Despite his injury, Smith has still found a way to play an instrumental role in the development of the other receivers.

He’s still at every meeting and dresses for games. He’s still going through warmups at full speed as recently as the Nebraska game. He’s still making the impact that has been associated with his name all season. It just comes in a different way.

Smith’s injury shuffled things around position-wise, but that hasn’t stopped the group from making the plays it did early in the season.

“With B. Smith out, Ihmir’s had to play another position that he usually doesn’t play, and he’s done a great job,” Ragaini said. “Some throws he usually gets at ‘Z’ he’s watched other people get, and he’s continued to be such a leader like we expect him to be. Just great leadership from Ihmir and B. Smith as well.”

When the 2019 season arrived, questions plagued Iowa’s playmakers. With Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson — the Hawkeyes’ two leading receivers last season — off to the NFL, fans and experts alike weren’t sure what to expect with a young core.

Those questions were answered quickly.

There hasn’t been a group of four wide receivers that have recorded at least 350 yards each under Ferentz until this season. What Smith, Smith-Marsette, Tracy, and Ragaini have done in 2019 is special. It should be remembered for years to come.

When so many questions surrounded the unit, it stepped up.

“I’m just proud of this group,” Easley said. “To see how far the wide receiver position at Iowa has come in the last three or four years, since I’ve been there. It went from a room that was pretty bare — there wasn’t a lot of options in that room, to one of the strongest position groups on the team.”