By Jordan Hansen | [email protected]
For the last four years, the Hawkeye football team has showcased itself to central Iowa in a practice in West Des Moines.
It’s a bit of a recruiting tool against Iowa State (don’t pretend it’s not) but also gives fans of the Hawks an early look at what the team is built of. While this year’s iteration was cold, windy, and relatively lightly attended, there are several story lines emerging worth a mention.
A fight at defensive back
Greg Mabin, who is still nursing an injury and did not practice, will still probably be the starter opposite Desmond King when he returns. He’ll be a senior next season and with 22-straight starts, Iowa will probably defer to experience.
That said, sophomore defensive back Josh Jackson (in a red no-contact jersey) looked mighty impressive in pass coverage during the light scrimmage portion of practice and in the 7-on-7 passing drill. He’s obviously moved past Maurice Fleming on the depth chart and might be in contention for playing time come fall.
“He’s done some good things; he’s able to get in, and that’s good — it keeps him active,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “He’s a young guy who we think has a lot of promise; this gives him a chance to really grow.”
Jackson moved from defensive back to wide receiver last spring but then returned in the fall.
Elsewhere at defensive back, Miles Taylor and Brandon Snyder held things down at safety. Snyder — a former walk-on — is currently the free safety, while Taylor has things held down at strong.
Taylor was a starter last year, with Snyder seeing limited time. With Jordan Lomax graduating, there’s a spot to be claimed.
“Being back there, being in charge a little bit, that feels good,” Snyder said. “I played strong for a while, so I feel I can play both, but I’m free right now … the more knowledge you have, the better football player you can be.”
Beathard’s targets
Iowa knows it has solid (perhaps even elite) talent in senior tight end George Kittle and a reliable pair of hands with Matt VandeBerg, who is also starting his final year.
After that, however, what happens is anyone’s guess. Jerminic Smith and Riley McCarron are the other two presumptive starters at the position, though several others got extended looks with the first team.
Jay Scheel, Emmanuel Ogwo, and Jonathan Parker all got significant looks with Beathard throwing them the ball. Scheel had a great catch early in the practice, and the former four-star recruit could be in the mix for playing time.
“We take a lot of pride in what we do on perimeter — Coach [Bobby] Kennedy instills that with us,” VandeBerg said. “It’s definitely starting to go over with the younger guys. They’re seeing more looks, and that’s helping them.”
Line shuffling
At the end of last season, Iowa knew it was going to lose center Austin Blythe and guard Jordan Walsh to graduation.
Sophomore James Daniels, who played sparingly as a true freshman in 2015, was thought to be the center-in-waiting. However, an injury has forced Iowa to shuffle things around, and Sean Welsh has moved to center.
Welsh hasn’t played the position since high school and had several low snaps, but it’s a move Ferentz said “could” become permanent. Smaller than Daniels and most of the other linemen in the mix for a starting spot, Welsh at center would make sense.
Keegan Render and Boone Myers took the reps at the guard spots, with Ike Boettger and Cole Croston at the tackles. Boettger, Croston, and Myers all seem to be firmly entrenched in starting spots, leaving Render as the player who might have to fight off a healthy Daniels.
“We got a lot new guys in there, and I mean, it’s the spring, we’re just starting to mesh right now,” Myers said. “The best five play. We have two good tackles and a really strong interior.”