Fall camp is the perfect venue to gauge where young players stand heading into the season. While much of the attention will be placed on the projected starters, camp presents a unique opportunity for growth and exposure for the next generation of Hawkeyes. Through injury replacement and general rotation, several young players have shown the potential for an early impact this season.
As Hawk Central’s Kennington Lloyd Smith touched on, multiple freshmen have already shown flashes despite the abrupt adjustment to the rigors of Big Ten competition. Due to an injury that has kept likely starting running back Gavin Williams off the field the past week, redshirt sophomore Leshon Williams has received a bulk of the first team carries. Leshon Williams’ stock is reportedly rising internally amongst the Hawkeyes.
Freshman running backs Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson both took advantage of the opportunity, combining for an unofficial 21 carries during the Kids’ Day scrimmage. Both have sparingly received first-team reps in practice. Gavin Williams is back at practice but it would be reassuring to know there are capable runners behind him, whether it is in relief or to complement his play.
Wide receiver Jacob Bostick is another seizing his opportunity, learning multiple receiver positions.
Due to low numbers, Bostick is playing all three of Iowa’s receiver positions during camp. Wide receivers coach Kelton Copeland said Bostick has shown promise over the last few practices, and he worked heavily with the team’s second and third units on Saturday’s scrimmage. When healthy, the Hawkeyes feel good about their top three options. But if injuries continue, the speedy Bostick could be counted on to play early. – Lloyd Smith, Hawk Central.
While the availability of field time might not be as frequent on the defensive side of the ball, a trio of freshmen look to be in the Hawkeyes’ future plans. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said after the Kids’ Day scrimmage that the Hawkeyes would be silly to redshirt defensive lineman Aaron Graves. Defensive backs Xavier Nwankpa and T.J. Hall have taken advantage of their early start with Iowa so far, too.
The benefits of Hall and Nwankpa early enrolling were two-fold: They got a head start on learning the system and they arrived at a time when there were injuries in the secondary, allowing for more reps during spring practice. Both feel like they’re much more comfortable in fall camp. – Lloyd Smith, Hawk Central.
Hall currently figures to be in the second group of cornerbacks, while Nwankpa continues to develop as a safety behind veterans Quinn Schulte and Reggie Bracy. Safety is one of the key positions for the Iowa defense. The CASH position, a role that Nwankpa easily projects to in the future, has seen some of the biggest stars on defense in recent years.
Amani Hooker and Dane Belton were both first-team All-Big Ten members in that role. The CASH spot requires not only high-level skill and athleticism, but communication, the key adjustment for Nwankpa in his first offseason in Iowa City.
Iowa is bringing back a ton of starters this year, especially on the defense. It is why there is a lot of buzz around the team as a contender for the Big Ten West division yet again. It is not just about the experienced players, though. If the new blood of the Iowa program can find ways to contribute right away despite the massive adjustment to Big Ten play, the Hawkeyes will be better off from it both now and in the coming years.
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