Tag: Deontae Craig

Guessing the top 10 highest-rated Iowa Hawkeyes in EA Sports College Football 25

Ahead of the return of EA Sports College Football 25, here is a guess at who may be the top 10 highest-rated Iowa Hawkeyes in the game.

After a decade-long wait, the return of one of the most highly-anticipated video games is finally coming. EA Sports has announced that this summer will be the official return of EA Sports College Football 25.

The game was discontinued after NCAA Football was released in 2013. This pause came amid the strife around paying players for their name, image, and likeness. Obviously, it goes without saying that NIL has taken leaps and bounds to allow players to be correctly compensated.

With the return of the video game, fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes are eager to see their favorite team and its best players as they lead them to glory in dynasty mode. This is every Hawkeyes’ fans chance to light up the scoreboard and put up truly “video game” numbers on offense.

Ahead of the release, here is a guess at who are the top 10 highest-rated Iowa Hawkeyes in EA Sports College Football 25.

Next man up: 5 potential breakout stars for the Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa always develops well and each year a lesser known name or a newcomer steps up. Here are five potential breakouts stars for 2023.

Each year, someone from the Iowa Hawkeyes rises from the ranks and proves once again that their development and penchant for finding hidden talent is nearly unmatched. There are a handful of Hawkeyes that have a breakout season each year.

Last year, Cooper DeJean became nationally known for his ability to intercept the ball and play lockdown coverage. Kaleb Johnson went from a true freshman to Iowa’s leading rusher. Even Tory Taylor exploded with his punting prowess and is arguably the best at his position in the nation.

It is often those that are under the radar and not as talked about that make some of the biggest impacts in college football. Should Iowa have a year some anticipate it to have, it will take some strong efforts from individuals stringing together their best seasons yet.

Here are five potential breakout stars for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023.

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Series of Hawkeyes scattered across Pro Football Network 2024 NFL mock draft

A number of Iowa Hawkeyes made their way into Pro Football Network’s latest seven-round 2024 NFL mock draft.

You may ask yourself, what good does a mock draft before the season even starts do? Why put together a way-too-early mock before we know much of anything?

There are many answers to that question—looking for content in the dead season of July is a good one—but, really, it’s to get us fans excited for this upcoming season. We all will try to deny it, but there’s a certain excitement to seeing one of your team’s players projected to go high in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft.

Such is the case for Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean in Ian Cummings’ seven-round mock for Pro Football Network. The junior went 27th overall to the Dallas Cowboys.

DeJean sports a unique frame for a CB at 6’1″, 209 pounds, but he moves very well for his size. He’s an amped-up, effortlessly high-energy athlete who also has the route identification skills to jump passes and generate turnovers. Dan Quinn’s scheme is all about positioning playmakers to make plays, and DeJean adds a new dimension to that with his dual-sided ball-hawking ability and solidity in run support. – Cummings, Pro Football Network.

Joining DeJean in the NFL is Iowa defensive end Deontae Craig, selected in the third round by the Detroit Lions.

Deontae Craig could be Iowa’s next prospect to go from reserve lineman to early-round pick. At 6’3″, 266 pounds, he brings an impressive blend of burst, power capacity, and bend, and also has the alignment versatility to line up inside if necessary. – Cummings, Pro Football Network.

Couldn’t agree more, Ian. Deontae Craig just absolutely feels like a Lion.

Per Cummings and Pro Football Network, Luke Lachey was also selected in the fifth round by the Carolina Panthers. Personally, I think with a big year and good testing Lachey could go higher, but Carolina’s an intriguing fit. They’ve been searching for their next tight end since Greg Olsen.

Rounding out the mock draft for Iowa are two transfers going in the sixth round, Nick Jackson to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Erick All to the New England Patriots.

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Iowa Hawkeyes 2023 Snapshot Profile: No. 45 Deontae Craig

Deontae Craig tied for the team lead with 6.5 sacks in 2022. Is he ready for more this season? His 2023 snapshot profile.

If you are looking for the next Iowa Hawkeye breakout star on defense, look no further than junior defensive end Deontae Craig.

Technically, Craig already experienced his breakout season last year, but, unfortunately, nobody seemed to pay attention. While much of the attention went to some of the other stars on the defense, Deontae Craig quietly had a great season.

Craig actually led the Hawkeyes’ defense with seven sacks, sharing the top mark for tackles for loss with 10.5. Craig also forced three fumbles. Despite being a rotational edge rusher, Craig greatly impacted the Hawkeyes last season.

Craig showed up when it mattered most, too. He racked up 5.5 sacks in the last six games of the year. He was a star in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl shutout against Kentucky with 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

While he didn’t receive nearly as much attention as he deserved last year, don’t expect that to continue in 2023. Iowa’s defense has an opening for a new superstar, and watch out for Deontae Craig to step into that spotlight. Here is a look at Deontae Craig’s 2023 snapshot profile.

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5 Iowa Hawkeyes poised for a breakout in 2023 college football season

A look at five Iowa Hawkeyes who can become the next stars of the Iowa football program during the 2023 college football season.

A new spring season of Hawkeyes football is upon us, folks! If you know anything about Iowa ball, they have an established pipeline to the NFL. You’ll rarely find a draft without Hawkeye representation and this year is no different.

Iowa has five candidates for the upcoming 2023 NFL draft in defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness, linebacker Jack Campbell, tight end Sam LaPorta, cornerback Riley Moss, and safety Kaevon Merriweather. Van Ness, Campbell, and LaPorta have been the talk of the NFL Draft community after their stellar NFL Combine performances.

Van Ness in particular featured highly in recent mock drafts. Moss and Merriweather also have a number of fans in the football world as well.

Despite being known as a program greater than the sum of its parts, every year Iowa football manages to produce stars who go on to the NFL. That team-first mentality really aids in preparing players for the next level. Five key stars are moving on, but who will be the next breakout stars in Iowa City?

With the depth charts released for the spring season, we now have a better idea of how these players are viewed by the coaching staff. With that in mind and combined with what we already saw last year, here are five breakout candidates to keep an eye on throughout spring ball.

Iowa Stock Index: Hawkeyes’ stock report after win over Wisconsin

Iowa got the job done in a 24-10 win over Wisconsin. Whose stock is rising, whose stock is falling after the win over the Badgers?

The Iowa Hawkeyes essentially have the driver’s seat in the Big Ten West. A sentence more or less unfathomable just a month ago is a very real situation and a reality that is fully upon us.

At 6-4, following a rivalry victory over the Wisconsin Badgers for the Heartland Trophy, the Hawkeyes are tied for first place in the Big Ten West. If they win out against Minnesota and Nebraska, paired with Michigan taking care of Illinois next weekend, the Hawkeyes are returning to Indianapolis.

The three-game win streak they are riding right now has seen efforts from all three units at different times and has Iowa not only tied for first in the Big Ten West, but officially bowl eligible as well.

Quite a few Hawkeyes have had their hands in the mix helping create this winning streak, but there are a few that are seeing their stock rising as we continue down the final stretch of the season.

One honorable mention is whoever played “Jump Around” in Kinnick following the game to really let Wisconsin know who won the rivalry.

Week 1 Iowa Hawkeyes defensive depth chart versus the South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Iowa released their first defensive depth chart of the season. What changes were made for their week one clash against South Dakota State?

Iowa released their depth chart on Monday for their week one clash against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits and it surely is interesting. Virtually nothing is changed on the defensive line from the depth chart we’ve already seen, and that might puzzle some.

Some players are listed at different areas on the chart than how we’ve seen them used during camp. The most important thing to note with head coach Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes, the depth chart is not the be all end all. Just like the pirates code, Iowa’s depth chart is more what you would call guidelines instead of rules.

Defensive coordinator Phil Parker and defensive line coach Kelvin Bell know how to utilize their guys best, relying on the depth and versatility abundant with this unit. Expect to see Iowa’s front line look a lot different on game day. That being said, here’s a look at the week one defensive depth chart that was released.

Iowa Hawkeyes’ Lukas Van Ness appears to answer positional question in interview

After a recent interview, there appears to be no doubts about where talented Iowa defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness will play in 2022.

Pretty much all offseason it has been assumed that Iowa sophomore defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness would slide over to defensive end. It just made too much sense.

Senior Zach VanValkenburg, the team leader in tackles for loss last season with 15, has graduated and is trying to crack the Las Vegas Raiders roster. Lukas Van Ness, while effective last year as a rotational defensive tackle, is a bit undersized for playing inside full time. He self admittedly played at 265 pounds last year, and while he is bigger this year (around 270-275 pounds), he still is light for a tackle. With his athleticism at his size, though, sliding over to defensive end was just a no brainer, right?

While everyone assumed the change was going to be made, and there was evidence in favor of that of course, there were still some lingering doubts. The biggest reason for doubt was the Hawkeyes’ own preseason depth chart, where he once again appeared as a backup defensive tackle.

Now, a depth chart doesn’t always accurately describe what the team plans to do. While senior Joe Evans, the co-leader in sacks last season with Van Ness, is listed as the starter at defensive end, he is more of a designated pass rusher. The preseason depth chart created a bit of confusion about Van Ness’ role in 2022, though, especially with all of the national media coverage of his potential breakout.

It seems that Van Ness himself has cleared up any questions about him sliding over to end in a recent interview with Hawk Central‘s Chad Leistikow.

“I guess you could call it home. I definitely do enjoy being outside,” Van Ness commented on his new position. “I like the space, and being able to use my abilities. I definitely do like defensive end.”

That quote certainly doesn’t sound like a player prepared to once again serve as a rotational defensive tackle.

Iowa can proceed forward with their defensive line in an incredibly interesting way. While they have a talented potential starting four with John Waggoner and Lukas Van Ness flanking tackles Logan Lee and Noah Shannon, they have the depth to get solid contributions out of multiple players in a more rotational system. Of course Joe Evans, as mentioned before, was extremely effective rushing off the edge last year with seven sacks. He will still see a significant amount of time, especially in passing down situations.

A trio of redshirt sophomores in Deontae Craig, Yahya Black, and Ethan Hurkett all have shown things to get excited about over the offseason. Both Craig and Hurkett were featured in a report a few weeks ago by Hawk Central’s Kennington Lloyd Smith. Craig is generating a lot of internal buzz. Don’t forget about true freshman Aaron Graves either, the 2021 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year and Adidas All-American. Graves is already turning heads early on. There is a lot of potential future firepower on this defensive line.

Iowa has the ability to go multiple players deep on a defensive line that can be one of the best in the country. They should be fantastic against the run, and there’s even more room for improvement rushing the passer compared to last year. Not only is there a ton of depth, multiple players can slide into different positions, including Van Ness who should be used as a chess piece along the defensive line. Look for Van Ness to spearhead a dangerous Iowa defensive front.

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‘I think so’: Iowa LB Seth Benson believes Hawkeyes’ defense can be better in 2022

Can Iowa’s defense actually be better in 2022? That’s the question the Hawkeyes have been getting asked. There’s reasons to say yes.

Expecting Iowa’s defense to improve upon what that unit accomplished in 2021 might seem like a tall task at first glance. After all, the Hawkeyes finished No. 13 nationally in scoring defense, surrendering just 19.2 points per game.

Iowa also ranked No. 17 in total defense and reeled in an FBS-best 25 interceptions. Topping all of that would be quite the feat for Hawkeye defensive coordinator Phil Parker and his group.

Plus, the Hawkeyes are set to replace a pair of key cogs on the back end defensively in cornerback Matt Hankins and safety Jack Koerner. Then, there’s fellow starters in defensive end Zach VanValkenburg and CASH Dane Belton that need replacing.

Those four players combined for 130 career starts. Last season alone, that group accounted for 237 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 15 pass breakups, 11 quarterback hurries, 10 interceptions and 5.5 sacks.

Still, Iowa returns plenty of firepower defensively. Up front, the Hawkeyes bring back Yahya Black, Deontae Craig, Joe Evans, Logan Lee, Lukas Van Ness, Noah Shannon and John Waggoner. In his first summer availability, Lee was already raving about Iowa’s defensive line depth.

In the secondary, Sporting News tabbed cornerback Riley Moss as a first-team preseason All-America selection. It’s the third different media outlet to do so. There’s plenty of optimism surrounding what fellow corners Cooper DeJean, Jermari Harris and Terry Roberts can bring to the table.

Then, at safety, Sebastian Castro, Kaevon Merriweather, Jaxon Rexroth and Quinn Schulte all represent reliable options. Five-star freshman defensive back Xavier Nwankpa also figures to have his imprints on this defense sooner rather than later.

And, of course, there’s the linebackers. Senior Jack Campbell has been getting plenty of preseason love after leading the country with 143 tackles last season. He joins Moss as a preseason first-team All-America selection by Sporting News, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.

It’s for those reasons that returning weak side linebacker Seth Benson believes defensive improvement could in fact be a reality for the Hawkeyes in 2022.

“Yeah, I think so. Obviously, just got to keep pushing ourselves. Communication. It comes down to communication and executing everything, so just continue to push ourselves, not set limits for ourselves and just keep going upwards,” Benson said with HawkeyeReport‘s Tom Kakert.

While Campbell has deservingly received plenty of preseason recognition, Benson registered 105 tackles, eight quarterback hurries, 5.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two sacks, and in interception in his own right in 2021.

Iowa also has Jestin Jacobs back. The 6-foot-4, 238 pound Englewood, Ohio, native tallied 53 tackles, a pair of quarterback hurries, two sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and 0.5 sack last season.

“Yeah, just super excited, ready to just get things rolling and start getting back out there and start playing again. Besides the fact of the on-field stuff, it’s just a great group to be with every day and work with. Even past Jack and Jestin, all those guys, Kyler (Fisher), Jay (Higgins), Logan Klemp, just down the list. Just a great group of guys to be with that push each other and know the ultimate goal that we’re trying to get to,” Benson said.

Jacobs echoed Benson’s optimism for Iowa’s defense entering 2022 with Hawk Central‘s Chad Leistikow.

“I’m very optimistic. Just because I’m seeing every day what we’re doing, how we’re putting in our work, how we’re focusing on the little things each and every day. It definitely leaves me with confidence in our defense knowing that each and every day we’re working to get better,” Jacobs said.

As the architect of Iowa’s defense, Parker gets a lion’s share of the credit. But don’t forget about the contributions from linebackers coach Seth Wallace.

“It is one of the most rewarding things, one of the most challenging days, but one of the best men I’ve been able to meet and be coached by and I’d say one of the best coaches I’ve ever been a part of as well. Each and every day he’s going to come in and he’s going to push you to your absolute best. Even if you make a good play, he’s always going to be critical on you, because you can make another good play and you can do it even better.

“He just knows how to get me going. He knows how to push me to the best. He knows how to critique me. To my fundamentals, to my effort. Every single thing. He’s one of the first coaches here and always one of the last coaches to leave just because he’s going to spend the same time on each and every one of us. And one of the most detailed guys. I could go on and on and on,” Benson said of Wallace.

Parker and Wallace have ingrained selflessness within the Hawkeyes’ defenders as well. It’s something Jacobs admits he didn’t arrive in Iowa City with. Or, at least not to the degree he exhibits while manning the CASH position today.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t say it always has been, but I would definitely say it made me grow as a person and it made me grow into that role. Knowing that sacrificing for the betterment of the team is going to make us all better in the end. It’s not about yourself. At the end of the day, you’re playing alongside 10 of your brothers and each play somebody’s relying on you to do your job. That took me a little bit of time to learn and I definitely appreciate that about our defense,” Jacobs said.

Selfless and talented. Defining characteristics of this Iowa defense heading into fall camp, and two reasons why eclipsing 2021 just might be possible.

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‘We have a great opportunity to make an impact’: Logan Lee helping lead Iowa defensive line

Logan Lee is excited about the depth that Iowa’s defensive line brings to the table heading into 2022 and hopefully individual growth.

Logan Lee is one of the big reasons why Iowa fans should be excited about what the Hawkeyes’ defensive line figures to bring to the table in 2022. The 6-foot-5, 275 pound defensive tackle from Orion, Ill., cracked Iowa’s rotation for the first time in 2021 and didn’t disappoint.

Lee started all 14 games as one of the Hawkeyes’ defensive tackles and ended the 2021 season with 48 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, a pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. He’s hoping for more in 2022.

“The biggest thing I’ve always valued is being able to help the team as much as I can and working as hard as I can to be able to put myself in that position. I’ve always been very confident with my abilities. I’m always willing to bet on myself. I knew my time would come and it was able to come last year. I’m planning on completely exceeding that this year,” Lee said with Hawk Central and Iowa reporters earlier this week.

Asked what exceeding 2021 would look like, Lee served up the following.

“Just being able to increase production predominantly, so being able to stay on the field longer and being able to just help the defense as much as I can with my production,” Lee said.

Now that he has a full season’s experience under his belt, an increased workload and jumps in production are reasonable expectations. Still, Lee understands that the nature of his position means that playing assignment-sound football doesn’t always net production at least when it comes to the stat sheet.

“Absolutely. Coach (Kelvin) Bell does a great job. We know what he’s looking for, and there’s oftentimes (where) to you guys it might seem like a failed rep, right? But, to coach Bell, he’s like, ‘You did your job. That was a great rep.’ It was A-plus on the grade sheet, so we go plus and minuses. More often than not, there’s actually a play that might look bad is actually a plus on the sheet because it’s what we are asked to do,” Lee said.

That being said, pass rush is one area he’s really zeroed in on enhancing throughout this offseason.

“I’m doing a lot of hand-fighting stuff. I’ve got a pop-up bag back home and then I’m able to come into the facility at any time of the day, so I do a lot of hand-fighting stuff so I’m able to improve my hand-eye coordination for the pass rush,” Lee said.

The other area would be continuing to add to his 275-pound frame and fine-tuning his understanding of defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s defense.

“Some of the biggest things I think would be beneficial for me are being able to improve my conditioning. That’s always a big thing. I’d like to be able to gain a little bit of weight right now. I’ve kind of plateaued a little bit, but I think I’m doing well. And then, just more knowledge of our defense and why everything’s doing what we’re doing,” Lee said.

Lee joins an Iowa defensive line that also returns starting defensive tackle Noah Shannon and starting defensive end John Waggoner. That duo combined for 72 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Plus, Iowa is expecting big things from Lukas Van Ness and also sees the returns of Joe Evans, Yahya Black and Deontae Craig.

“We’ve got a great group. We’ve got a ton of guys that are potentially capable of playing. There’s close to a dozen guys that we could travel, so there’s quite a few. I’m not going to name any names specifically, but I think we have a great opportunity to make an impact this year,” Lee said.

Then, there’s the defensive line signees from the 2022 class that includes Aaron Graves, Caden Crawford and Brian Allen. While he wasn’t actively looking to name specific standouts up front, Lee was asked what he’s seen of Graves so far.

“He looks really good. He’s moving really well. Great kid. Big fan of him. I’m excited to see what he’s able to do. I’m just trying to kind of take him under my wing a little bit and help him out as much as I can,” Lee said.

It’s an exciting group of players that the Hawkeyes feature along their defensive line heading into 2022 and Lee is one of the puzzle pieces making that the case.

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