Tag: 2023 Iowa Football

LB Nick Jackson adjusting to Iowa football as Hawkeyes enter final nonconference tilt

As the Hawkeyes enter their final nonconference tilt, linebacker Nick Jackson said he is still adjusting to his new role with Iowa.

Changing teams is a difficult task for any player, even for some of the most talented in the nation. The adjustment from moving from one team to another, one conference to another, is a challenge often overlooked in college football.

Nick Jackson was as consistent as they come at Virginia. He has been one of the top linebackers in the nation, with three straight 100-tackle seasons to hang his hat on. The Atlanta, Ga., native was a two-time second-team All-ACC member with the Cavaliers before transferring to Iowa this offseason. Two weeks into the regular season, Jackson is still adjusting to being a Hawkeye.

“I think it’s been an adjustment, especially just looking at those drops from the Will position. I think it’s just going to be valuable getting those reps (early in the season),” Jackson said in a recent media availability.

Jackson has immediately played a crucial role for the Hawkeyes defense so far this season. While senior teammate Jay Higgins has stepped into Jack Campbell’s role at middle linebacker, Jackson has been tasked with a lot of pass coverage.

It’s not always the most glamorous role on the stat sheet, though he is fourth in tackles with 14, but he plays a vital role in the defense. As Jackson was saying about preparing for the rest of the season, he will be even more important against teams like Penn State who can pass the ball.

Even through the early adjustment period, Jackson and the Hawkeye defense have been up to the task two games in. They are currently surrendering just 13.5 points per game heading into Saturday’s contest versus Western Michigan, a team who Jackson stressed that Iowa cannot overlook. Even with his early success, Nick Jackson is looking for improvement.

“Yeah I think it’s good, but I mean there’s always room for improvement. I know there’s improvements that I have to make for myself. Every single week we’re just coming out here and trying to get better,” Jackson said.

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Iowa Football 2023 Schedule Breakdown: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Iowa closes its season against Nebraska. What do the new-look Huskers bring to the table in the battle for the Heroes Trophy?

Finally, here it is, the Nebraska game.

It’s been a long road on the 2023 schedule breakdowns. We started this all the way back in the beginning of June before the summer season even began. Now with fall football right around the corner, there is no better way to end it than with the Cornhuskers. The Iowa-Nebraska rivalry game has traditionally been the final regular season game for both teams, set for the day after Thanksgiving.

A rivalry many saw as manufactured, starting once Nebraska made the leap to the Big Ten, Iowa-Nebraska has become one of the more meaningful games of the season for both squads. It can play a massive role in who goes to the Big Ten Championship, something we all saw last year. Needing just a win against a Nebraska program still in disarray, the Cornhuskers took the fight to the Hawkeyes and came home with the victory. The Hawkeyes would be watching the Big Ten Championship from home.

It will be a new-look Nebraska squad looking to keep the Heroes Trophy in Lioncoln this year. Here is a look at the new Cornhuskers squad.

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Iowa Hawkeyes 2023 Positional Breakdown: Scouting the tight ends

Iowa will have one of the nation’s finest tight end tandems in Luke Lachey and Erick All. A breakdown of the Hawkeyes’ tight ends.

Iowa University is Tight End U. Don’t give me some talk about teams that were great at a time before most collegiate athletes were even alive. We’re talking right now. We’re talking current day, and nobody produces tight ends like Iowa.

Since the Mackey Award was first instituted in 2000, two Hawkeyes have won the award in Dallas Clark (2002) and T.J. Hockenson (2018). Hockenson was joined by his teammate Noah Fant that year as a semifinalist for the award. Iowa had two straight semifinalists for the award in Allen Reisner (2010) and Tony Moeaki (2009), respectively.

Last year Sam LaPorta was named one of three finalists for the award. This was the same year he was named first-team All-Big Ten and was the Kwalick–Clark Tight End of the Year, an award partially named after, you guessed it, a former Iowa Hawkeye.

This doesn’t even mention the best of the bunch George Kittle, a fifth-round pick back in 2017 who has only been named an All-Pro three times while making the Pro Bowl four times.

Through college acclaim and professional success, Iowa has dominated the tight end position like no other. That trend does not look likely to end in 2023 one bit. Here is a breakdown of the tight end position for Iowa this upcoming season.

Xavier Nwankpa looking to become a leader in 2023

Though he may only be a sophomore, Xavier Nwankpa looks ready to lead a new generation of Iowa Hawkeyes football.

At this time last year, Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa was the new wide-eyed baby face on the team.

One of Iowa’s highest-ranked recruits in recent years, Nwankpa entered Iowa City with a star-like aura around his name. This was the future of the Hawkeyes’ secondary. This was the man to lead the new guard of Iowa’s defense.

While he didn’t play a ton as a freshman, Nwankpa was impressive when given his chance. During his lone start in the Music City Bowl, Nwankpa recorded eight tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown. It was a star-making performance and just a taste of what fans could get from Xavier in 2023.

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Iowa’s defense was one of the best in the nation in 2022, lead by various experienced stars. Now, those stars are heading to the NFL. In the secondary specifically, the Hawkeyes lose two leaders in Riley Moss and Kaevon Merriweather.

Nwankpa detailed recently that his goal for this year is to transition from a baby-faced youngster to a true leader.

“Really trying to lead, help all the young guys. Get to the level that we need to be at as a defense just to keep what we’ve been doing,” Nwankpa said.

Of course, Nwankpa is doing his part this offseason to improve his overall game. The Pleasant Hill, Iowa, native is busting his backside to become the player he knows he can be.

True to the Iowa mentality, though, it is not just about one player. Everyone holds not only themselves, but their teammates around them to a high standard. It’s a true team effort, a brotherhood of Black and Gold lifting each other up.

While Nwankpa is only entering his sophomore season, it’s clear that he just gets it. He’s played with players like Moss and Merriweather who know what it takes to win in the Big Ten. He’s learned from a defensive coordinator in Phil Parker who knows the results that a true 11-man defense yields.

Nwankpa may not have played a ton his freshman year, but early in the offseason, that year in Iowa City has done wonders. He may be young, but Xavier Nwankpa is ready to lead a new generation of Iowa football.

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Iowa retains the Campbell Legacy with latest commit

The Campbell name is staying in Iowa City as Iowa football earns an in-state commitment from 2024 edge rusher Drew Campbell!

Iowa football earned a massive pledge for their 2024 recruiting class, securing four-star edge rusher Drew Campbell.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native has been linked to Iowa for months, picking up a third 247Sports crystal ball prediction back in March. Of course, Campbell has been linked to Iowa City for much longer, his last name inseparable from the black and gold.

Drew Campbell is, of course, the younger brother of legendary Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell. Jack became the first Hawkeye to win the Dick Butkus Award this year, cementing his legacy as one of the best to ever play at Kinnick Stadium.

Campbell announced his commitment to Twitter on April 1st, and luckily for Hawkeyes fans, this was no April Fools joke. As the proud face of Hawkeye Nation Roy Higgins III described, Iowa City does indeed have a “diesel” coming.

The 2024 edge rusher chose Iowa over offers from Iowa State, Kansas State, and Northern Iowa. He also rejected interest from a budding Kansas program as well. Campbell said in an interview with Hawk Fanatic back in August that while his brother’s allegiance to the program would play no part in his decision, his success under Ferentz was certainly hard to ignore.

“Jack has no part in my decision, but his success certainly shows what Iowa can do for a player,” Campbell said then of his thoughts on Iowa.

Now, he’s the latest 2024 Hawkeye commit.

“I think one of the most important things is how they develop you into not only a great player but a great human,” Campbell told Inside the Hawkeyes’ Rob Howe yesterday on why he picked Iowa.

Here is everything you need to know about the Hawkeyes’ newest Campbell to join coach Phil Parker’s machine! Plus, a look below at his Hudl highlights.

5 burning offensive questions for the Iowa Hawkeyes heading into spring football

It’s almost time for spring football in Iowa City. What are five burning questions about the Hawkeyes’ offense heading into spring football?

Slowly but surely we are escaping the pit that is the college football offseason. Full of transfers and coaching changes, the offseason can feel like a real slog to get through. This isn’t aided by the weather being bad either, just heightening our offseasonal depression.

It’s been a turbulent one for the Iowa Hawkeyes to say the least. Iowa brought in two big transfers from Michigan, but also saw multiple talented players depart as well. It is going to hurt to see Jestin Jacobs in an Oregon uniform next year, and I’m fully prepared for Keagan Johnson to be a star in the Big 12.

While Iowa managed to put together a good recruiting class, it all felt overshadowed by the guy they weren’t able to bring in. While many will try to criticize Proctor’s decision calling it short sighted, mind you Alabama also routinely sends linemen to the NFL, it’s really hard for me to envision anything but success for the young man. I truly do wish him the best, unless it’s in a national championship against Iowa to which I hope he gives up four sacks.

What else was there? Oh yeah, there was the entire “will they fire him” situation with offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz. If it were up to most of the fanbase, the coach’s son would’ve been out the door a long time ago. Even before Iowa’s offense put up horrendous numbers this past season. Iowa did issue him an “ultimatum” though: bring the offense to passable levels and you sir get a raise and a pat on the back.

It still does feel like a bad dream.

It’s felt like all offseason the fanbase has received just kick in the pants after kick in the pants. I’m not sure if the same feeling of optimism is there that I noticed last year. So, how do you fix that? Well, it’s easy folks.

Win.

Winning is the remedy to literally any problem in sports. All of the down moments of the offseason will seem like little blips on the radar if Iowa football gets back to doing what they do in winning.

Of course, the biggest factor in that is the offense. Anyone who is familiar with last year’s team can tell you just how bad it is, and looking back on some of the box scores it truly is the stuff of nightmares. It cannot go on that way. No more wasting Phil Parker’s fantastic defensive efforts and no more wasting the fans’ time!

With the offense in mind, here are five questions about Brian Ferentz’s unit that should be on the minds of every single Iowa football fan.