Wow, big news! It's funny how "recruiting" has devlolved/evolved into just retaining players.
Campbell isn't coming back. KF will probably have to convince him not to like Hockenson and Linderbaum.
Hopefully Shannon and Benson are next to come back
This is freaking huge. I don’t often get super excited about Iowa football, but this is a coup for next season.
Waggoner may as well too, he will only get a chance as a UDFA as of right now.
Please, please, please someone tell me that Seth Benson is returning as well.
Well 6 years is a long time to play college football in any era. Great to see him coming back. Defense is looking great again!
Should have studied Pharmacy or something like that. 6 years seems like a long time.
To be fair, Evans plays defense.
Hell yeah! I was really really hoping he would come back. I think he is way way better than people give him credit for. I would take him over any portal DE. That is a big get for this defense.
Isn’t he part of the perceived terrible program? Just relaying the wisdom on the board.
I know there’s been a few. But has anybody called our defense anything worse than great this past season!?! Let’s go Joe!
What other seniors have the option of coming back to use their Covid year?
Honestly, I’d prefer he not. We’ve got better options that will ride on the bench if he does.
You’re DAF
No, haven't seen anyone say it's a terrible program. If they did it was probably one person who doesn't have a clue. My guess is you're simply making stuff up.
If you are talking about the offense, bad would actually be an upgrade and a compliment. 😉
If you're not going to get drafted, why not come back and continue your education while collecting a decent check each month?
Beats the hell out of getting a real job. You only get your college years once, enjoy the hell out of it.
Beats the hell out of getting a real job. You only get your college years once, enjoy the hell out of it.
He contains his end very well, but getting pressure he doesn't do as great.
Wow. Both he and Ragaini returning are equivalent to landing two top transfers. Good news boys!
Waggs is a good Hawk and has kept his nose to the grind stone so if he comes back okay. I do think Craig starting in that spot next year will be an upgrade especially on pass downs. Excited about Evans though. He's made progress every year, and is now pretty sold containing the edge, and solid on pass rush downs. He certainly adds to the depth, and experience.
I was trying to dance around that because Waggs has been a good Hawk, but I'd agree. I think we have guys coming up that will upgrade that position.
Evans is a bit of a tweener as it relates to playing in the NFL. He could have a shot as an OLB in the right system. Furthermore, he's a former walk-on ... who is a legacy Hawk.
Given the schedule of the '23 season for the Hawks ... that might be a little extra lure for a Hawk-zealot like Evans ... the potential promise of another exceptional season.
The Hawks seem to be wanting to "tweak' the personnel in order to make a legit run in '23.
Given the schedule of the '23 season for the Hawks ... that might be a little extra lure for a Hawk-zealot like Evans ... the potential promise of another exceptional season.
The Hawks seem to be wanting to "tweak' the personnel in order to make a legit run in '23.
Yep. Still think we'll get that and much more Pass rush explosion with Craig. Waggs is a solid player, BUT heres my concern. We have some nice looking talent in the wings. With the portal effect we're dealing with now, the last thing I want to see happen is a good player, (not great, but good) sticks around for year 5 or 6. This keeps someone like, Lets say Allen Jr or Crawford or Llwellyn, or whomever from getting rotation snaps for another year. They hit the portal. We loose a potentially really good player with 3 or 4 years because we kept a 5th or 6th year guy in front of him another year. Now I understand, a bird in the hand, right. We already know will get solid play from Waggs, BUT, could it cost us long term, given the new dynamics of the portal?
Prior to learning of Van Ness's departure ... I would have pegged Van Ness to become a full-time starter at DE and have Craig be the other starting DE opposite him.
However, with the news of Van Ness leaving ... my immediate concern was at DE. That concern is now a little more allayed ... with the return of Evans. Now I'd slate Evans and Craig as the starting DEs ... with Hurkett being the #3 ... and with Llewellyn stepping up as a guy who will see a significant amount of rotational positional action. On top of that, I expect Crawford could make a push too.
At DT ... I think that we're looking pretty healthy. Black was really starting to look like he was getting his groove back toward the end of the season (particularly in the bowl game). I expect that Anterio Thompson is a guy who could work his way into being a regular in the rotation too. However, I also really like Pittman ... so it will be intriguing to see who ends up winning the #4 DT spot. Right now, I'd venture to guess that Logan is our #1 DT ... Black and Graves will likely be really close as co-#2 DTs ... so who will win the final spot on the depth chart at DT? Another guy to potentially keep an eye on is Allen ... he was seeing reps at DT during the prior camp. (I have no idea how much work he continues to get at DE)
However, with the news of Van Ness leaving ... my immediate concern was at DE. That concern is now a little more allayed ... with the return of Evans. Now I'd slate Evans and Craig as the starting DEs ... with Hurkett being the #3 ... and with Llewellyn stepping up as a guy who will see a significant amount of rotational positional action. On top of that, I expect Crawford could make a push too.
At DT ... I think that we're looking pretty healthy. Black was really starting to look like he was getting his groove back toward the end of the season (particularly in the bowl game). I expect that Anterio Thompson is a guy who could work his way into being a regular in the rotation too. However, I also really like Pittman ... so it will be intriguing to see who ends up winning the #4 DT spot. Right now, I'd venture to guess that Logan is our #1 DT ... Black and Graves will likely be really close as co-#2 DTs ... so who will win the final spot on the depth chart at DT? Another guy to potentially keep an eye on is Allen ... he was seeing reps at DT during the prior camp. (I have no idea how much work he continues to get at DE)
The caveat I've noted with Craig is that he tends to cheat inside a bit ... losing outside leverage. I love that he's trying to make plays ... but he also needs to make sure that he's doing his job. Setting a good strong edge is critical as it relates to gap-integrity. Of course, it's somewhat forgivable ... because he's still a pretty young player.
So do you think Crawford takes that spot or AllenJr. in the mix for that as well?
The last I recall ... Crawford was still getting more work at DE (that certainly could have changed). As for Allen ... he's like Van Ness or Golston insofar that he could likely play either spot.
I'm wondering if anybody here knows where guys were playing during bowl prep. The beauty of bowl prep is that it affords young guys to get in a lot of quality developmental-reps.
I wouldn't exclude the possibility of EITHER Allen or Crawford being in a position to contribute next year.
For that matter ... I know that the coaches have a very healthy respect for what Stec brings to the table (in terms of toughness and consistency). Of course, I don't think any of us expect a ton out of Stec ... but guys like him have a tendency of making fans like us look like turds. I still remember back in '11 when we got surprisingly solid play out of Nardo.
I'm still curious what we might see out of Reames ... he's a guy who has managed to keep himself at least somewhat peripherally in the picture too.
