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Would Iowa accept a transfer DT at this point?

Jun 7, 2009
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I think Iowa is a little short on quality DTs and Nixon could be a surprise name for early NFL entry with a great year. Bruce and LJ ones are at least a year away in size and conditioning. Maybe a JuCo but would personally prefer a transfer who has been competing at D-1 level.

Does Iowa go after a transfer DT? Current namew in portal are:

Michael Thompson (Oklahoma) : One time Iowa recruit/offer , St. Louis area, recovery from ACL tear in 2018

Malcolm Lamar (FSU) - from Seffner , FLa (Armwood)

Jovan Swann (redshirt junior/ graduate). Greenwood, IN ... Iowa was one of the first d-1 schools to offer out of HS and he visited Iowa twice unofficially.
 
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Nixon is no where close to being ready for NFL. You are still drinking his bama offer kool aid...dude didn't even start this yr

AJ didn't start last year. That means nothing.

Nixon recorded 3.5 sacks as a reserve DT. He could easily be NFL ready next year with a good season.

I think we'll be fine next year at DT. Nixon, Shannon and Schulte would be a good three rotation and Logan Lee could be a factor by the fall.

We also have 3 big DEs in Vanvalkenburg, Waggoner and Golston. Golston played inside on a lot of passing downs. Wouldn't surprise me if Vanvalkenburg or Waggoner get moved inside permanently.
 
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AJ didn't start last year. That means nothing.

Nixon recorded 3.5 sacks as a reserve DT. He could easily be NFL ready next year with a good season.

I think we'll be fine next year at DT. Nixon, Shannon and Schulte would be a good three rotation and Logan Lee could be a factor by the fall.

We also have 3 big DEs in Vanvalkenburg, Waggoner and Golston. Golston played inside on a lot of passing downs. Wouldn't surprise me if Vanvalkenburg or Waggoner get moved inside permanently.

Don’t forget the kid out of Ames, Joe Evans. He will be a player to watch in 2020.
 
I completely agree. A lot of teams have a good DT, but once that top DT takes a breather there is a steep drop in talent.

Never a bad idea to take a quality DT whenever possible!!


QUOTE="Hawk68, post: 7233922, member: 616"]I would certainly consider adding a DT. A damn hard position to recruit for.[/QUOTE]
 
Don’t forget the kid out of Ames, Joe Evans. He will be a player to watch in 2020.

Yes but I'm only talking about guys who can play inside.

If Evans can become more of an every down player I could see Iowa moving Vanvalkenburg or Waggoner inside. Even if he's a pass rush specialist I see them continuing the racecar package on passing downs with a DE inside.

DL should be solid again next year even with the losses.

DE: Golston, Evans
DT: Nixon, Lee
DT: Schulte, Shannon
DE: Vanvalkenburg, Waggoner

That's a very solid 8 man rotation. We could see some other redshirts or true freshmen emerge for playing time. We stocked up at DL this year in the recruiting class and Jones and Craig are both 4 star 247 recruits.
 
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I think Iowa is a little short on quality DTs and Nixon could be a surprise name for early NFL entry with a great year. Bruce and LJ ones are at least a year away in size and conditioning. Maybe a JuCo but would personally prefer a transfer who has been competing at D-1 level.

Does Iowa go after a transfer DT? Current namew in portal are:

Michael Thompson (Oklahoma) : One time Iowa recruit/offer , St. Louis area, recovery from ACL tear in 2018

Malcolm Lamar (FSU) - from Seffner , FLa (Armwood)

Jovan Swann (redshirt junior/ graduate). Greenwood, IN ... Iowa was one of the first d-1 schools to offer out of HS and he visited Iowa twice unofficially.
Heck yes
 
If they are good enough and will add to the team, I say why not? However, I'm not the coach so it's not up to me.
 
Yes but I'm only talking about guys who can play inside.

If Evans can become more of an every down player I could see Iowa moving Vanvalkenburg or Waggoner inside. Even if he's a pass rush specialist I see them continuing the racecar package on passing downs with a DE inside.

DL should be solid again next year even with the losses.

DE: Golston, Evans
DT: Nixon, Lee
DT: Schulte, Shannon
DE: Vanvalkenburg, Waggoner

That's a very solid 8 man rotation. We could see some other redshirts or true freshmen emerge for playing time. We stocked up at DL this year in the recruiting class and Jones and Craig are both 4 star 247 recruits.
Don’t see Evans as a every down player unless he can carry 250-255. I wouldn’t go so far as saying it is a Solid 8. Too many unproven players. I would be looking hard for a DT who can contribute immediately.
 
Don’t see Evans as a every down player unless he can carry 250-255. I wouldn’t go so far as saying it is a Solid 8. Too many unproven players. I would be looking hard for a DT who can contribute immediately.

I don't understand the point about unproven players.

Golston is a great all around player. Nixon had 3.5 sacks, Evans had 4 sacks in limited time, Vanvalkenburg and Schulte played well and saw meaningful reps.

There is turnover with every program. The fact Iowa has 7 returning linemen who played meaningful snaps this year is a huge positive.

I'll trust our developmental program with Waggoner, Lee and Shannon. All three came in with high recruiting regard. Now is their time to shine.
 
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I think Iowa is a little short on quality DTs and Nixon could be a surprise name for early NFL entry with a great year. Bruce and LJ ones are at least a year away in size and conditioning. Maybe a JuCo but would personally prefer a transfer who has been competing at D-1 level.

Does Iowa go after a transfer DT? Current namew in portal are:

Michael Thompson (Oklahoma) : One time Iowa recruit/offer , St. Louis area, recovery from ACL tear in 2018

Malcolm Lamar (FSU) - from Seffner , FLa (Armwood)

Jovan Swann (redshirt junior/ graduate). Greenwood, IN ... Iowa was one of the first d-1 schools to offer out of HS and he visited Iowa twice unofficially.
I would definitely be interested in Michael Thompson. He would have to come in with the mindset that he will have to put the time in and to believe in the coaches.
 
I think Iowa is a little short on quality DTs and Nixon could be a surprise name for early NFL entry with a great year. Bruce and LJ ones are at least a year away in size and conditioning. Maybe a JuCo but would personally prefer a transfer who has been competing at D-1 level.

Does Iowa go after a transfer DT? Current namew in portal are:

Michael Thompson (Oklahoma) : One time Iowa recruit/offer , St. Louis area, recovery from ACL tear in 2018

Malcolm Lamar (FSU) - from Seffner , FLa (Armwood)

Jovan Swann (redshirt junior/ graduate). Greenwood, IN ... Iowa was one of the first d-1 schools to offer out of HS and he visited Iowa twice unofficially.

Iowa could and should be interested in any grad transfer at any position that would help them. Iowa has a history of targeting grad transfers at positions of need that are good fits. Ron Coluzzi (punter), James Butler (RB), Sleep-Dalton. Depending on early draft entries, I could see Iowa looking at DL, LB, OL, RB.
 
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I am more concerned about a de pass rusher. I’m not sure we will have the players on the dline that can get to the qb when we send 4 on third and long. As it is now, Parker is going to have to get creative with his blitz packages.
 
Iowa has used " build a DT" method on former HS kids 6'0" to 6'2" with the ability to grow their framesfrom 240 to 280 range. It usually takes two years for any results. Getting a former 4 star HS prospect like a Michael Thompson who needs a fresh start and a chance to play or landing a grad transfer who is looking to advance his ending his college career and wants to play for a bowl team and maybe advance to the pros, would be a "win-win" situation for both parties. Naturally thick guys like Daviyon Nixon do not flow easily into Iowa's program and with the transfer portal available, Iowa could use this platform to address program shortcomings, especially DTs.
 
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Iowa has used " build a DT" method on former HS kids 6'0" to 6'2" with the ability to grow their framesfrom 240 to 280 range. It usually takes two years for any results. Getting a former 4 star HS prospect like a Michael Thompson who needs a fresh start and a chance to play or landing a grad transfer who is looking to advance his ending his college career and wants to play for a bowl team and maybe advance to the pros, would be a "win-win" situation for both parties. Naturally thick guys like Daviyon Nixon do not flow easily into Iowa's program and with the transfer portal available, Iowa could use this platform to address program shortcomings, especially DTs.

With the success two years ago with the pass rush, my guess is Iowa will be looking for a 6'5" or more DT for passing downs. It is one of the reasons Lee was moved to DT from DE from TE. With the trend to shorter RPO QBs, it is very successful to add that height to the middle. If healthy, he may have seen the field this past year.
 
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Any transfer would need to be able to adjust to and play Iowa's scheme. In Iowa's system, the DL's responsibility is to control and squeeze gaps, playing to the OL's heels. This creates a wall to funnel/spill plays to the LBs. In some schemes, the DL shoot gaps and pay upfield which can result in big plays, but it also can create cutback lanes that result in big plays. Anyone who is doing the latter would only play/contribute in the 3rd and long pass rush package.
 
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Yes, if they found the right fit they definitely would. That is why they have reached out to some.
 
Iowa lost all four DL starters going into the 2019 season and this year's D was literally a top 10 defense. Iowa will lose three DL starters from this team and the 2020 D will be just fine.
 
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Iowa lost all four DL starters going into the 2019 season and this year's D was literally a top 10 defense. Iowa will lose three DL starters from this team and the 2020 D will be just fine.

The biggest question marks for me will be the interior of the defense. Nixon, Schulte and Shannon need to all improve and step up and they need a good MLB to emerge. I think DE will be fine they have a lot of young talent and still have Golston. Waggoner, Van Valkenberg and Evans got more time and got better as the season went along.
 
I would prefer a dynamic DE, but absolutely would take another player or two on the D-Line
 
Ideally you need 4 bona fide DT’s for a rotation. Only 3 guys have even played: Schulte, Nixon and Shannon. When the bullets were flying in the middle of crucial games, I don’t recall if Shannon and Schulte saw much, if any, playing time.

I am very excited about Logan Lee’s future, but he is totally unproven and that is worrisome to me.

what if we have to go with the 3 players, above, who have actually played and, as always happens, someone gets hurt? Now you have to play the same 2 guys at DT the entire game?? Perhaps they can come out on 3rd and long, where you move a couple of the DE’s inside, and bring in pass rushing specialists on the outside, but it really seems pretty thin to me. I believe Logan Lee and Isaac Bruce to be future studs inside, but idk if they will be ready in 2020.

A DT as a grad transfer would be ideal. I was hoping that ZVV would be that guy for this year’s DT rotation when they brought him in last year... but is he big and strong enough?

Ready or not, Wisconsin’s OL is coming to play, along with MSU, OSU & PSU.
 
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The biggest question marks for me will be the interior of the defense. Nixon, Schulte and Shannon need to all improve and step up and they need a good MLB to emerge. I think DE will be fine they have a lot of young talent and still have Golston. Waggoner, Van Valkenberg and Evans got more time and got better as the season went along.
If those 3 take their game up another level, I’d feel a lot better.
 
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