CHICAGO — Just like Hawkeye fans, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz can’t wait for the season to start.
“It’s going to be good to quit talking about all this stuff, and get back on the field, and actually start working toward the ’18 season,” Ferentz said in his opening statement at a July 24 press conference during Big Ten media days.
But with more than a month until the 2018 season gets underway, he could only talk about what is to come.
Ferentz, as a coach, highly values experience and leadership, and quarterback Nate Stanley has made strides in those categories.
After falling just one touchdown shy of 1980s Hawkeye star Chuck Long’s single-season record for touchdown passes, Stanley exceeded expectations in his first full season under center after engaging in a position battle with Tyler Wiegers in camp last year.
Things have certainly changed in the year since. Stanley is just the second junior in the Ferentz era to make the trip to Chicago for Big Ten media days (the other being Josey Jewell), and Ferentz credited Stanley’s leadership after his sophomore season.
“I think he’s gained the respect and confidence of his teammates,” Ferentz said. “Great to have him back. He’s worked extremely hard, and a few things you can’t give players are experience and confidence, and I think he’s been able to certainly benefit from a year of play.”
Ferentz also touched on the two juniors who declared for the NFL Draft and won’t take the field with the Hawkeyes this season — James Daniels and Josh Jackson.
The two have different stories. Daniels was a high-profile recruit, receiving offers from Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Auburn, while Jackson was a lightly recruited two-star prospect.
Despite the differences before joining the Hawkeyes, Ferentz is sure about their futures at the next level.
“When things like that happen, they’re great success stories, and I’m just happy for both those guys,” Ferentz said. “They’ll both do very well at their respective teams.”
Ferentz also noted the loss of all three starting linebackers, special-team standout Kevin Ward, as well as defensive tackle Nathan Bazata and Jackson, saying the team has work to do on the defensive side of the ball.
Still, Iowa brings back a solid core that includes defensive end Parker Hesse, who made the trip to media days, and Noah Fant, who was recently named to the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List.
Ferentz praised Hesse’s attitude, saying his work ethic is a key component of what makes him successful as an undersized end.
Hesse has been a constant on a deep defensive line since 2015. He finished last season with 43 tackles, with 10.5 of those going for a loss, while ranking fourth on the team with 4 sacks.
Fant, on the other side of the ball, had one of the best seasons for a tight end in Hawkeye history. The Omaha native caught 30 passes for 494 yards and 11 touchdowns, the most by an Iowa tight end in program history.
Fant will likely be a high pick in the 2019 NFL Draft if he can follow up last season’s performance and declares, but Ferentz, like most Hawkeye fans, would like to keep him in Iowa City.
“Certainly, we consider him to be one of our best, and hopefully, he’ll be here next year at this time with us,” Ferentz said. “But I was hoping Josh and James would be here, too. We’ll see how that all pans out.”