This week we were able to speak with Director of Recruiting Tyler Barnes.
Good to see you guys. 11 commits now. Small senior class, so they have been expecting a small class to sign. But, it's always fluid. Have some guys who we have talked to about taking their Covid year, but nothing has been decided. Around 16-18 range this year for a class.
Been good to have recruiting back to normal and having kids on campus. This fall it's been an open game and it's great to have them back at Kinnick. Penn State game was special. Great show for those kids.
Q: Asked about positions?
Still looking at corners. Maybe three of them to round on this class. OL, DL, maybe a LB. Then it's best available. Kirk always likes to evaluate senior film. Said last year things were really disrupted. You see that this year with five or six kids they have offered who weren't on our radar and got there due to senior film.
Guys taking a potential Covid year could move the number.
Q: Asked about assigning numbers for positions and how that works.
Wasn't involved in it first time around. When he was at Vandy it was part of that down there, so once he returned he got involved starting back in 2016. Used the scholarship board they used at Vandy and it kind of helped them project a bit more. Like for now the 23 class are extremely fluid. Kind of gives you a ballpark number. You can look at what they traditionally carry at a position. Said he enjoys the numbers process. Never perfect, but you can't get too far from the numbers. Don't want to have to play catch up on those things.
Q: Asked about the extra Covid year and how hard it is to plan?
It is different this year. No stress, but a challenge. Might have three guys who could come back. Might be 50/50 now. Not pressing them for answers. If we had six guys who wanted to commit, he's not sure he could take them because of numbers right now. Some guys are getting closer to decision. Could be four or eight that we have to get this year. Would always take guys back if they want to take a Covid year. You always stick with your guys. Think this year it will impact the roster. Some guys really don't want to be in college for six years. Some of the guys are going to want NFL feedback too.
Q: Asked about mobile quarterbacks. hard to get them to Iowa? Do you talk about it? How do you rank mobility?
Have to be able to throw the ball. That's first. Mobility is on the grid and you take into account. People from the outside get enamored by mobile QB's, but you have to be accurate. CJB not a dual threat and could move a bit and sling it.
Q: Asked about NIL?
Was a hot topic in the summer. Recently not as much. We do talk about it and let them know about it. You look at some of the highest paid players and how they have performed. Some have been benched. Are companies going to approach it differently because some of the guys have not produced?
He thinks there's a reaction initially. One of the things we worried about was the locker room and it being an impact there and it hasn't been. Guys have been very supportive of each other.
There are kids instate kids and legacy kids they are going to be more marketable than some other players. They have some guys on the team now who aren't even interested in it and just want to play football.
Q: How new guys have gotten on the radar late?
Every year they have guys who pop up. It's a little refreshing this year to have some new names. Benson, Moss and Merriweather were senior film guys that came on late. That's why Kirk always talk about seniors emerging. This year there's so much flux with Covid and transfer portal. Said it's been fun to discover new guys who were not on the radar. Smaller class has allowed them to be more selective.
Q: Jersey numbers? How do you go about it?
It's discussed more than you would think. Back in 16 he started handling those assignments. Tracy got three early on. He tries to get their high school number if they want it. If not they have to get a top three list. One of the problems is special teams. Can't have the same numbers there, so it can get tricky. That's why some guys have to change numbers sometimes. He said sometimes it's a negotiation.
Q: What about #1? Is it off limits?
Nothing is off limits. Vines is 0 now. Not sure that we will see a single digit DL player. Kirk doesn't care a whole lot. Maybe we will get there eventually with a single digit DL player.
Q: Can you talk about the momentum from Penn State and reassure during losing the last two games?
Yeah, we talked about Penn State and the momentum there and what they do when they lose it point to the success. Look at the last three years second best in the Big Ten. Over seven years it's the third best. Have been incredibly consistent over a long period of time. Players want to play for a winning program and we have done that. Then it's about getting them on campus and you are also going to have a stable coaching staff and a legendary head coach. Have not seen anything drop off since the Penn State game. Barnes said they are lucky the recruits don't react to losses the way some of the fans do.
Q: Asked about having recruits back in person and anything from Covid times that will be effective moving forward?
It's been great to get guys back on campus. The photo shoots that everyone hates, but everyone does. We talk on Zoom with them too. I think that's helpful, but it's hard to get a feel for them. Nothing will replace human interaction. Will still use virtual visits via Zoom and then keep pushing them to get back on campus.
That's it from Tyler Barnes. Again, rough quotes/summary of what he said today. Not a transcript.
Good to see you guys. 11 commits now. Small senior class, so they have been expecting a small class to sign. But, it's always fluid. Have some guys who we have talked to about taking their Covid year, but nothing has been decided. Around 16-18 range this year for a class.
Been good to have recruiting back to normal and having kids on campus. This fall it's been an open game and it's great to have them back at Kinnick. Penn State game was special. Great show for those kids.
Q: Asked about positions?
Still looking at corners. Maybe three of them to round on this class. OL, DL, maybe a LB. Then it's best available. Kirk always likes to evaluate senior film. Said last year things were really disrupted. You see that this year with five or six kids they have offered who weren't on our radar and got there due to senior film.
Guys taking a potential Covid year could move the number.
Q: Asked about assigning numbers for positions and how that works.
Wasn't involved in it first time around. When he was at Vandy it was part of that down there, so once he returned he got involved starting back in 2016. Used the scholarship board they used at Vandy and it kind of helped them project a bit more. Like for now the 23 class are extremely fluid. Kind of gives you a ballpark number. You can look at what they traditionally carry at a position. Said he enjoys the numbers process. Never perfect, but you can't get too far from the numbers. Don't want to have to play catch up on those things.
Q: Asked about the extra Covid year and how hard it is to plan?
It is different this year. No stress, but a challenge. Might have three guys who could come back. Might be 50/50 now. Not pressing them for answers. If we had six guys who wanted to commit, he's not sure he could take them because of numbers right now. Some guys are getting closer to decision. Could be four or eight that we have to get this year. Would always take guys back if they want to take a Covid year. You always stick with your guys. Think this year it will impact the roster. Some guys really don't want to be in college for six years. Some of the guys are going to want NFL feedback too.
Q: Asked about mobile quarterbacks. hard to get them to Iowa? Do you talk about it? How do you rank mobility?
Have to be able to throw the ball. That's first. Mobility is on the grid and you take into account. People from the outside get enamored by mobile QB's, but you have to be accurate. CJB not a dual threat and could move a bit and sling it.
Q: Asked about NIL?
Was a hot topic in the summer. Recently not as much. We do talk about it and let them know about it. You look at some of the highest paid players and how they have performed. Some have been benched. Are companies going to approach it differently because some of the guys have not produced?
He thinks there's a reaction initially. One of the things we worried about was the locker room and it being an impact there and it hasn't been. Guys have been very supportive of each other.
There are kids instate kids and legacy kids they are going to be more marketable than some other players. They have some guys on the team now who aren't even interested in it and just want to play football.
Q: How new guys have gotten on the radar late?
Every year they have guys who pop up. It's a little refreshing this year to have some new names. Benson, Moss and Merriweather were senior film guys that came on late. That's why Kirk always talk about seniors emerging. This year there's so much flux with Covid and transfer portal. Said it's been fun to discover new guys who were not on the radar. Smaller class has allowed them to be more selective.
Q: Jersey numbers? How do you go about it?
It's discussed more than you would think. Back in 16 he started handling those assignments. Tracy got three early on. He tries to get their high school number if they want it. If not they have to get a top three list. One of the problems is special teams. Can't have the same numbers there, so it can get tricky. That's why some guys have to change numbers sometimes. He said sometimes it's a negotiation.
Q: What about #1? Is it off limits?
Nothing is off limits. Vines is 0 now. Not sure that we will see a single digit DL player. Kirk doesn't care a whole lot. Maybe we will get there eventually with a single digit DL player.
Q: Can you talk about the momentum from Penn State and reassure during losing the last two games?
Yeah, we talked about Penn State and the momentum there and what they do when they lose it point to the success. Look at the last three years second best in the Big Ten. Over seven years it's the third best. Have been incredibly consistent over a long period of time. Players want to play for a winning program and we have done that. Then it's about getting them on campus and you are also going to have a stable coaching staff and a legendary head coach. Have not seen anything drop off since the Penn State game. Barnes said they are lucky the recruits don't react to losses the way some of the fans do.
Q: Asked about having recruits back in person and anything from Covid times that will be effective moving forward?
It's been great to get guys back on campus. The photo shoots that everyone hates, but everyone does. We talk on Zoom with them too. I think that's helpful, but it's hard to get a feel for them. Nothing will replace human interaction. Will still use virtual visits via Zoom and then keep pushing them to get back on campus.
That's it from Tyler Barnes. Again, rough quotes/summary of what he said today. Not a transcript.
