Tag: Hawkeyes Football

Best photos of Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Jack Campbell entering 2022

Iowa has a star at middle linebacker in Jack Campbell. Here’s a look at his Hawkeye career thus far through these fantastic photos.

Iowa has itself a star at middle linebacker in Jack Campbell. The 6-foot-5, 243 pound linebacker earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the Big Ten’s media and Phil Steele last season.

The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native was also one of 16 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker. It all makes sense after Campbell burst onto the scene with a 2021 season in which he led all of college football with 143 total tackles.

Campbell showcased he’s more than just a run-stopper as he intercepted a pair of passes in 2021, one of which he returned 32 yards for a touchdown to ice the Hawkeyes’ 33-23 win over Illinois. He also had a six-yard scoop-and-score touchdown in Iowa’s 27-17 rivalry win over the Iowa State Cyclones last season. That helped locked down a sixth consecutive win in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series for the Hawkeyes.

Campbell has emerged as one of the top stars in all of college football. Naturally, he’s already enjoyed a lengthy list of highlights and is set to provide more of the same in 2022. Here’s a look back at Campbell’s Hawkeye career thus far through these fantastic photos.

2023 EDGE David Caulker commits, becomes Iowa Hawkeyes’ 10th pledge

Iowa’s 2023 recruiting class expanded to double-figures with the commitment of three-star edge rusher David Caulker of North High School.

After visiting Iowa during the spring, class of 2023 edge rusher and defensive end David Caulker was back on campus for the Hawkeyes’ recent football camp. The 6-foot-4, 256 pound defensive lineman is out of North High School in Des Moines, Iowa.

After impressing the coaching staff, Caulker picked up that elusive offer from the Hawkeyes. It didn’t take long for him to make a decision either. He committed to Iowa on the same day.

HawkeyeInsider’s David Eickholt detailed Caulker’s commitment over on 247Sports with analysis from his colleague, Allen Trieu.

“Caulker is a high ceiling player. He is still raw but his body type and twitch are what you want in a Big Ten defensive line prospect,” 247Sports’ Allen Trieu told HawkeyeInsider. “Iowa is a place that can develop him and craft those tools. It is a good match for both sides but I am not surprised he has gone on the offer run he has recently because defensive linemen with his skill set are tough to find.” – Eickholt, HawkeyeInsider.

According to 247Sports, Caulker is a three-star recruit, the nation’s No. 77 edge rusher and the No. 10 player from the state of Iowa. Rivals also lists Caulker as a three-star talent. He also had offers from Iowa State, Kent State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa.

“First off, I would love to thank my parents for bringing me into this world. Then I would love to thank my teammates, coaches and staff at North High School. I would not have gotten this far without you.

“I would also like to thank any coach who has ever recruited me, I will be forever grateful for the belief you had in me! Finally, I would like to thank Coach Addy, Coach Niemann, and Coach Bell; the impact you’ve had on my life is immeasurable! With that being said, I am 110 percent committed to continuing my academic and football career at the University of Iowa,” Caulker wrote in his commitment announcement.

Caulker becomes the 10th Hawkeye commit in the 2023 class. The full look at Iowa’s 2023 class is below.

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Iowa Hawkeyes Snapshot Profile: No. 99 Noah Shannon

Noah Shannon finally earned a starting role after three years of growing in the Iowa system. Can he elevate his game in his senior season?

Continuing with a deep dive into Iowa’s strong returning defensive line, Noah Shannon is an experienced defensive tackle for the Hawkeyes looking to build off of a good first season as a starter. It’s been a long road for Shannon.

The Montgomery, Ill., native started his journey as a Hawkeye all the way back in 2018. He waited for his opportunity, and his hard work paid off in 2021.

Shannon got the starting job last season and did well in combination with Logan Lee. While his 48 total tackles and two sacks might not jump right off the screen, he does a lot of little things well for the Iowa defense. He might not be the biggest guy, but his burst into the backfield is always a threat and he can create consistent pressure. He waited a long time to be the starter and now looks to have an even better senior year.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Montgomery, Ill.

Ht: 6-0

Wt: 289

Class in 2022: Redshirt Senior

247Sports composite ranking

2018 three-star / No. 50 Defensive Tackle / No. 11 Player in Illinois

Defense & Fumbles Table
Tackles Def Int Fumbles
Year School Conf Class Pos G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD PD FR Yds TD FF
*2019 Iowa Big Ten FR DL 5 2 3 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 1
2020 Iowa Big Ten SO DL 6 6 5 11 0.5 0.5 0 0 0 1 0 0
*2021 Iowa Big Ten JR DL 13 21 26 47 2.0 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career Iowa 29 34 63 2.5 2.5 0 0 0 1 1 1
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 6/5/2022.

Depth Chart Overview

Shannon is currently slated to start once again opposite Lee, but it certainly is a situation to monitor. Looking at spring depth charts, Lukas Van Ness is listed as the backup to Shannon.

Van Ness was a rotational defensive tackle last year as a redshirt freshman and looked like a soon-to-be star. Many expected him to take over for Zach VanValkenburg at edge rusher given his size and ability, but that remains to be seen. If they’re committed to keeping him at tackle, Shannon might be the listed starter but see a nearly equal snap count with Van Ness.

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Best photos of Noah Shannon’s Iowa Hawkeyes career entering 2022

After his best season with Iowa, Hawkeyes defensive lineman Noah Shannon is looking to improve upon his 47 tackles in 2021.

After a career year with the Iowa Hawkeyes, defensive lineman Noah Shannon is looking to build upon that success. The 6-foot, 289 pound defensive tackle registered 47 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pair of sacks in 2021 for Iowa.

It was easily his best season with the Hawkeyes. Shannon eclipsed his previous best single-season tackles total from the 2020 season by 36. Now, Iowa is counting on even more production from the fifth-year senior.

Listed atop the depth chart to begin the spring season as the Hawkeyes’ starting left defensive tackle, Shannon will have the opportunity to enjoy his finest season in the black and gold.

The Oswego High School product out of Montgomery, Ill., arrived in Iowa City as a three-star signee in the 2018 class. According to 247Sports, Shannon was the No. 68 defensive tackle and the No. 25 player out of Illinois.

He chose the Hawkeyes over offers from schools such as Arkansas, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia and Washington State.

Here’s a look back at his career with the Hawkeyes thus far through these great photos.

Two former Iowa Hawkeyes nominated for NFF Hall of Fame

Dallas Clark and Robert Gallery are two former members of the Iowa Hawkeyes football team that have been nominated for the NFF Hall of Fame.

The Iowa Hawkeyes find themselves boasting more accolades from former stars who stood out in Kinnick Stadium throughout their careers. Former Hawkeyes tight end Dallas Clark and offensive tackle Robert Gallery have been nominated for the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.

The two overlapped for a couple of years at the beginning of the 2000s and were integral parts on offense contributing to the Hawkeyes’ success. Clark transitioned from linebacker to tight end, while Gallery made the move from tight end to offensive tackle. Those moves illustrate the success Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz has had at developing players in a myriad of ways.

Clark adds this to his recent announcement earlier this month as a soon-to-be inductee into the Iowa Hall of Fame. He spent the 1999-2002 seasons in Iowa City before going to the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft where he had a healthy career that included a Super Bowl title.

While at Iowa from 2000-2003, Gallery was an All-Big Ten selection, consensus All-American, and an Outland Trophy winner, which is given to the best offensive lineman in the nation. Gallery went on to be a first round selection in the 2004 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders where he spent seven of his eight NFL seasons during a successful NFL career.

To be eligible for a nomination into the NFF Hall of Fame, a player must be recognized as a first-team All American selection and at least 10 years removed from the collegiate game. Gallery and Clark are part of a nomination class that includes 80 other former FBS players. The selections will be made in early 2023.

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Former Iowa Hawkeyes star Tristan Wirfs named to CBS Sports’ top 25 NFL players under 25

Former Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman and NFL Super Bowl winner Tristan Wirfs was named to CBS Sports’ top 25 players under 25 in the NFL.

First true freshman offensive lineman to start for Kirk Ferentz. First-team All-Big Ten selection. First-round NFL draft selection. Super Bowl winner in his first season. There are a lot of firsts for former Iowa Hawkeyes offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs.

The next that can be added is being tabbed as one of the top 25 players in the NFL under 25 years old.  Wirfs finds himself at No. 12 on the list of all NFL players 25 years or younger.

He finds himself in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, and the quarterback of the most recent AFC representative in the Super Bowl, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Wirfs called Iowa City home from 2017-2019 during a stretch where he was a stone wall on the offensive line and that has only continued to translate in his NFL career. It should be worth noting that Wirfs shocked the internet when he put up a hang clean of 450 pounds. Seriously, watch this. Humans should not be able to move this much weight this easily.

Wirfs was selected 13th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2020 NFL draft. His landing spot with seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady could not have been more conducive to his success. While blocking for the best quarterback of all-time carries its own nuances and tasks, Wirfs took these on without any fear.

As a rookie, Wirfs allowed just one sole sack to help the Buccaneers on their way to the Super Bowl title. Not too bad for a rookie blocking for Tom Brady. It’s also impressive seeing Wirfs pretty much own Joey Bosa, one of the nearly unanimously agreed upon top pass rushers in the NFL.

Wirfs is just 23 years old and has quickly established himself as one of the top offensive linemen in the league already. It should not be a surprise to anyone to see his career continue on this high trajectory along with continued success for the former Hawkeye.

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Iowa Hawkeyes’ Monte Pottebaum No. 8 on Mel Kiper of ESPN’s fullbacks big board

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has placed Iowa Hawkeyes fullback Monte Pottebaum on his top ten lists of fullbacks in the nation.

Give me some fullback love! That is what we have here with the Iowa Hawkeyes’ Monte Pottebaum being placed on Mel Kiper’s top ten list of fullbacks and H-backs in the country leading into the 2023 NFL draft. Pottebaum finds himself at No. 8 per Kiper’s ESPN rankings.

If there is an offense that could successfully create a true, bruising fullback it would be the Hawkeyes in their old-school fashion. Pottebaum was the bulldozer for Tyler Goodson during his standout years in Iowa City.

Pottebaum is an old-school, hard-nosed player that doesn’t shy away from contact in the trenches. Being in Iowa also shows his willingness to do what it takes to be successful as he transitioned from linebacker to fullback just before the 2019 season.

While Pottebaum has the physical attributes to take on any linebacker in a fearless fashion, his game even has a little bit of finesse to it as well. During his career he has produced seven receptions for 48 yards in an offense that doesn’t throw the ball to their fullbacks all that often.

Pottebaum isn’t afraid of toting the rock either. The fullback has 76 yards on 17 carries giving him a pretty impressive output of nearly 4.5 yards per carry. He has also found the end zone and reaped the rewards of the hard work he does in the blocking game.

Fullback can often be a thankless position but Pottebaum has undertaken the role and grown into one of the top ten in the entire country. Coming back for the upcoming 2022 season should provide him plenty of opportunities to lead the way for Gavin Williams and Leshon Williams before he gets his shot in the NFL.

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Which bowl game does College Football News project the Iowa Hawkeyes to in 2022?

Let’s talk postseason! College Football News projects Iowa to make a bowl game, but which one?

The season might not start for a couple more months, but why not start thinking about the postseason?! Much like Roman Bellic from Grand Theft Auto IV, bowling is always on our minds, but which bowl should Iowa Hawkeye fans set their sights on? The good folks at College Football News recently gave their predictions for every Big Ten team’s bowl game for the 2022 season.

The Hawkeyes indeed were selected to go bowling this upcoming year, an honor that unfortunately will elude fellow Big Ten rivals Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, and Rutgers. However, they are not on course to make the Rose Bowl like Michigan or contend for the national title like Ohio State. Instead, Hawkeye Nation should start to center their New Year’s Eve plans around Nashville, Tenn.

Currently, College Football News has Iowa facing off against Ole Miss in the Transperfect Music City Bowl against Ole Miss. It’s an intriguing matchup on the surface. Ole Miss has been one of the best offenses in college football over the past several seasons, while the Hawkeyes bring back plenty of key pieces to one of college football’s stingiest defenses in 2021. The Rebels are breaking in USC transfer quarterback Jaxson Dart in 2022.

While it doesn’t have the prestige of a College Football Playoff game or the Rose Bowl, the Music City Bowl does have one of the higher payouts amongst the bowl games… so there’s something at least. It’s also without the novelty of the Cheez-It Bowl or the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, but that just means you’re safe from a mayo bath this time Kirk Ferentz.

The Music City Bowl, played between SEC and Big Ten teams, has a history of upsets. That upset history is mostly from the early 2000s, but in recent years it has become one of the most exciting and tightly contested games in the postseason slate. Last year’s iteration between Purdue and Tennessee, a 48-45 overtime thriller, has an argument for the best postseason game last season even with a very controversial ending. Jaylen Wright 100% was in.

Iowa was supposed to be in the 2020 Music City Bowl, but the game was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Missouri program. Last year, Iowa lost to Kentucky 20-17 in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl. They hold a 20-17-1 overall bowl record and have gone 9-9 in bowl games under Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz.

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ESPN’s Mel Kiper places Iowa Hawkeyes’ Sam LaPorta as the No. 2 tight end on latest big board

ESPN’s Mel Kiper placed Iowa Hawkeyes star Sam LaPorta No. 2 on his top ten list of tight ends in the nation.

Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Sam LaPorta finds himself on another top list of tight ends for the upcoming college football season and the 2023 NFL draft. This time he finds himself coming in all the way near the top as the No. 2 tight end per Mel Kiper’s latest big board rankings.

This is the highest we have seen LaPorta come in at in rankings for 2023 NFL draft prospects, but it says a lot considering it is coming from one of the flagship draft analysts out there.

Pro Football Focus has LaPorta as the No. 5 tight end overall, another piece of evidence showing a resounding belief in LaPorta as a future NFL starter. To go along with that, PFF also placed him among their list of top names to watch as draft risers during the fall of 2022.

The receiving tools are there for LaPorta as he led Big Ten tight ends in nearly every major statistical category last year along with being the Hawkeyes best pass catcher.

An area that LaPorta is developing in has been the blocking aspect of the tight end position. To take the next step to the NFL, that is somewhere teams will want to not only see a skillset in, but also a willingness to get physical in the trenches. LaPorta has shown the ability to do so.

For LaPorta, it isn’t a matter of if, but rather when he gets drafted and where he ultimately calls home following the 2023 NFL draft. For now, he has a ceiling that is sky high for this season and will very likely be the Hawkeyes’ main target offensively once again.

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Iowa Hawkeyes’ Jack Campbell No. 2 on ESPN’s inside linebackers big board

ESPN’s Mel Kiper placed Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Jack Campbell on his top ten list of inside linebackers in the nation.

We know Jack Campbell was the best run-stopping linebacker in the Power Five. We know Jack Campbell was labeled as one of 247Sports’ draft risers for the 2023 NFL draft. Now, we know that ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Jack Campbell listed as the No. 2 inside linebacker in the entire country.

The leader of Iowa’s defense being this highly rated by one of the most renowned draft analysts says a lot about how talented Campbell is, but it also shouldn’t be much of a surprise to those that know and follow the Hawkeyes.

Campbell led the Iowa defense with 143 tackles last season. His high tally of tackles proves he doesn’t just play between the tackles. His length at 6-foot-5 and his speed allow him to play sideline to sideline against running backs, tight ends, and, at times, run with receivers down the middle of the field between the hash marks.

Campbell also tends to always find himself around the ball. That isn’t by accident. Last year he had his hands on interceptions, fumble recoveries, and even became no stranger to the end zone a couple of times. Instincts and being around the football aren’t coached, but something natural and Campbell can rely on that.

Campbell has every chance to climb up into the early rounds of the 2023 NFL draft with another season like he posted in 2021. With his fellow linebackers Jestin Jacobs and Seth Benson also returning alongside him, he will be able to play freely and confidently on a defense that always has loads of talent.

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