Former Iowa WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette traded to Carolina Panthers

The former Hawkeye and Kansas City Chief is on the move and has his new home. Ihmir Smith-Marsette has been traded to the Carolina Panthers.

Former Iowa Hawkeye Ihmir Smith-Marsette has found a new home. It was announced on Tuesday that the Carolina Panthers would be trading for the former Hawkeye receiver. Ian Rappaport reported early Tuesday morning that the Panthers would be swapping conditional 2025 seventh-round picks for Smith-Marsette.

Carolina marks the fourth spot for the former 2021 fifth-round NFL draft pick. Smith-Marsette signed with the Chiefs early into last season, spending most of the year on the practice squad. He would be promoted to the active roster ahead of the playoffs, winning a Super Bowl with Kansas City.

The trade occurs after a strong preseason showing for Smith-Marsette. He finished the preseason with nine catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns. He faced stiff competition to make the Kansas City roster, battling against multiple high draft picks at wide receiver.

The Newark, N.J., native hopes to make a Panthers wide receiver group that’s currently banged up with multiple injuries. Anyone familiar with Carolina’s roster knows that they desperately could use an influx of speed at the position.

Throughout the preseason, their wide receiver room has looked slow and struggled to separate. An athletic playmaker like Smith-Marsette could be a nice weapon off the bench for rookie quarterback Bryce Young.

Smith-Marsette can also provide competition to Raheem Blackshear at kick returner. He was a prolific return man at Iowa City, winning the Big Ten’s Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year award in 2018.

During his Iowa Hawkeyes career, Smith-Marsette registered 110 receptions for 1,615 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in 44 games played and across 20 starts. Smith-Marsette also tallied 1,520 kick return yards during his Iowa career.

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Tristan Wirfs opens up about mental health struggles in left tackle transition for Bucs

Tristan Wirfs opened up about how the Tampa Bay Bucs’ team psychologist has helped him manage his anxiety as he transitions to left tackle.

It is important to remember that all athletes are humans. They are no different than you and me besides an ability to play the game of football way better. As football season heats up, especially with the ever-growing popularity of fantasy sports and sports gambling, it is important to not lose sight of that fact.

Tristan Wirfs is well-regarded as one of the best players in the NFL. He is amongst the elite offensive linemen, and a true game-changer whenever he steps foot on the field. This has been the story since his time in Iowa City as a Hawkeye.

Even with his success, he reminded us all on Friday that he is still a normal person just like the rest of us. He goes through the same worries and anxieties as we all do. He opened up to the Tampa Bay media about his mental process accompanying his transition from right to left tackle.

“I was in a really rough spot mentally,” Wirfs described in a recent media availability. “I was really nervous. I was like playing the season in my head over and over again, like ‘Oh, what if it goes this way? What if it goes this way?’ You know, and I’m like, it’s freaking May. I’m like, you’ve got to calm down.”

Wirfs faces a difficult transition for any offensive lineman in switching sides on the line. Many forget that real football isn’t like Madden. Players cannot just pick up other positions like it’s nothing. Even at the two tackle positions on the offensive line, there is a huge learning curve when switching to the other side. This is especially true for a player like Wirfs who has played exclusively on the right side since his days with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

To give yourself an idea of how difficult the transition is, try going about your day using your non-dominant hand to do everything. When you switch sides of the line, sure a lot of the principles and responsibilities are the same, but you are so used to doing things on your natural side. That’s where all of your reps, and possibly more importantly your mental reps come from.

Even for a player like Wirfs, a two-time AP All-Pro offensive tackle, that is a worrying transition. Wirfs has benefited greatly from the Tampa Bay team psychologist for helping him through this process.

“I don’t know if it’s necessarily subsided. I think just the negative thoughts have kind of been outweighed by the positive thoughts now,” Wirfs said.

While those anxieties haven’t completely subsided, Wirfs is doing everything he can to trust himself and the work he’s put in so far.

“It’s been a lot better. Just kind of trusting myself and having confidence in my abilities and knowing the work that I put in is going to pay off. And come out here every day having the best attitude I can, especially having young guys kind of look up to me now.

“We’ve got these two, Silas (Dzansi) and Raiqwon (O’Neal). They’re asking me questions and stuff. It’s weird. Silas is freaking older than me, but I’m kind of helping those guys out the best I can. Sometimes in team drills it might not look like how I’m saying it, but I know what I’m talking about. I’m trying to do it. Just trying to stay as positive as I can. It’s helped me mentally quite a bit,” Wirfs said.

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George Kittle shares how he hilariously welcomed Brock Purdy into the NFL

In typical George Kittle fashion, he recapped his hilarious Hawkeye welcome for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy into the NFL.

George Kittle gave Brock Purdy a true Hawkeye welcome into the NFL.

As starring figures on opposite sides of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series spectrum, Kittle made sure to remind Purdy of just that fact when the former Cyclone joined the San Francisco 49ers last season.

Speaking with Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Kittle shared what he knew of Purdy as he arrived in San Francisco ahead of 2022 for his rookie NFL season.

“Ish. Well, Iowa State kid, so I had to like mildly bully him just a little bit,” Kittle said.

And how exactly did you do that?

“I hung an Iowa jersey in his locker. That’s about all I did,” Kittle explained.

Of course, any jokes between the two are all ancient history now. Pressed into action as a rookie after Jimmy Garoppolo was lost to a season-ending foot injury, Purdy performed admirably and developed quite the rapport with Kittle.

The 6-foot-1, 220 pound signal-caller went from Mr. Irrelevant to the brink of a Super Bowl trip. With Purdy as a starter, San Francisco went 7-0 and advanced all the way to the NFC Championship before the Philadelphia Eagles had other ideas.

Philadelphia linebacker Haason Reddick applied a hit that tore the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in Purdy’s elbow. That forced Purdy out of the contest and abruptly ended San Francisco’s Super Bowl chances.

Purdy finished last season with 1,374 passing yards and 13 touchdowns against just four interceptions across nine games.

With Purdy back healthy alongside Kittle who is still smack dab in the midst of his prime, San Francisco can once again dream of capturing that elusive sixth Lombardi Trophy.

Kittle ended last season with 60 grabs for 765 yards and a career-high 11 touchdown receptions.

“Brock was a guy instantly that could kinda talk smack back to you if you gave him, chirped each other a little bit. He was there every single morning. His locker was kind of close to mine, too, so you’re engaging with him all the time. So, had a relationship with Brock from the start, and it just kind of grew throughout that. Seeing him kind of tear apart our defense all of last year on the scout team, which was really fun.

“And then when he stepped in as a rookie middle of the Miami Dolphins game facing Cover 0, hey, he didn’t even blink. Just stood in the pocket, delivered footballs and just had a great time out there. So, I knew…when you’re playing along with a guy who has that much fun and that much energy, it gets the whole team going, too. So, our relationship is we’re having fun, we’re scoring a lot of touchdowns with him. It’s been a good time,” Kittle said.

San Francisco opens its 2023 NFL season at Pittsburgh on Sept. 10 at noon on FOX.

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ESPN snubs Iowa from ‘Tight End U’ title, top among other ‘Position U’ rankings

ESPN has snubbed the Iowa Hawkeyes from being “Tight End U” in their “Position U” rankings. The Hawkeyes do get rewarded at other positions.

George Kittle. T.J. Hockenson. Noah Fant. Sam LaPorta. Dallas Clark. Tony Moeaki. C.J. Fiedorowicz. All NFL tight ends that the Iowa Hawkeyes have produced year after year that have gone on to have successful professional careers.

But, ESPN has snubbed the Hawkeyes from the crown of “Tight End U” in its Position U rankings. A bit curious to say the least. Few schools produce as consistently as Iowa does at the tight end position. To call this debatable decision-making by ESPN would be nice.

Nonetheless, Iowa has proven its ability to develop talent on both sides of the football time and time again. The Hawkeyes do find themselves among some of the top-10 teams at multiple other positions. Admittedly, there are some additional snubs by ESPN, but that is their mistake.

Have a look at where the Hawkeyes have flexed their muscles among some of the best programs at developing talent.

Pro Football Focus ranks George Kittle, Tristan Wirfs as top-50 NFL talents

With the 2023 NFL season right around the corner, Pro Football Focus ranked both George Kittle and Tristan Wirfs as top-50 NFL talents.

Football is right around the corner. With training camp not quite here yet and the Hall of Fame Game about two weeks away, that itch for anything and everything related to football is pretty much unbearable.

You know what that means, list season! It’s everyone’s favorite (heavy emphasis on the sarcasm) and much-maligned portion of the NFL season where we produce rankings for the upcoming season. People love to read them and equally love to hate them. They will certainly let you know their feelings online. Everyone claims to hate rankings and things of that nature, but football fans just can’t get enough of the content!

Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus released his top 50 NFL players heading into the 2023 season and it features a pair of Iowa players. Coming in at No. 39 and still clinging to his spot in the top 50 is San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle.

“Kittle would likely be even higher on this list if the 49ers didn’t keep adding other athletic freakshows to steal his spotlight. Kittle is the one tight end in the league who can rival Travis Kelce as a receiver — and he’s a better blocker than Kelce, too — but the limelight is shared around in San Francisco far more than in Kansas City. Last year, passes thrown Kittle’s way generated a passer rating of 140.0. – Monson, Pro Football Focus.

Kittle is a player who is still sticking as one of the top tight ends in the league, despite a good number of folks thinking he’d fall off by now. Just when you think he’s done, he’ll still show you that top-end talent. He may not be as consistent as he was in 2018, but real football fans know not to take George Kittle lightly in 2023.

Joining Kittle on the list is Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs at No. 26.

One of the best tackles in football from the moment he stepped foot on the field at this level, Wirfs will now get the opportunity to prove he can also do it on the left side as he swaps to left tackle for the 2023 season. He gave up an absurd five total pressures in 13 games last season and has allowed the lowest pressure rate since entering the NFL, aided by Tom Brady’s league-quickest average time to throw. – Monson, Pro Football Focus.

Last year Tristan Wirfs was a second-team All Pro, just behind one of the best linemen of his generation in Lane Johnson. He will have a chance to establish himself as one of the truly elite at left tackle in 2023.

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Lukas Van Ness highlights 247Sports’ 2020 All-3-Star Team

Another shining example of Phil Parker and Iowa’s development wizardry, Lukas Van Ness was named to 247Sports’ 2020 All-3-Star Team.

One of the best things about sports is that a star can come from anywhere.

As sports fans, we are obsessed with the underdog. Sports history is littered with these magical surprise moments, from Appalachian State’s historic upset victory over Michigan to Holly Holm’s knockout of Ronda Rousey. Fictional sports legends such as Rocky and Rudy have formed because of the underdog.

In football, it is the same way. While many fantastic players were highly-touted recruits, we have seen time and time again an undervalued recruit defy the odds and push their way into superstardom.

Chance Linton of 247Sports recently created an All-3-Star team for the 2020 recruiting class, highlighted by former Iowa defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness.

The lone first-round pick on the list, Van Ness redshirted in his first season at Iowa before emerging as a difference-maker for the Hawkeyes while playing both defensive end and tackle. The 6-foot-5, 269-pounder notched 71 tackles (19.5 for loss), 13.5 sacks and one pass breakup over 27 career games, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2022. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. – Linton, 247Sports.

I don’t imagine Van Ness will remain the only first-rounder on this extremely talented list, with Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu likely pushing for a top-10 selection this upcoming year. There are a ton of other notable players included, such as All-American running back Deuce Vaughn, and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Tuli Tuipulotu.

However, going into the 2023 season, Iowa’s defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness is the cream of the crop. Entering Iowa City as a three-star, 240-pound defensive end, the Hawkeyes helped develop Van Ness to fit his “Hercules” nickname. An impressive blend of size and speed, Van Ness was a second-team All-Big Ten selection last year before going 13th overall to the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Van Ness ended his Iowa career with 71 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, and one pass defensed across 27 games. Lukas Van Ness is just the latest example of the great player development and NFL pipeline at the University of Iowa.

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Pair of Hawkeyes highlight 247Sports’ 2019 All-3-Star Team

From three-star to NFL star. 247Sports highlighted Jack Campbell and Dane Belton as two of its 2019 All-3-Star Team.

If you are a three-star recruit looking to boost your chances of making it to the NFL, you may want to consider the Iowa Hawkeyes. Player development is one of the Hawkeyes’ specialties, churning out NFL players every year despite other teams earning more five-stars.

In Chance Linton of 247Sports’ look at college football’s All-3-Star Team from the 2019 recruiting class, two former Iowa Hawkeyes were featured on the list. Two three-star recruits who came to Iowa, earned All-Big Ten accolades, and found themselves drafted into the NFL.

Starting out is a look at former Iowa defensive back and current New York Giant Dane Belton.

Belton was a three-and-done player for the Hawkeyes, appearing in 30 career games with 26 starts over three seasons before leaving early for the NFL. He notched five interceptions and 12 pass breakups to go along with 46 tackles and three tackles for loss in his final season to earn first-team All-Big Ten nod. He was selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft (No. 114 overall). – Linton, 247Sports.

Belton was one of the latest successes on Phil Parker’s defense, particularly from the CASH position. He is actually the second from that position to find himself in the NFL, following current Tennessee Titan Amani Hooker.

Per 247Sports, Belton arrived in Iowa City as a three-star signee, the nation’s No. 64 safety and the No. 87 player from the Sunshine State. He left Iowa with 112 tackles, 17 passes defensed, 6.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, one sack and one forced fumble in 30 career games, including 26 starts.

Joining Belton on this list is one of the greatest players to ever don the black and gold, linebacker Jack Campbell.

The highest-drafted player on this list, Campbell was selected by the Detroit Lions with the No. 18 overall pick in the first round. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder was a 28-game starter for the Hawkeyes, racking up 305 career tackles with 13.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and five interceptions and winning the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker in 2022. 247Sports was significantly higher on Campbell than the rest of the recruiting industry, rating him as a four-star prospect. – Linton, 247Sports.

That’s right, Iowa currently has the two highest drafted three-star recruits in back-to-back years with Lukas Van Ness highlighting the 2020 recruiting class.

Jack Campbell is a player who etched his name into the history of Iowa football. One of college football’s best defenders in recent years, Campbell won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker in 2022. Campbell was twice named a first-team All-Big Ten member and was an unanimous consensus All-American last year. Campbell was recently drafted No. 18 overall in the 2023 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.

He arrived as a three-star signee in the 247Sports composite rankings. The composite rankings rated Campbell as the nation’s No. 662 player overall, the No. 44 outside linebacker and as the No. 4 player from Iowa. During his Hawkeye career, Campbell racked up 305 tackles, 15 passes defensed, 13.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, three sacks, three forced fumbles and one defensive score in 43 career games and 28 starts.

Jack Campbell and Dane Belton are just two recent examples of Iowa’s famed player development.

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Iowa legend Dallas Clark named to 2024 NFF College Hall of Fame ballot

A John Mackey Award winner with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Dallas Clark is on the National Football Foundation’s 2024 Hall of Fame ballot.

If you forgot that Iowa is Tight End University, let this be a great reminder.

On Monday, Iowa Hawkeyes legend Dallas Clark was announced as a nominee for the National Football Foundation’s 2024 College Hall of Fame class. This is his third straight year on the ballot.

Clark is part of a 78-player Football Bowl Subdivision list of finalists for the Hall of Fame. It’s a list including some of the greatest players of the game. Alongside Clark’s name, you will find legends such as Larry Fitzgerald, Marvin Harrison, Steve Hutchinson, and Terrell Suggs amongst many others.

Clark was one of the fan favorites of the early Kirk Ferentz era at the University of Iowa. Clark was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2002, bringing home the Mackey Award for the best tight end in the nation. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection who helped Iowa to a share of the 2002 Big Ten title and its first-ever 11-win season.

Clark finished his Iowa career with 81 grabs for 1,281 receiving yards with eight scores. He was one of the first of the illustrious tight end lineage at the University of Iowa, really helping set the bar for the position. This was the benchmark of greatness for all others since to follow: from his great collegiate career to his first-round NFL draft selection.

Dallas Clark had a largely successful run in the NFL, mostly with the Indianapolis Colts. Clark played 11 seasons in the NFL, totaling 5,665 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns. He would win a Super Bowl championship with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007.

Clark is a true example of the Iowa way of football, coming a long way since his start as a walk-on linebacker for the program.

Former Hawkeye offensive tackle Robert Gallery recently joined the NFF Hall of Fame’s 2023 class. The Outland Trophy winner might soon be joined by the Mackey Award winner.

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Projected contract details, signing bonuses for Iowa Hawkeyes’ 2023 NFL draft picks

Four Iowa Hawkeyes came off the board in the 2023 NFL draft! Here’s projected contract details and signing bonuses for each per Spotrac.

The 2023 NFL draft has come and gone and Iowa was well represented. Four Hawkeyes were selected within the first two days. In particular, the Detroit Lions are completely buying into what Kirk Ferentz was selling.

After an entire offseason of speculation, it’s time to begin a new round of guessing. We finally know where these guys are going to play, but what exactly will their role with their new teams be? How much will these guys be paid? Is Detroit just a front for a Big Ten social club?

These are all important questions to ask and ones that we may not quite have the answers for on May 2. We can always do our research, though, and look at what beat reporters are saying to make our best-educated guesses.

Here’s some thoughts on the four newest draft picks from the Iowa Hawkeyes’ landing spots and how they’ll fit in. Plus, those all-important final dollar figures per Spotrac.

Take a look below at each former Hawkeyes’ projected contract details and signing bonuses.

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Kaevon Merriweather signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers as undrafted free agent

Kaevon Merriweather has his professional landing spot! Kaevon inked an undrafted free agent deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After missing out on being selected in the 2023 NFL draft, former Iowa safety Kaevon Merriweather didn’t have to wait long to find out where his next football stop would be.

Hawkeye Insider‘s David Eickholt broke the news that Merriweather would be inking an undrafted free agent deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Merriweather appeared in 45 games and started 25 during his Hawkeye career. The 6-foot, 205 pound safety ended his Iowa career with 118 tackles, 12 pass breakups, four interceptions and two tackles for loss. He registered three of those interceptions this past season.

Ahead of Iowa’s regular season finale versus Nebraska, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz reflected on the type of impact Merriweather had on his defense.

“You talk about Jack Campbell, Kaevon, I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve been good at defense. We have guys at every position, not that they’re all the same, Kaevon is definitely a veteran, him and Riley are the two veterans in that group. Up front you have Noah, John Waggoner, Joe Evans, and linebackers we have a couple guys. They’ll be talking on Saturday.

“You have that type of leadership in every group, they impact that room individually, but they impact that room when they’re all together, the whole team. That’s how you build a winning team. You have to have the right guys, though. We really appreciate that,” Ferentz said.

Here’s a look back at Merriweather’s standout career with the Hawkeyes through these sensational photos. Best of luck on the next step, Kaevon!

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