Numerous Departures...Not Concerned.

[Harbinger273]

Our 8 most recent departures from the team coming by way of medical reasons and decisions to transfer out will not effect the team adversely. Manny Rugamba is the only high profile guy to leave the program and by the looks and sound of it he and the program grew apart. Spencer Williams leaving the OL is somewhat of a blow to a group with limited depth. A longer term list of departures includes more players who obviously weren't going to be major contributors. Obviously I don't include James Daniels as he left for the NFL, but I do think having Wiegers and Clayberg stick around would have been helpful.


Iowa needs to continue to build quality depth at all positions. I am happy with the addition of Sargent and think he will be a pleasant surprise if not more. I still feel like we need more at OL and CB. Obviously Swarm19 is the only option for adding to these positions at this point.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Our 8 most recent departures from the team coming by way of medical reasons and decisions to transfer out will not effect the team adversely. Manny Rugamba is the only high profile guy to leave the program and by the looks and sound of it he and the program grew apart. Spencer Williams leaving the OL is somewhat of a blow to a group with limited depth.
Iowa needs to continue to build quality depth at all positions. I am happy with the addition of Sargent and think he will be a pleasant surprise if not more. I still feel like we need more at OL and CB. Obviously Swarm19 is the only option for adding to these positions at this point.

Duwa has been in the chute at C ... and Banwart has been there too. I'm not certain that Williams would have won a spot at C anyhow. Of course, if he had, it would have afforded us the flexibility to have more depth at OG. Also, as I recall, the Hawks had told Justin Britt that they like him at C.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

Where did Legrand go?

 

[Wadzinator]

Harrell???

 

[pacnorthhawkeye]

I feel like the last two recruiting classes and the next one (if we can hang on to the verbals) will see us getting that depth we haven’t had for some time.

 

[Harbinger273]

I don't remember the details on Legrand...Harrell seemed to be kind of in between DB and RB and not really making any noise. I suppose he felt like he was already buried.

 

[StormHawk42]

Where did Legrand go?

Pretty sure he just wanted to be done after he graduated and gave up his last year of eligibility.

 

[Blair Sanderson]

Pretty sure he just wanted to be done after he graduated and gave up his last year of eligibility.

Yep, that's correct.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

I don't mind weigers leaving. If Stanley goes down, we're probably gonna be in trouble. Hopefully the youngsters will get some reps in a few games.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

It will be interesting to see how that impacts where the coaches target guys in order to complete the '19 recruiting class. Phil Parker has a tendency to recruit guys in platoons ... the top guys rise to the top ... we then recruit more lightly at DB for a while ... and then the process repeats itself.

Obviously we want another D-lineman (presumably shooting for Fox) and we want another TE (Miamen, Hickman, etc). Also, if we can land Bell at WR, we'd take him in a heart-beat.

So what ... that probably leaves us with 3 more spots to fill? Many Iowa fans have mentioned DeBerry (a DB) as a possibility. Who else? What positions?

 

[BigOHawk]

Harrell???

Harrell is headed to JUCO I believe..

 

[David1979]

Wonder if Moss is put on scholarship for the fall now?

 

[BigOHawk]

Wonder if Moss is put on scholarship for the fall now?

Great point and I wondered about that too. Blair mentioned we are at 80 now, I'd assume a player or two gets a ride for the fall and then we bank 2-3 for next recruiting cycle.

 

[Herkmeister]

I like the flexibility for late in the recruiting process.

It ain't over until it's over...…….

 

[scotthawk1964]

I don't mind weigers leaving. If Stanley goes down, we're probably gonna be in trouble. Hopefully the youngsters will get some reps in a few games.

Mansell had some promising minutes in the spring game. More mobility but less arm strength, would definitely change the dynamics of the offense, along with having to live with youngster growing pains. Lets keep Stanley healthy.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

That seems like a pretty big list. Is it about normal?

 

[BigOHawk]

That seems like a pretty big list. Is it about normal?

Seems higher than normal but don't have the numbers to say one way or another. I do know that it's much lower than about 5 years ago, didn't we lose about 50% of back to back recruiting classes in 2011 and 2012 due to transfers, injuries, etc?

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

That seems like a pretty big list. Is it about normal?

I'd agree that it seems high ... but part of it is reflective of the times in the following ways:

• QBs more and more often are transfering out for playing time (often exploiting the graduate transfer rule)
• The Hawks had a huge recruiting class at LB a few years ago (5 guys projected at LB) - so we were due for some attrition there once the LB situation started to settle down.
• A similar situation was also shaking out at DB too ... and having a few consecutive decent-sized classes of talented young DBs also applied a little extra pressure to the older guys too.

Thus, I think that circumstances and injuries were arguably the greatest driving factors for the departures. All things considered, these reasons for the departures are better than the alternatives (guys being unhappy with the program or guys having off-field issues).

 

[madmax1191]

Anyone know why Weiland left? I thought he was a sleeper.
With the departure of Toks and Harrell we are thin yet again at RB. I hope they land J.Wright and I wonder if this means Evans does move to RB?

 

[BigOHawk]

Anyone know why Weiland left? I thought he was a sleeper.
With the departure of Toks and Harrell we are thin yet again at RB. I hope they land J.Wright and I wonder if this means Evans does move to RB?

Weiland was injuries IIRC. I thought the plan all along was for Evans to start fall camp at RB. Geil will be in at RB too along with Sargeant and a walk on from Wisky who has some wheels and great last name (Stillmunkes?)

 

[Harbinger273]

Anyone know why Weiland left? I thought he was a sleeper.
With the departure of Toks and Harrell we are thin yet again at RB. I hope they land J.Wright and I wonder if this means Evans does move to RB?

J. Wright non take right now per Blair. I agree and would love to get him if he can restore his academics. Prolific rb.

 

[Blair Sanderson]

Weiland was injuries IIRC. I thought the plan all along was for Evans to start fall camp at RB. Geil will be in at RB too along with Sargeant and a walk on from Wisky who has some wheels and great last name (Stillmunkes?)

Wieland has had a couple injuries (knee IIRC) in his brief career at Iowa, but he does plan to keep playing football. He told me he'll be going to a junior college and then wants to transfer to another Division I school from there.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

That seems like a pretty big list. Is it about normal?

Well 2 of them went to the NFL early, many others had injuries, a few academic and the rest saw better opportunities to play elsewhere.

 

[funnyfletcher]

There aren’t a lot of players who transfer out who are big impact players. Willies would have been nice to have at WR, some RBs like Hampton, Wegher, ARob, Coker. Maybe Dezman Moses. Any others?

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

not trying to go all SEC here but I believe this roster was in need of some serious turnover. "We" are getting much higher level and ready to play athletes in over the last 2 years. there was some dead weight, and some that need to make it or go away next year.

 

[grayhair81]

Anyone know why Weiland left? I thought he was a sleeper.
With the departure of Toks and Harrell we are thin yet again at RB. I hope they land J.Wright and I wonder if this means Evans does move to RB?

Apparently the coaches didn't think they were thin at RB since Brock didn't have a spot after Goodson committed.

 

[TKingpin]

Spencer Williams is a big loss, IMHO. I recall him being ahead of both Duwa and Banwart at one point.

IIRC, for a big man he had some amazing track and field stats. I recall he helped his team at State by running in the 4 x 100 and he did the High jump, even though he was probably 250 pounds as a senior. The high jump was the stunner. I think it was an impressive number, like 6’4 or possibly higher. My memory is failing me here, but I was really excited about him, specifically, because that seemed like a unique athlete.

 

[David1979]

Spencer Williams is a big loss, IMHO. I recall him being ahead of both Duwa and Banwart at one point.

IIRC, for a big man he had some amazing track and field stats. I recall he helped his team at State by running in the 4 x 100 and he did the High jump, even though he was probably 250 pounds as a senior. The high jump was the stunner. I think it was an impressive number, like 6’4 or possibly higher. My memory is failing me here, but I was really excited about him, specifically, because that seemed like a unique athlete.

Yeah, Williams was turning heads when healthy. That is a tough loss. Similar to Waechter. Staff though he could be a really good but had health issues he couldn't get over.

 

[HawkOn15]

There aren’t a lot of players who transfer out who are big impact players. Willies would have been nice to have at WR, some RBs like Hampton, Wegher, ARob, Coker. Maybe Dezman Moses. Any others?

James Cleveland off the top of my head

 

[rchawk]

Williams seemed to be headed for serious future playing time, but didn't he have a couple of concussions? At that point it is time to put away the football helmet, no matter how much you love the game.

 

[kceasthawk]

There aren’t a lot of players who transfer out who are big impact players. Willies would have been nice to have at WR, some RBs like Hampton, Wegher, ARob, Coker. Maybe Dezman Moses. Any others?

Pretty mixed bag there at RB. Hampton looked to have a bright future, but several knee injuries put him behind and he looked for a fresh start. Wegher obviously left on his own and took a couple of years to gain the maturity to settle down and get serious about football at a lower level. Had he kept his pants on and stayed focused at Iowa he probably had a shot at the league. ARob had issues off the field, was suspended and then arrested during the bowl game for drug possession. Got the boot. Coker was a bizarre case indeed. Evidently he witnessed an assault, (or at least the University thought he did), and he wasn't willing to tell what he may have seen. Kirk went to bat for him, but it was to no avail. Moses seemed to be switching between TE and DE, never really got settled enough anywhere to see regular playing time, and transfered, (to Tulane I think). I think he's the only one who ended up in the NFL from this group. Has some years with the Chiefs as a LB.
As for Willes, he basically walked out on his teammates, then tryed to rejoin the team. Kirk wanted him to earn his way back provisionally, and he evidently didn't think he was getting a fair shake. After a couple of JUCO stints he ended up at TTech, a school famous for WR's putting up video game numbers. Even in such a stat friendly environment, I don't remember him being very noteworthy. Another case of the hype far exceeding the actual productivity.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Pretty mixed bag there at RB. Hampton looked to have a bright future, but several knee injuries put him behind and he looked for a fresh start. Wegher obviously left on his own and took a couple of years to gain the maturity to settle down and get serious about football at a lower level. Had he kept his pants on and stayed focused at Iowa he probably had a shot at the league. ARob had issues off the field, was suspended and then arrested during the bowl game for drug possession. Got the boot. Coker was a bizarre case indeed. Evidently he witnessed an assault, (or at least the University thought he did), and he wasn't willing to tell what he may have seen. Kirk went to bat for him, but it was to no avail. Moses seemed to be switching between TE and DE, never really got settled enough anywhere to see regular playing time, and transfered, (to Tulane I think). I think he's the only one who ended up in the NFL from this group. Has some years with the Chiefs as a LB.
As for Willes, he basically walked out on his teammates, then tryed to rejoin the team. Kirk wanted him to earn his way back provisionally, and he evidently didn't think he was getting a fair shake. After a couple of JUCO stints he ended up at TTech, a school famous for WR's putting up video game numbers. Even in such a stat friendly environment, I don't remember him being very noteworthy. Another case of the hype far exceeding the actual productivity.

Dez Moses started off at LEO, but then got moved to DE. I don't think that he was happy about the move. Given how Tyler Nielsen was oft injured ... and given our DE situation in 2011 .. he would have gotten a lot of quality reps at Iowa had he stuck around (at LEO or DE).

 

[Harbinger273]

I remember when Jacody Coleman (sic) came into the program and seemed to be very athletic and good sized, but was passed up by Angerer and left the program. I was pumped to see what the kid could do, but not so much that I would take him over Pat.

Williams seemed to be headed for serious future playing time, but didn't he have a couple of concussions? At that point it is time to put away the football helmet, no matter how much you love the game.

looking back Willliams may be a significant loss. Interior OL is a priority and we need great depth there. Wish him the best and lets see who can step into the interior and maul the opposing DL.

 

[Roy-munson]

The first big name to leave the program(kicked out) was Benny Sapp.

 

[Harbinger273]

The first big name to leave the program(kicked out) was Benny Sapp.

He was a gem of a player, but just too rowdy off the field. Wasn't it DUI among some other possibilities? I like the current direction and that we haven't had any major issues in several years now.

 

[BigOHawk]

He was a gem of a player, but just too rowdy off the field. Wasn't it DUI among some other possibilities? I like the current direction and that we haven't had any major issues in several years now.

I don't know if it was DUI or just a Public Intox and a scuffle in the Ped Mall among other things.

 

[mpfeiler]

Guys this happens to all good teams. Kids that are not going to play leave. It opens up schollies! Thats how these team can continue to sign 23+ kids every year with 85 schollies total. This is not a bad thing for Iowa.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Guys this happens to all good teams. Kids that are not going to play leave. It opens up schollies! Thats how these team can continue to sign 23+ kids every year with 85 schollies total. This is not a bad thing for Iowa.

Yes the sky is not falling. This will continue to be the trend. I don't know what the numbers are at other schools, but if guys who are at the lower end of the depth chart are leaving it's not the end of the world, nor does it mean the guys who leave are "quitters" or couldn't cut it or the other nonsense that fans spout. From the player's perspective, I can understand by the time it's your 2nd or 3rd year on campus and you are behind players who are younger that you in the pecking order that you might decide somewhere else would be better. And from the program's perspective, it's not all bad as they can go out and recruit another player. It's a competitive environment, not everyone gets to play.

 

[Harbinger273]

Right the sky is not falling...departures are normal. That's why the thread title includes the words not concerned.

 

[DutchyFunStar]

The first big name to leave the program(kicked out) was Benny Sapp.

If you want to feel old, his kid is now a Gopher.