310-pounder with a high motor was so dominant at times in his first year as a starter that opponents began regularly double-teaming him. Had 45 tackles, including four sacks.
RT — Nathan Bazata (jr.): Slightly undersized at 284, but used relentless energy to record 42 tackles. Will share time with Faith Ekakitie, who got better as the season went on.
RE — Parker Hesse (soph.): Forced to play before his time with Drew Ott’s multiple significant injuries. An offseason with Doyle should give him another 10 pounds that he’ll need in order to better challenge left tackles.
OLB — Ben Niemann (jr.): Has drawn comparisons to former Hawkeye “Leo” backer A.J. Edds, and was a versatile piece in his first year as a starter. Bo Bower is likely to remain his backup.
MLB — Josey Jewell (jr.): Led Iowa with 126 tackles and was second with four interceptions, including one each in the final three games. Quarterback of the defense is already a star.
WLB — Aaron Mends (soph.): Holds Iowa weight-lifting records and has “electric” feet, position coach Jim Reid says. Could be a key position battle with Jack Hockaday in the spring.
LC — Greg Mabin (sr.): Gets social-media heat at times, but a lot of that comes from opponents throwing away from Desmond King. Game is slowing down for him; was at his best in Big Ten title game.
SS — Miles Taylor (jr.): Speaks softly, hits hard. Despite being slowed by injuries in his first year as a starter, recorded 69 tackles. Now needs to take the next step.
FS — Brandon Snyder (soph.): Walk-on lost the strong-safety position battle to Taylor, then got moved to Jordan Lomax’s backup. Walk-on looks the part. Senior Anthony Gair could compete here, too.
RC— Desmond King (sr.): King is a consensus All American and Jim Thorpe Award winner. Iowa coaches like the progress of Josh Jackson – who got seasoning as the extra corner in Iowa’s “Raider” defense.
P — Colten Rastetter (fr.): About all we know about the Guttenberg walk-on is that he punts left-footed. Recinos could enter the competition as well to replace Dillon Kidd and Marshall Koehn.
OFFENSE
SE — Jerminic Smith (soph.): Impressed coaches upon arrival in August with college-ready skill set. Subbed nicely (four catches, 118 yards vs. Illinois) when Tevaun Smith missed two games. Will benefit from first winter with Chris Doyle.
LT — Ike Boettger (jr.): A bit of a dice-roll here, as Brian Ferentz will experiment with his line throughout spring and summer camp. Tons of upside in the former high-school quarterback. Just needs to get healthy.
LG — Boone Myers (jr.): The left tackle to start the season was a rotating left guard to end it after being slowed by injuries. Like most Iowa linemen, has extreme position flexibility.
C — James Daniels (soph.): Learned a lot as Austin Blythe’s road-trip roommate during the season. Now he’ll get a chance to star at his natural position. Four-star talent in 294-pound body played admirably as a true freshman.
RG — Sean Welsh (jr.): Quietly powerful force who went from uncertain status in the offseason to one of Iowa’s most consistent pieces. Started all 13 games, including two at right tackle.
RT — Cole Croston (sr.): Former walk-on came off the bench to start Iowa’s final 10 games at tackle — four on the left side, six on the right. Seems to be most at home on the right side.
TE — George Kittle (sr.): The sky’s the limit. Athletic 235-pounder can block well and led Iowa with six touchdown catches despite backing up Henry Krieger Coble. The real question is, who backs up Kittle?
WR — Matt VandeBerg (sr.): Reliable target’s 65 catches rank as the third-most for an Iowa receiver in a single season. Most effective lining up in the slot, but has sneaky speed when starting outside.
Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard began his career 13-0 as a starter for the Hawkeyes. He was named second-team all-Big Ten this season. (Photo: AP)
QB — C.J. Beathard (sr.): Began career 13-0 as a starter, but still showed there’s room to grow with Rose Bowl inconsistency. Needs to get healthy first. It’s an important spring for backups Tyler Wiegers, Ryan Boyle and Drew Cook.
FB — Drake Kulick (jr.): We don’t know much about the walk-on from Muscatine, but the converted linebacker is "Next Man In" to replace senior bruisers Macon Plewa and Adam Cox.
RB — Akrum Wadley (jr.): If he can get his weight up to 190 – he’s still stuck in the 182-186 range – he is Iowa’s most enticing game-breaking option. LeShun Daniels Jr. (power) and Derrick Mitchell Jr. (third down) will have big roles, too.
PK — Mick Ellis (soph.): Redshirted after missing only career field-goal attempt and going 7-for-7 on PATs as a true freshman. Needs to gain leg strength. He’ll compete with Mason City walk-on Miguel Recinos, who may handle kickoffs.
DEFENSE
LE — Matt Nelson (soph.): Coaches liked the progress they saw from the 6-foot-8 Cedar Rapids native in bowl prep, and he recorded his first career sack against Stanford.
LT — Jaleel Johnson (sr.): The 310-pounder with a high motor was so dominant at times in his first year as a starter that opponents began regularly double-teaming him. Had 45 tackles, including four sacks.
RT — Nathan Bazata (jr.): Slightly undersized at 284, but used relentless energy to record 42 tackles. Will share time with Faith Ekakitie, who got better as the season went on.
RE — Parker Hesse (soph.): Forced to play before his time with Drew Ott’s multiple significant injuries. An offseason with Doyle should give him another 10 pounds that he’ll need in order to better challenge left tackles.
OLB — Ben Niemann (jr.): Has drawn comparisons to former Hawkeye “Leo” backer A.J. Edds, and was a versatile piece in his first year as a starter. Bo Bower is likely to remain his backup.
MLB — Josey Jewell (jr.): Led Iowa with 126 tackles and was second with four interceptions, including one each in the final three games. Quarterback of the defense is already a star.
WLB — Aaron Mends (soph.): Holds Iowa weight-lifting records and has “electric” feet, position coach Jim Reid says. Could be a key position battle with Jack Hockaday in the spring.
LC — Greg Mabin (sr.): Gets social-media heat at times, but a lot of that comes from opponents throwing away from Desmond King. Game is slowing down for him; was at his best in Big Ten title game.
SS — Miles Taylor (jr.): Speaks softly, hits hard. Despite being slowed by injuries in his first year as a starter, recorded 69 tackles. Now needs to take the next step.
FS — Brandon Snyder (soph.): Walk-on lost the strong-safety position battle to Taylor, then got moved to Jordan Lomax’s backup. Walk-on looks the part. Senior Anthony Gair could compete here, too.
RC— Desmond King (sr.): King is a consensus All American and Jim Thorpe Award winner. Iowa coaches like the progress of Josh Jackson – who got seasoning as the extra corner in Iowa’s “Raider” defense.
P — Colten Rastetter (fr.): About all we know about the Guttenberg walk-on is that he punts left-footed. Recinos could enter the competition as well to replace Dillon Kidd and Marshall Koehn.
