Your surprise players for 2018 ?

[42hawk]

Your surprise players for 2018 ?


#1 LB Colbert just moves too well to be off the field for long.


I know this is a big statement but IMO he has better hips and a better burst than Hitch.


In the spring game, he was still lost in that “squat or trot” mode but physically he looks special.


# 2: Thanks to the new RS rule, Linderbaum takes game snaps this season at center, not DL.

 

[DaCDiggity]

Your surprise players for 2018 ?


#1 LB Colbert just moves too well to be off the field for long.


I know this is a big statement but IMO he has better hips and a better burst than Hitch.


In the spring game, he was still lost in that “squat or trot” mode but physically he looks special.


# 2: Thanks to the new RS rule, Linderbaum takes game snaps this season at center, not DL.

Kirksey 2.0

 

[Hawkdome]

Pretty boy floyd.

 

[MWardT]

Hankins takes a big step forward and makes some big interceptions. Lattimore has a rebound year and Jansen gets quite a bit of snaps at DT. On offense Max Cooper.

 

[millhawk]

Your surprise players for 2018 ?


#1 LB Colbert just moves too well to be off the field for long.


I know this is a big statement but IMO he has better hips and a better burst than Hitch.


In the spring game, he was still lost in that “squat or trot” mode but physically he looks special.


# 2: Thanks to the new RS rule, Linderbaum takes game snaps this season at center, not DL.

I like your #1 and agree. Don't like your #2 and disagree.

Hankins is a good choice. Nate Wieting even tho it's a stacked position. Banwart will emerge and help. Tracy but that's not a surprise. B Smith will emerge.

 

[Wadzinator]

Mcdonald

 

[Harbinger273]

Hard to say right now with all the incoming true freshman that should play and a totally new LB corp. I think we see Stone do some big things after recent developments. I agree there will be surprises in the WR group. I'm hoping for 2-3 guys to emerge and show their skills. Yes to Jayden Mcdonald. Feels like there are a number of brights spots on the team in this area. Needs some Nasty guard and center play from the line. Maybe one of them surprises as a very good one.

 

[42hawk]

Hankins takes a big step forward and makes some big interceptions. Lattimore has a rebound year and Jansen gets quite a bit of snaps at DT. On offense Max Cooper.

Agreed, Jansen is really a solid player that we all seem to forget about.

 

[DaCDiggity]

Agreed, Jansen is really a solid player that we all seem to forget about.

Jansen the next LTP?

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Agreed, Jansen is really a solid player that we all seem to forget about.

I don't know if the issue has to do with folks forgetting about him. The coaches certainly haven't forgotten about him (he's been a special teamer for 2 straight years - and earned packaged positional action last year).

However, with the above said, with Epenesa at DE ... his obvious ability will demand that he receive more DE snaps. Since he's learned how to play at LDE too ... he's going to be the main guy who comes in and spells BOTH our DEs. That will take away from the DE snaps of Brincks ... and he supplied us a lot of high-quality DE snaps last year. The result of this will invariably be that BOTH Brincks and Golston will be sliding to the interior to supply DT snaps when needed. However, at DT, we also have M. Nelson, Lattimore, and Reiff. On top of that, in packaged action, Hesse comes in at RDT too.

Lastly, the packaged action that Jansen saw last year was at LDT in our "NASCAR" pass-rushing package. It's very possible that Golston will be competing for that spot now too.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Hard to say right now with all the incoming true freshman that should play and a totally new LB corp. I think we see Stone do some big things after recent developments. I agree there will be surprises in the WR group. I'm hoping for 2-3 guys to emerge and show their skills. Yes to Jayden Mcdonald. Feels like there are a number of brights spots on the team in this area. Needs some Nasty guard and center play from the line. Maybe one of them surprises as a very good one.

It's interesting to contemplate freshman contributors:

RS FR:

Kallenberger (OL) - a likely candidate to make noise
Bryan (RB) - long-shot
Marchese (WR) - long-shot
Kirkpatrick (OL) - possible dark-horse
Duwa (OL/C) - mystery at this point (largely considering development)

Creamer (CB) - a likely candidate to make noise
Turner (CB) - a possible candidate
Colbert (CB) - a likely candidate to make noise (at least on special teams)

TR FR:

Geil (RB) - long-shot
Ragaini (WR) - possible dark-horse
Tracy (WR) - a possible candidate - maybe a likely candidate
Lockett (WR) - long-shot (assuming he's more of a raw talent)

Johnson (CB) - a likely candidate to make noise
Brents (CB) - a possible (and maybe likely) candidate to make noise
Roberts (CB) - a possible (and maybe likely) candidate to make noise
Craddieth (S) - a likely candidate to make noise
Merriweather (S) - a possible candidate to make noise (assuming he's more of a raw talent)
Moss (S) - long-shot (simply because we still have 3 starter-quality safeties)
Doyle (LB) - a likely candidate to make noise (at least on special teams)
McDonald (LB) - a likely candidate to make noise (at least on special teams)
Shannon (DT) - long shot

 

[bumpstock]

I'll take Ragaini, once he becomes comfortable, I think he'll shine.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I'll take Ragaini, once he becomes comfortable, I think he'll shine.

Seems like a strong kid with a chip on his shoulder ... maybe an Easley 2.0?

 

[Harbinger273]

Seems like a strong kid with a chip on his shoulder ... maybe an Easley 2.0?

He's taller than Easley. He may be even more effective if he can use his size properly. Love the myriad talent coming in and ready to prove themselves.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

He's taller than Easley. He may be even more effective if he can use his size properly. Love the myriad talent coming in and ready to prove themselves.

I like the fact that he's a Lacrosse player. Lacrosse is almost like soccer meets hockey ... players tend to have the quickness and endurance of soccer players ... but their toughness more like the toughness of a hockey player. Like a hockey player, you also have to have really good hand-eye coordination.

When you meld that skill-set together - it's easy to see how it translates well to the WR position. You want to see quickness, toughness (at least at Iowa), and good hand-eye coordination.

When you add to mix that he was an under-recruited kid who spent an extra year at a prep school to improve his recruiting profile ... he has extra motivation AND he has more experience than the average freshman.

 

[bumpstock]

I'm also very excited about McDonald; born to be an outside LB, and looks great on film. Many larger colleges will regret not extending any offer to Jayden. Hats off to SW for landing him.

 

[bumpstock]

I like the fact that he's a Lacrosse player. Lacrosse is almost like soccer meets hockey ... players tend to have the quickness and endurance of soccer players ... but their toughness more like the toughness of a hockey player. Like a hockey player, you also have to have really good hand-eye coordination.

When you meld that skill-set together - it's easy to see how it translates well to the WR position. You want to see quickness, toughness (at least at Iowa), and good hand-eye coordination.

When you add to mix that he was an under-recruited kid who spent an extra year at a prep school to improve his recruiting profile ... he has extra motivation AND he has more experience than the average freshman.

Yup; there may be a correlation between the two sports:

https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/19/sports/jim-brown-s-best-sport.html

 

[thecarls]

Note... these are just bold predictions. I’m rooting for all Hawks. However it shakes out is fine with me.

1. By seasons end FS becomes Gervase/Stone

2. Iowa’s top 3 CB’s- Hank, Creamer, and DJ

3. Banwart and Paulson lock down the OG spots.

4. ISM and Stanley Fiiiiiinally connect deep.... 4 times this year

 

[TKingpin]

I think it will be Tracy the WR. Sadly, my prediction is usually the kiss of death. I think he has the WR tools we need, especially after he catches the ball.

Maybe he doesn’t qualify because I think there are expectations for him already.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I'm also very excited about McDonald; born to be an outside LB, and looks great on film. Many larger colleges will regret not extending any offer to Jayden. Hats off to SW for landing him.

I see McDonald as an ILB ... either a WILL or a MIKE. I doubt that he has the cover skills to pull off the LEO spot ... but I could also be wrong there. Given that both our MIKE and WILL are currently manned by JRs ... that means that some starting spots are going to come open sooner rather than later. Thus, it will be important for talented younger guys to cut their teeth ...

 

[TrustinSargent]

I think Mekhi Sargent will be a pleasant surprise. His mix of physicallity coupled with his athleticism and big play ability will see him higher than the 3rd back.

 

[thecarls]

^^ we will see. He is intriguing for sure. I feel a lot of people are underestimating IKM. I thought he excelled last year.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Yup; there may be a correlation between the two sports:

https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/19/sports/jim-brown-s-best-sport.html

The Patriot's Chris Hogan spent most of his college career as a scholarship athlete in lacrosse. He didn't play football (on scholarship) until his 5th year in college - after he transferred to Monmouth.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I think Mekhi Sargent will be a pleasant surprise. His mix of physicallity coupled with his athleticism and big play ability will see him higher than the 3rd back.

I definitely think that Mekhi will be a contributor. I will be curious to see to what degree. From what Hawk fans saw last year, most of us probably would have guessed that Ivory would be the most likely to become the "big play" guy. However, I'd also concede that for that to happen, Ivory would also had to have improved his ball-security.

Thus, apart from earning snaps based on how he grades-out compared to the other RBs ... I could see Mekhi potentially earning reps ahead of Ivory IF Ivory continues to demonstrate any tendencies to cough up the ball.

 

[Harbinger273]

I see McDonald as an ILB ... either a WILL or a MIKE. I doubt that he has the cover skills to pull off the LEO spot ... but I could also be wrong there. Given that both our MIKE and WILL are currently manned by JRs ... that means that some starting spots are going to come open sooner rather than later. Thus, it will be important for talented younger guys to cut their teeth ...

You'd be surprised how capable Mcdonald is in pass coverage. He is a great athlete as many have pointed out. Indeed he may play at an inside spot especially if Nick Niemann locks down the OLB spot, which he likely will. Put in a spot where he need to cover a TE or receiver of some sort, I think Mcdonald could be serviceable.
On the topic of Mekhi Sargent, I totally overlooked one of the most obvious and likely candidates for a surprise player. He has all the markings of a RB who can thrive and possibly star at Iowa. We get the OL synced up and he might blow up. Hell, any one of the 3 big RB's we have could blow up.

 

[staygoldponyboy]

Hard to say but I really like the 2018 class and the 2017 class has already shown us some special things.
This doesn't qualify as a "surprise" but I can see Epe being 2nd team all big ten this season.
Someone I would like to have a breakout season is Brandon Smith. He already has an NFL body, will he show us NFL highlights?
IKM reminds me of Akrum. Nothing would be better than for him and Young to be this years version of Daniels/Wadley.
I know Mends is hurt but is there anyone who deserves a chance to shine more than him? I hope he gets a chance to be a starter at some point in the fall. I think he has the ability, just needs to catch a break.
Lastly, Neimann could confuse opposing coaches as they mouth "WTF, I thought that guy graduated!!" I expect him to be that good.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Since we really haven't seen what he can do yet, my pick is Brandon Smith (or maybe it's just a hope).

 

[42hawk]

"Lastly, Neimann could confuse opposing coaches as they mouth "WTF, I thought that guy graduated!!" I expect him to be that good."

LOL... maybe Iowa should issue him #44.

I expect Neimann 2.0 to do well too: D1 DC coaches kid, played behind his brother, 3rd year in the program, better size..he will understand his job. I also expect Neimann 1.0 to be make in the NFL because he can cover.