Tag: 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes Football Schedule

Several Iowa Hawkeyes freshmen already starting to make an impact

Running back Kaleb Johnson and kicker Drew Stevens are the two prominent names, but there’s several other freshmen making impacts for Iowa.

If there are any bright spots on this middling 3-3 Iowa football team (we certainly need some good with Ohio State coming up this week), it is the youth carving out roles already.

We already know the impact sophomore Cooper DeJean has made in the secondary this year, looking like the next star Hawkeye defensive back. Multiple freshmen, though, have started to gain significant playing time early in the season.

According to Sean Bock of 247Sports’ Hawkeye Insider, his midseason Iowa redshirt tracker shows that six true freshmen have received game time this season.

Running back Kaleb Johnson, kicker Drew Stevens, and defensive backs Xavier Nwankpa and TJ Hall have all played in Iowa’s six contests thus far. Defensive tackle Aaron Graves has appeared in five games, tight end Addison Ostrenga in four and running back Jaziun Patterson has one lone appearance this season.

Johnson already has 50 carries for 232 yards with three rushing touchdowns. He finished with seven carries for 103 yards and a pair of scores from 40 and 55 yards out against Nevada. Then, versus Michigan, Johnson scored Iowa’s first points on a 2-yard touchdown run.

Kaleb Johnson has shown flashes of success as perhaps the Hawkeyes’ starting running back of the future, however, the struggles of the offensive line this season have really hampered any consistent impact he’s been able to have. Aaron Graves currently has seven tackles and Patterson has six carries for 20 yards.

Kicker Drew Stevens has probably seen the most success of the Iowa youngsters, staking his claim as the starting kicker. Stevens is 6-of-7 on field goal attempts this season, his first miss a 45-yarder coming in Iowa’s most recent 9-6 loss against Illinois. Despite the miss, special teams coordinator Levar Woods had a lot of positive things to say about the freshman kicker.

“As far as that goes, field goal units, I think Drew is coming along as a player,” Woods said. “He is definitely young. He has had — every game is really like a new experience for him in some way because he was a high school kid a year ago. Really less than a year ago. I think he has made a huge transition since spring. We’ve all kind of seen that. He missed a kick, his last kick, against Illinois, which I know is just eating at him, but to me that shows the guy is a competitor. He may be young. He may be inexperienced, but he is a competitor, and he has that drive inside.”

Both Nwankpa and Hall have received significant playing time on special teams so far this season. While many are anxious to see the five-star Nwankpa get on the field for Phil Parker’s defense, I’d like to remind them of Cooper DeJean’s career arc at Iowa thus far. A lot of his contributions his freshman year came on special teams, and we see how well he’s done in his second year.

It may not be the most glamorous on the stat sheet, but special teams is a great way for both Nwankpa and Hall to get their feet wet, to adjust to the speed of Division 1 ball. Their time will come.

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College Football News and Hawkeyes Wire offer predictions for Hawkeyes versus Illini matchup

Iowa travels to take on the Illini Saturday night. Hawkeyes Wire offers a prediction along with College Football News’ prediction.

Saturday night sees the Iowa Hawkeyes hitting the road to take on upstart Big Ten West opponent, the Illinois Fighting Illini. The matchup, which looked rather mundane preseason, has morphed into a bit of a turning point for each team in Week 6.

Iowa is 3-2 overall with a 1-1 Big Ten record. The Illini are 4-1 with a 1-1 Big Ten record. The two are in the thick of things in the Big Ten West and this one could give the winner an early leg up in chasing that crown.

Iowa, while they may not outwardly say it, will be playing with a sense of urgency in this matchup. They know the massive difference 4-2 versus 3-3 in the standings. Illinois is coming off of a dominant showing manhandling Wisconsin in their own home and wants to make another statement to put the Big Ten on notice.

This game has the recipe for a slugfest with two physical, defensive-minded teams and is likely going to be close the entire way. College Football News provided thoughts on how each team can win with a prediction. I also offer a prediction on how this one shakes out.

Week 6 Iowa Hawkeyes bowl projection round up

The Iowa Hawkeyes sit at 3-2 and are projected to go bowling. Here’s an around-the-nation look at bowl projections for Iowa.

Sitting at 3-2 on the season, the Iowa Hawkeyes are looking to string together a few wins to ensure a postseason trip, but in all reality, stay alive in the race for the Big Ten West championship.

In what has felt like doom and gloom from Hawkeyes fans, Iowa is sitting at 1-1 in conference play, the same or better than every single other team in the Big Ten West. After a slower start to the season than some may have liked, the ultimate goals for the Hawkeyes are still in their control.

Iowa also controls what bowl game they could make an appearance in this postseason. Playing in the postseason is what a lot of teams set out to do prior to the season. It is an extra game at a fun location, fans can travel to a unique spot, and it allows one more game before the long offseason.

Going into Week 6, it is time to look at a nationwide bowl projection roundup for the Hawkeyes. There is a feeling that Iowa may be settling into a bowl game in one of the biggest cities in the world.

Social Media Reactions to Iowa’s 27-10 Win Over Rutgers

Iowa dismantled Rutgers in its Big Ten opener. Here was how social media responded to the Hawkeyes’ big win.

Raise your hand if you went into tonight expecting a comfortable win!

All year, it has been difficult for the Iowa Hawkeyes. It was a pain for fans to get through the first two games of the year, the Hawkeyes offense seemingly uninterested in the opposing teams’ end zones, preferring the spotlight to be firmly placed on punter Tory Taylor. It was ugly splitting those first two games against South Dakota State and Iowa State, the Hawkeyes’ 7-3 week one victory over the Jackrabbits providing an immediate damper on the season.

Even in a game where the result was never in question, defeating Nevada 27-0, the weather made this one hard to get through… literally! The game took forever with countless weather delays.

There was none of that tonight though. No reliance on safeties to get you the win, no weather delays to prolong the pending victory, and no Sopranos crew on the sideline hassling the Ferentz’ to throw the game.

In a game many expected to go right down to the wire, Iowa won this one fairly comfortably 27-10. The offense looked better, especially the running game, the defense as stout as expected, and Tory Taylor once again put the team in the best situation to win with his leg.

After a very scary two-week stretch to start the season, we’re starting to see little chunks of improvement by the Hawkeyes each week. Nobody is going to favor them heading into Michigan next week, but the doom and gloom surrounding the program after that 10-7 loss to the Cyclone has somewhat started to dissipate. It was a much cheerier mode on social media, and here are the highlights from the Hawkeyes comfortable win over the Scarlet Knights.

Iowa Hawkeyes versus Michigan Wolverines announced as an 11 a.m. CST kickoff

In a rematch of the Big Ten Championship game from last season, Iowa takes on Michigan at 11 a.m. CST in Kinnick Stadium on FOX.

In what many thought could be a night game or afternoon primetime game, the matchup of the Iowa Hawkeyes hosting the Michigan Wolverines has been officially announced as an 11 a.m. CST kickoff.

The game is going to be played on FOX and in all likelihood is going to be their flagship “Big Noon Kickoff” game that headlines national coverage. The 11 a.m. CST slot is FOX’s No. 1 most-viewed time slot that they have each week where they plug in their favorite matchup.

So far this season, this slot on FOX has hosted Texas versus Alabama in Week 2 and just last week it saw Nebraska versus Oklahoma in Week 3. This matchup should likely see the FOX television crew of Rob Stone, Brady Quinn, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Urban Meyer. Fans could expect to hear play-by-play man Gus Johnson, color commentator Joel Klatt and sideline reporter Jenny Taft commentating on the game.

This season’s matchup will see Michigan come in ranked. What ranking is still to be determined, but with the Wolverines opening up Big Ten play against the Maryland Terrapins this weekend, odds are likely they enter Kinnick undefeated. They are currently ranked No. 4 in the country and a win this week to move to 4-0 would likely at least hold their ranking.

Iowa takes on Rutgers this Saturday night in their Big Ten opener as they look to get to 3-1 prior to this headline matchup.

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Iowa football report card: Sizing up the Hawkeyes’ squeaking past South Dakota State

How did the Iowa Hawkeyes grade out across the board in our first report card of 2022 following their 7-3 victory over South Dakota State?

After a long offseason, fans flocked back to Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City to see the start of the 2022 season for Iowa. To say that the Hawkeyes’ win over FCS No. 3 South Dakota State left some mixed results would be an understatement.

Pull up a chair. Class is in session. It’s time to assign some grades for the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 7-3 season-opening win over the Jackrabbits.

‘I’ve been through it all’: Iowa’s Spencer Petras leaning on experience to guide Hawkeyes

Spencer Petras has “been through it all.” Entering his third year starting, the San Rafael, Calif., native is leaning on his experience.

As a career-defining season begins for Iowa starting quarterback Spencer Petras, the signal-caller from San Rafael, Calif., is confident that his lengthy starting résumé has him primed for his best season with the Hawkeyes.

“Yeah, I think with experience, everything gets better. I’m really happy with how I’m throwing the football right now, happy with how I’m processing, how I’m executing the offense. You know, there’s absolutely the mental side of it, it gets easier as you go. As a senior now, it’ll be my third year starting, I’ve been through it all. There’s not much that could happen in terms of ups and downs of a season that will be new, so definitely excited,” Petras said this week ahead of his team’s opener versus South Dakota State.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz shared earlier this week why Petras was the man for the starting job over both Alex Padilla and Joe Labas.

“It’s a long evaluation, and we evaluate everything, we tell our guys starting in January. Obviously we’re not doing football stuff, and both Spencer and Alex are both quality guys, but just the time on the field, I think Spencer has outperformed Alex a little bit at this point. He’s further ahead and gives us a better chance to be successful. That’s not to diminish what Alex has done. Both have improved.

“Now the thing is can we put this whole thing together and be a little bit more productive offensively. Both guys have done a good job. Spencer has continued to climb,” Ferentz said.

Ultimately, how Petras gets remembered in Iowa City is likely tied to whatever good or bad happens this season. The Hawkeyes’ starting quarterback made it a busy offseason, spending time working with his quarterback trainer Tony Racioppi and attending the Manning Passing Academy.

Petras finished the 2021 season with 1,880 passing yards on just 57.3% completion and 10 touchdown passes against nine interceptions. During the spring, Petras noted how that completion percentage number was one area he really wanted to improve this season.

Then, in July, Petras expounded on where he thought he and the offense improved the most during the spring.

“I was really happy with spring ball. I just felt like I was more decisive than I’ve ever been. I felt really good how I threw the ball. Some of the changes we’ve made, I feel really good about and just I’m excited to see how it carries over to camp. We were still working through a lot of stuff schematically and now I think we’ve got a better idea of exactly where we want to go. It feels good and I’m excited,” Petras said.

He said then that he feels he and offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz have a better plan for how they want to attack opposing defenses than before.

“The thing I love the most, I just think we’re a lot more detailed now. Without, I don’t want to give away too much, we’re very detailed now. I feel like I have a really good plan for every play and that excites me as an analytical guy, as a guy that can identify coverage really fast and having the solid plan. I mean, Brian’s been working his (expletive) off, trying to just detail everything. I’m really happy with how it looks right now. The real test will be training camp and getting a feel for it all, getting the reps that I need and then obviously just got to go do it in the season,” Petras said.

Now, training camp is in the books, and the proof will be in the pudding that is the 2022 season. How much have both Petras and Ferentz grown in tandem? Their journey to a combined redemption begins this morning against the Jackrabbits.

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‘They’re not the same’: Kirk Ferentz discusses Hawkeyes’ running backs Gavin, Leshon Williams

Kirk Ferentz broke down the Hawkeyes’ two primary rushers, Gavin and Leshon Williams, ahead of the 2022 season opener.

By season’s end, the Iowa Hawkeyes will have a new leading rusher. That’s because the Hawkeyes’ leading rusher in 2021, running back Tyler Goodson, is off to the NFL where he’s still looking to catch on somewhere.

Goodson finished the 2021 season for Iowa with 1,151 rushing yards on 256 carries and six touchdowns. Those numbers were good for a 4.5 yards per carry average last season.

Now, enter Williams times two. [autotag]Gavin Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Leshon Williams[/autotag] were listed as the Hawkeyes No. 1 and No. 2 running backs in the South Dakota State depth chart reveal, respectively.

Gavin Williams, a 6-foot, 214 pound running back from Altoona, Iowa, rushed 65 times for 305 rushing yards in 2021. That included 28 carries over the Hawkeyes’ final two games, including 16 totes for 98 rushing yards in Iowa’s 20-17 Vrbo Citrus Bowl loss against Kentucky.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz was asked how important it was to help them prepare for 2022 that the pair saw legitimate action in last season’s bowl game.

“I think so, for sure. I still appreciate the fact that we knew a couple weeks out ahead. That was a good thing. Tyler gave us a heads up on that, so it gave both those guys a chance to prepare as starters, and they both did a nice job I thought all month in December and both played well in the bowl game.

“I think at least we came into this season feeling pretty good about who our one and two are and how they can do, and both of them have done a great job, and then the key thing is moving forward with the younger guys. It’s been a really good valuable four weeks for both the incoming freshmen. They’ve done a nice job,” Ferentz said.

And what about their styles? Is there a distinctive difference between the pair’s running styles?

“They’re not the same. Obviously they have the same last name, but a little different styles I guess. But they’re both, they complement each other well. I think they’re both very, very capable. Gavin was probably a little bit more polished if you would or refined when he got here. He just continues to do a really good job. He’s studying everything he does and really has a mature approach.

“Leshon I think is the guy who’s kind of, he’s really surprised us. I think it was a year ago spring when I mentioned he just kind of caught my eye, and I think he’s done nothing but improve since that time. I think both of them are very capable of playing well, so it’s good to know you have two guys that you have confidence in. Now the next challenge is, who’s going to be the next man in,” Ferentz said.

Two freshmen running backs, Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson, will have a legitimate chance to earn that No. 3 running back position.

“I think both of them are in the mix right now. At least we have plans to let them go, as well, and we’ll see how the game plays out. But I don’t know if they’ll both be in there Saturday, but my guess is at least one of them will,” Ferentz said of Johnson and Patterson.

It’ll be interesting to see how the rushing attack as a whole shakes out for the Hawkeyes. Iowa ranked No. 101 nationally in rushing offense last season, averaging 123.6 rushing yards per game.

Of course, Williams times two will go a long way in determining just how explosive the Hawkeyes’ offense is in 2022.

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Nico Ragaini sidelined several weeks to start 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes season

One of Iowa’s top returning pass-catchers, redshirt senior wide receiver Nico Ragaini, will miss the first several weeks of 2022.

Unfortunately, the fact that redshirt senior Nico Ragaini wasn’t on the Iowa Hawkeyes‘ offensive two-deep that got released to start the week means exactly what everybody assumed it did.

Ragaini is set to be sidelined at least several weeks.

“He has a medical issue right now. It’s going to be at least a couple weeks, so he’s not on the depth chart, which means he has no chance to play this week. It’s unfortunate because he’s really practicing well, great guy, and another one of our veteran players, so would be great to have him with us,” Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said at his Tuesday press conference to preview South Dakota State.

The East Haven, Conn., product was Iowa’s third-leading receiver in 2021 with 26 grabs for 331 yards and a touchdown. For an offense that’s hoping the 2022 season doesn’t resemble last year’s production, starting off the season without one of the Hawkeyes’ top threats isn’t exactly ideal.

Ferentz acknowledged as much, but did say Iowa’s two walk-on receivers have been impressive and noted how tight end depth can help the Hawkeyes withstand this injury hit early in the season.

“Yeah, first of all, those guys have done a good job, Jack (Johnson) and Alec (Wick) have done a really nice job and been consistent, and they’ve been out there every day, which is a big, big part of it. They’ve done a good job and Arland has done a nice job, as well.

“We’re not as deep as you’d like to be. It seems like every preseason or every segment — spring ball kind of goes this way, too, certain segments get tagged a little bit with the injury deal, and just got to work around it. That’s what we’re doing there. I think the good news is we’re a little deeper at tight end than maybe some years past, so we’ll figure out a way to complement things and make it work,” Ferentz said.

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Iowa Football week 1 opponent offense outlook: South Dakota State Jackrabbits

The Hawkeyes host South Dakota State in week one. Here is an offensive outlook for what the Jackrabbits will try to do and who to watch.

Welcome to week one! The 2022 college football season is finally upon us and it kicks off for the Iowa Hawkeyes as they host the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

There is no shortage of hype surrounding the Jackrabbits as we enter the season. They advanced to the semifinals last year in the FCS playoffs. They get their quarterback, Mark Gronowski, back from injury. They return their top target at wide receiver and they have a proven running back. Let’s get into our outlook of the Jackrabbits’ offense.

The Jackrabbits averaged 36 points per game last season to go along with 212 yards rushing per game and 229 yards passing per game. They are balanced and they do what they do very well. Managing the game is an area they also did well in. They averaged over 31 minutes in time of possession, which would have been good enough to be in the top-30 in FBS in that statistical category.

Mark Gronowski, QB

Mark Gronowski retakes his spot at the helm of the offense after missing last season due to injury. During his 10-game campaign in the 2020 season, he was a dangerous dual-threat quarterback with 1,565 yards and 15 touchdowns through the air to go with 577 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns. Gronowski can hurt a defense both ways.

Jaxon Janke, WR

The top receiver for the Jackrabbits, Jaxon Janke, is also returning. The senior exploded last year posting a stat-line of 72 catches for 1,176 yards and five touchdowns. He is expected to be Gronowski’s No. 1 target this fall. With 16.3 yards per catch, Janke can hurt a team down the field with his size at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. He will have size on nearly all of the Hawkeyes’ cornerbacks and be a great week one test.

Tucker Kraft, TE

The Hawkeyes are not the only team in this game with a current tight end that will be jumping to the NFL next spring. Tight end, Tucker Kraft, had 65 receptions for 773 yards and six touchdowns. Albeit against FCS competition, all of those numbers topped Sam LaPorta’s career highs. Kraft is 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, and, once he gets the ball in his hands, it takes a handful to bring him down.

Isaiah Davis, RB

In the backfield, the lion’s share of the snaps should go to Isaiah Davis, a junior running back. Davis has not been the lead back yet in his career, but in his two seasons he has still contributed 1,519 yards and 17 touchdowns. At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Davis is not afraid to be a bruiser and will give the Hawkeyes’ defense all they can handle meeting him in the hole.

While they reside in the FCS, South Dakota State is no slouch and will be looking to come into Kinnick Stadium and make a statement on Saturday. The Jackrabbits don’t just want to hang around, they truly believe they can upset the Hawkeyes. For Iowa, the defense should be ready to take on these individuals and slow them down to start the season off on the right foot.

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