Hawkeyes offer LB Seth Benson

[Blair Sanderson]

The Iowa coaching staff offered Sioux Falls LB Seth Benson, a South Dakota State commit, yesterday when he was on campus.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Benson also visited Iowa City this past season when the Hawkeyes hosted Minnesota.

 

[bojihawk44]

Kid is a machine on special teams, wow. Offers from all of the Dakota schools, would not be a bad fallback LB option at all.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Kid is a machine on special teams, wow. Offers from all of the Dakota schools, would not be a bad fallback LB option at all.

Looks kinda small, but the special teams motor often says a lot about a player. This kid may have "it".

 

[Blair Sanderson]

Here's a quick article with quotes from Benson.

https://iowa.rivals.com/news/hawkeyes-offer-south-dakota-lb-seth-benson

 

[Muskie5]

Above average instincts, explosive, finishes, and decent size (about Angerer's size). I like him. The only question I have about him from watching this clip is can he cover. Iowa's LBs have to be able to cover and every time Benson's team had their opponent in a obvious passing situation, they put him at rush end, so we don't know how good he is in coverage, but there is potential as a Mike LB.

 

[nu2u]

Another Reece Morgan special. Pretty solid all-around athlete. Washington HS is the same school that produced the Farniok brothers and former Husker S Nate Gerry. WHS also has a pretty good junior RB (Tupak Kpeayeh) who will probably get more exposure over the summer.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Player of the year in the state, 3x state champ, physical and plays fast. Take those kids any day

 

[pacnorthhawkeye]

But how many times can he put up 225lbs....?

 

[Muskie5]

But how many times can he put up 225lbs....?

Who cares. If a LB is laying on his back pushing people off him, then he's in for a long year...

 

[pacnorthhawkeye]

Who cares. If a LB is laying on his back pushing people of him, then he's in for a long year...

My point exactly.

 

[Forgery5]

Player of the year in the state, 3x state champ, physical and plays fast. Take those kids any day

This! The kid is a proven winner and before he steps on the field he’ll be 225 lbs. Also, 4.0 gpa, take this kid all day long. Hopefully he didn’t want to play too close to home.

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

Non-ranked and 0 stars. Sounds like our type of guy

 

[Muskie5]

Non-ranked and 0 stars. Sounds like our type of guy

Yup, Jewell was non-ranked and had 0 stars until he accepted our offer as well. Like I keep saying, the 'star' system is worthless.

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

Yup, Jewell was non-ranked and had 0 stars until he accepted our offer as well. Like I keep saying, the 'star' system is worthless.

Just to clarify, I wasn't saying it's a bad thing that we are going after this kid. Love this kids film and that's all that matters, really. Agree on the star system being worthless most of the time

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Jewell was a 2 star. Fwiw.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

I winder what this means regarding honas. Can't believe they would take on a Juco, Doyle, and this project all in one shot.

 

[kceasthawk]

Jewell was a 2 star. Fwiw.

Probably not before he got an offer from Iowa.

 

[kceasthawk]

I winder what this means regarding honas. Can't believe they would take on a Juco, Doyle, and this project all in one shot.

Why not exactly? We lose 4 senior LB'S. We have some pretty good looking players in the pipeline. Realistically, the only one of the three who would play next season is the Juco. No one would expect any of the true freshman LB's to come in and play next year, unless maybe on special teams. Plenty of time to put 15 -20 lbs on them, and have them ready by 2019 season.

 

[TKingpin]

If Reese Morgan found him and is Championing him to the rest of the staff, then that is more than good enough for me!

 

[David1979]

I winder what this means regarding honas. Can't believe they would take on a Juco, Doyle, and this project all in one shot.

They were taking Honas, VanSumeran and Doyle before. This is no different.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

I don't think Van Sumerian was quite the project this guy is. I am not going to claim to even play a LB coach in the movies but my untrained eye noticed this with all the videos. In josey's and Honus video there are many examples of them taking on a block, getting off the block, and making a tackle. (Strikeing the body of the offensive player) van Sumerian didn't seem to have the tacking (striker) as much as those two in his videos but we(read:l) bought into him be a little more athletic and long and being a perfect fit for the LeO. I watch this guy make tackles and 1. Alot of ankle tackles (before to comment watch the video there are a ton of them) 2. Alot of his highlights are him getting right too the ball carrier. That sounds great but leaves a giant question mark when a b10 OG, TE, or FB sets a lead block and this guy has to get off it. He could be a great kid but Imho he is a much larger project.

 

[nu2u]

I don't think Van Sumerian was quite the project this guy is. I am not going to claim to even play a LB coach in the movies but my untrained eye noticed this with all the videos. In josey's and Honus video there are many examples of them taking on a block, getting off the block, and making a tackle. (Strikeing the body of the offensive player) van Sumerian didn't seem to have the tacking (striker) as much as those two in his videos but we(read:l) bought into him be a little more athletic and long and being a perfect fit for the LeO. I watch this guy make tackles and 1. Alot of ankle tackles (before to comment watch the video there are a ton of them) 2. Alot of his highlights are him getting right too the ball carrier. That sounds great but leaves a giant question mark when a b10 OG, TE, or FB sets a lead block and this guy has to get off it. He could be a great kid but Imho he is a much larger project.

One thing you can't teach is aggression and effort. Having watched a couple of his games in person, I can say without hesitation that, much like Greenway and Jewell, he for certain has that attribute. He is also a smart player, good insticts.

Benson is not now ready for B10 play, he will certainly redshirt if he picks Iowa. He will need to gain weight and add strength before he is ready for B10 competition. He s the type of player who will be first to practice and the last to leave the film room. With Iowa's S&C, he can certainly compete for a starting spot in 2-3 years. I would trust Morgan on this one.

 

[David1979]

One thing you can't teach is aggression and effort. Having watched a couple of his games in person, I can say without hesitation that, much like Greenway and Jewell, he for certain has that attribute. He is also a smart player, good insticts.

Benson is not now ready for B10 play, he will certainly redshirt if he picks Iowa. He will need to gain weight and add strength before he is ready for B10 competition. He s the type of player who will be first to practice and the last to leave the film room. With Iowa's S&C, he can certainly compete for a starting spot in 2-3 years. I would trust Morgan on this one.

If there is one recruiter on staff who should be trusted with evaluating under the radar recruits, it is Morgan.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

I winder what this means regarding honas. Can't believe they would take on a Juco, Doyle, and this project all in one shot.

That was the original plan (just replace that ate Harbaugh's burger at the sleep over with this new kid)

 

[pacnorthhawkeye]

I don't think Van Sumerian was quite the project this guy is. I am not going to claim to even play a LB coach in the movies but my untrained eye noticed this with all the videos. In josey's and Honus video there are many examples of them taking on a block, getting off the block, and making a tackle. (Strikeing the body of the offensive player) van Sumerian didn't seem to have the tacking (striker) as much as those two in his videos but we(read:l) bought into him be a little more athletic and long and being a perfect fit for the LeO. I watch this guy make tackles and 1. Alot of ankle tackles (before to comment watch the video there are a ton of them) 2. Alot of his highlights are him getting right too the ball carrier. That sounds great but leaves a giant question mark when a b10 OG, TE, or FB sets a lead block and this guy has to get off it. He could be a great kid but Imho he is a much larger project.

Don’t text and drive

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Walking back from lunch. Equally as dangerous for the walk/text.

 

[Sodak Spartan]

Great kid from a great, athletic family. If he ends up at Iowa over SD State, you guys are going to love him.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Folks on here need to take on a longer term view on recruiting. Iowa didn't offer this kid to necessarily be an instant contributor. However, likewise they wouldn't have offered the kid if they didn't like him. Lastly, sometimes these guys burst on the scene far earlier than the coaches would have expected. Dez Moses, Josey Jewell, and Ben Niemann are each guys who were under-recruited, but practiced so well that Iowa gave them each a chance to see early action. Unfortunately for Iowa, Moses got impatient with his positioning on the depth chart (along with the fact that Iowa asked him to move to DE ... and the DL was being coached by the douche, Coach Kaz) ... and he ultimately left.

All the same ... under-recruited LBs who contributed EARLY!

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Check out @marcmorehouse’s Tweet:

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

The star system is more right than wrong.

 

[terrehawk]

kid has a motor. wish he were 6'2 or more though. Listed at 6'1 which means he is probably 6'0. He looks filled out already (hard to REALLY tell on film though). I don't see him playing outside. Could see him at MLB for sure if he can put on the weight and keep his speed and athleticism.

 

[mvhomerj]

Yup, Jewell was non-ranked and had 0 stars until he accepted our offer as well. Like I keep saying, the 'star' system is worthless.

Yup, cuz 0 / 2 star athletes always end up being a Josey Jewel.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Let us not forget the great muskie is quoted on here as saying he didn't think Jewell would develop as fast as he did, post high school.

I knew his name in HS. Thought he was a beast then. Watched him in the Dome. I didn't think he would develop as fast as he did.

The facts are a 2 star recruit might be a great feel good story but you cannot consistently rely on them

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

The star system is more right than wrong.

Quantitative analysis that actually supplies a more scientific framework to support such a contention?

Closer to "fact" .... the star system is more entertaining that it is either right OR wrong!

 

[TRHawkeye145]

I'll never understand why some people think stars don't matter. Yes - there are the Josey jewel's of the world, but who doesn't want 4/5 star players? Hell, the board/fans go nuts when Iowa gets one. Why is that? It means players are ready to play now and don't need 2/3 years to develop. That's huge.

I don't get too caught up in recruiting. It is what it is under Kirk. I think Iowa develops players very well. And this kid looks like a good player, but damn give me 4/5 star players all day

 

[hexumhawk]

Like his rangyness

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Looks like he will skip early signing period. If the staff likes him, more power too him, but I have to believe there are going to be better options available for the 2nd signing period after the dust settles on the first.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Yup, cuz 0 / 2 star athletes always end up being a Josey Jewel.

Yep. "Possible" is not "likely".

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I'll never understand why some people think stars don't matter. Yes - there are the Josey jewel's of the world, but who doesn't want 4/5 star players? Hell, the board/fans go nuts when Iowa gets one. Why is that? It means players are ready to play now and don't need 2/3 years to develop. That's huge.

I don't get too caught up in recruiting. It is what it is under Kirk. I think Iowa develops players very well. And this kid looks like a good player, but damn give me 4/5 star players all day

Who says that they don't want 5-star players? 4-star players are fine too ... however, there are a lot of factors that have to go into the equation too .... a significant one being "program fit" AND mutual interest. Iowa offers (or is willing to offer) more guys than those who get listed on these sites. However, guys sometimes have characteristics that are "red-flags" to the coaches .... perhaps issues concerning having helicopter parents, having consistency issues in terms of effort, guys who seem more about "me" than "we" ... etc. Some programs ... like the college version of New England ... they've acquired the willingness and/or ability to manage such personalities. They can sometimes pull the best out of such guys. However, I know folks who regularly go on the Hawkeye cruises ... and on several occasions, my friends have indicated that the coaches really like working with the guys who they end up recruiting ... guys who they feel truly "fit" the program. If they're getting such guys ... it can still be a win-win.

Lastly, part of the issue of 5-star guys and "high" 4-star guys ... there just aren't that many of them. Thus, by supply and demand ... if we have little success luring them in ... we better be good at dealing with the recruits who WE CAN CONSISTENTLY get into the program. That is where sustained success comes from.

What some Iowa fans perceive as sustained mediocrity is the same thing that is getting Mark Stoops contract extensions at Kentucky. Like it or not .....

 

[texas twister]

Who cares. If a LB is laying on his back pushing people off him, then he's in for a long year...

The NFL combine cares, Coach Doyle cares. Maybe they just aren't as wise as you..