By several measures, the 2023 NFL Draft that wrapped up this weekend was one of the most successful ever for Iowa football. It wasn't Iowa's most successful in terms of total draft picks -- the four selections in this year's draft was more on par for Iowa's average during the Ferentz Era (3.79 picks per draft). In fact, Iowa has had five or more picks seven times since 2000, topping out at six apiece in the 2010, 2011, and 2012 drafts.
No, the historic strength of his draft class was at the top, rather than its depth. All four of Iowa's selections came in the first 83 picks of the draft, best in the Ferentz Era. The only other draft in that time that featured four picks in the first three rounds was 2010, when four Iowa players (Bryan Bulaga, Pat Angerer, Amari Spievey, and Tony Moeaki) were selected in the first 93 selections.
Prior to this year's draft, Iowa had only had two first-round picks once in the Ferentz era: 2019, when T.J. Hockenson was taken by Detroit with the 8th pick and Noah Fant was taken by Denver with the 20th pick. The Hawkeyes matched that this year with Lukas Van Ness going 13th to Green Bay and Jack Campbell going 18th to Detroit.
MORE HERE: https://iowa.rivals.com/news/iowa-in-the-2023-nfl-draft-historic-success
No, the historic strength of his draft class was at the top, rather than its depth. All four of Iowa's selections came in the first 83 picks of the draft, best in the Ferentz Era. The only other draft in that time that featured four picks in the first three rounds was 2010, when four Iowa players (Bryan Bulaga, Pat Angerer, Amari Spievey, and Tony Moeaki) were selected in the first 93 selections.
Prior to this year's draft, Iowa had only had two first-round picks once in the Ferentz era: 2019, when T.J. Hockenson was taken by Detroit with the 8th pick and Noah Fant was taken by Denver with the 20th pick. The Hawkeyes matched that this year with Lukas Van Ness going 13th to Green Bay and Jack Campbell going 18th to Detroit.
MORE HERE: https://iowa.rivals.com/news/iowa-in-the-2023-nfl-draft-historic-success
