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.

Iowa Hawkeyes add Thanksgiving Day commitment from 3-star WR Dayton Howard

Hawkeye fans have another reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving. Three-star wide receiver Dayton Howard committed to Iowa.

There’s another reason to be thankful as an Iowa fan this Thanksgiving Day. The Hawkeyes earned a commitment from three-star wide receiver Dayton Howard out of Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Mo.

The 6-foot-5, 195 pound receiver is regarded as the nation’s No. 129 wide receiver and the No. 21 talent from Missouri per 247Sports. Howard is also a three-star wide receiver according to Rivals.

Iowa offered Howard on Nov. 12 and earned his commitment today. Howard was also drawing interest from both Iowa State and Kansas State, though neither program had yet offered.

It continues a late flurry from the Hawkeyes in the 2023 class. Dating back to Oct. 29, Iowa has added commitments from Iowa Western defensive lineman Anterio Thompson, Norfolk Catholic offensive lineman Kade Pieper, Cardinal Gibbons running back Kamari Moulton and Jesuit High School wide receiver Jarriett Buie.

The commitment brings Iowa’s 2023 class up to 20 commitments. Here’s a look at Howard’s Hudl highlights, his full recruiting profile and an updated look at the Hawkeyes’ entire 2023 class.