Tag: Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs declares for 2020 NFL draft

Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is leaving school early to enter the 2020 NFL draft

One of the top offensive tackles in the nation is making the early jump from college football to the pro ranks.

Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs is leaving school early to enter the 2020 NFL draft. He made his announcement via social media Tuesday.

Listed at 6-5, 322 pounds, Wirfs appeared in 35 games over three seasons with the Hawkeyes, establishing himself as one of the premier blockers in all of college football. Widely regarded as one of the top prospects at his position in this year’s draft class, Wirfs is currently projected to be a top-15 pick in April.

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Iowa EDGE A.J. Epenesa declares for 2020 NFL draft

Iowa edge defender A.J. Epenesa is leaving school early to enter the 2020 NFL draft

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Thank you Hawkeye Nation!

A post shared by AJ Epenesa (@supersamoan94) on

One of the most dominant EDGE rushers in the country is making the early jump to the pro ranks.

Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa has decided to forego his remaining eligibility and enter the 2020 NFL draft. He announced his decision via his Instagram account.

Plenty of teams could benefit from adding Epenesa’s game-breaking ability to their defense. He is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the counry. He should be a lock to hear his name called among the top 15 picks.

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How to Watch Maryland vs. Iowa, NCAA Basketball Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Watch Maryland vs. Iowa Live Online.

After a strong non-conference showing, the Maryland Terrapins and Iowa Hawkeyes find themselves at opposite ends of the Big Ten standings in the early stages of conference play. With the Terrapins near the top of the league and Iowa near the bottom, the Hawkeyes will look to get back on track in the Big Ten when they play host for this conference showdown.

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Maryland vs. Iowa

  • When: Friday, January 10
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • TV: FS1
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Maryland picked up its third straight win in its last contest, beating a ranked Ohio State team 67-55 at home. Anthony Cowan Jr. paced the Terrapins, pouring on 20 points in the victory, including 10 points from the free throw line. The difference in the game came at the three-point line with Maryland shooting 8-for-18 from three compared to a 5-for-27 effort from long range for the Buckeyes. Maryland has yet to win a true road game this season, going 0-2 in enemy territory.

Iowa lost its second straight game earlier in the week, falling 76-70 on the road to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Despite 21 points from Joe Wieskamp, the Hawkeyes could not get the job done in Lincoln, with three-point shooting being a big reason why. Iowa went 4-for-33 from deep range, which proved to be insurmountable. Center Luka Garza leads Iowa in scoring on the year with over 22 points per game. Getting him more involved could be a priority in this matchup.

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Wisconsin decade in review: Badgers vs Iowa

Wisconsin vs. Iowa

As the 2019 season brings to a close another decade of college football, Badgers Wire has been engaged in a series of reflective pieces. “Record Review” is another series examining how the Badgers have fared against the rest of the Big Ten Conference this past decade. Next up is an examination of the Badgers’ record against one of their chief divisional opponents. Iowa is a truly weird matchup for the Badgers. While they have the edge, this Big Ten West clash is the most difficult to explain and put into context. Let’s take a look at why. 

Using Stassen, Badgers Wire pulled up every result against Iowa this past decade. The Badgers have an impressive 7-2 record over Iowa in that time. The truly odd part about this series is that the Badgers dominate Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, going 5-0, but are 2-2 at home. The Badgers just pulled even at home in 2019 with a close 24-22 win over the Hawkeyes. Close still gets the job done, but it’s fascinating that the average margin of victory in Iowa is 26-17 for the Badgers, but that drops to 19.5-16.5 for Wisconsin when adding the Badgers’ home games. It’s just odd. 

Obviously this game means a lot for both teams. It is often a game that can decide a division, since these two teams are often in the mix in the Big Ten West, though that could be changing with the emergence of Minnesota. We will have to wait and see. 

The toughest loss for Wisconsin against Iowa in the past decade is probably the 2015 game. Had Wisconsin won that game, the Badgers would have won the division. They lost a 10-6 game and had a couple chances to win, but couldn’t get the job done. Wisconsin would have had a crack at Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game, but that honor went to Iowa.

The Badgers seemingly have the Hawkeyes’ number, so the idea here would be to improve their play at home in the series in the new decade. It sounds odd to say that about a rivalry they’re currently dominating, but that’s where we sit. That is what needs to happen for the Badgers against Iowa. If they can do that and maintain their current level of play in other divisional matchups (and improving versus Northwestern), they’re going to have a chance to compete for a good number of conference championships in 2020 and beyond. A team needs to win every game, but Iowa is a team Bucky must continue to consistently beat if it wants to continue claiming Big Ten West crowns.

2020 NFL draft: A.J. Epenesa scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Iowa edge defender A.J. Epenesa

AJ Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa

Height | 6-6

Weight | 280

Class | Junior

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

  • Excellent hand usage and strength at the point of attack
  • Powerful hands that overwhelms offensive tackles
  • Plays with great leverage at the point of attack
  • Very developed pass rusher with wide array of moves
  • Showcases ability to use club, push-pull, bull rush, and other pass rush moves
  • Tireless motor and energy on every play
  • Excellent closing speed in pursuit of the ball carrier
  • Great timing off the snap
  • Excellent leadership on and off the field for the Hawkeyes

Weaknesses

  • Good bend, but not great around the edge
  • Not very explosive off the line, wins mostly with technique
  • Overall speed and athleticism are a bit of a concern as he isn’t elite in these areas
  • Needs to work on his counters after his initial rush move is stopped

Bottom Line

One of the top players in the country, Epenesa looks to be a top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. His strength, technique, and leadership should make him one of the safer picks in this draft class as he does everything that a coach could want from a defensive end.

He had a fairly quiet start to the 2019 season, but all the traits from a technique standpoint are there on film. The only concern is if teams will be willing to overlook some athletic limitations in his game that may limit his upside. He should be a very good NFL player for a long time regardless.

Current Projection: Top 15

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Holiday Bowl: USC Trojans vs. Iowa Hawkeyes odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Holiday Bowl betting odds between the USC Trojans and the Iowa Hawkeyes, with betting picks, tips and bets.

The USC Trojans (8-4) will battle the Iowa Hawkeyes (9-3) Friday at SDCCU Stadium in San Diego at 8 p.m. (on FS1). We analyze the USC-Iowa odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

USC vs. Iowa: Three things you need to know

1. USC finished the regular season fifth in the nation in passing yards at 335 yards per game.

2. USC has failed to cover in seven straight games against a Big Ten opponent.

3. The point total has gone UNDER in six of the last eight non-home games for USC.

USC vs. Iowa: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 3:40 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Iowa 30, USC 27

Moneyline (ML)

Iowa (-134) is a small moneyline favorite over USC (+110). But considering how low the spread is here, you are better off taking the Hawkeyes at -2.5 while getting better odds. With this in mind, AVOID a moneyline wager.

Against the Spread (ATS)

IOWA (-2.5, -110) is the play, being less than a field-goal favorite. While USC does have one of the better passing attacks in all of college football, Iowa’s veteran defense should have no problem slowing the Trojans down. The Hawkeyes have allowed the fifth-fewest points in the country and excel stopping the pass. Iowa is just a bad matchup for USC.

Over/Under (O/U)

The O/U is 51.5 (Over -115, Under -106) in part due to Iowa’s outstanding defense. However, that total seems slightly low despite the Under hitting in six of the last eight games involving the Hawkeyes. Look for this to be a fairly low-scoring game, but for the OVER 51.5 (-115) to hit late in the fourth quarter.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Marcus_Mosher and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Big Ten, big ’20s: Iowa football

Iowa football in the 2020s

Mark Hasty is one of the best people I have come to know on #CollegeFootballTwitter. It has been fascinating to be a sportswriter in the Twitter era, having conversations with fans and commentators across the country about the various sports I cover. I learn so much from the people I talk to, even though I never meet them in person. Mark rates high on the list, imparting wise, original, textured thoughts on matters from football to media to religion. He is one of a kind, and I treasure his insights.

Mark wrote a poignant, typically layered column at his current sportswriting home on Hayden Fry, the Iowa icon who died last week at age 90. Make sure you read it.

I asked Mark Hasty, an Iowa football observer of considerable esteem, to size up the program’s next decade. Here is what Mark had to say:

*

The biggest question for Iowa football next decade will be how it handles the transition we all know is coming. Kirk Ferentz is a very youthful 64 and under contract through 2026, when he will be 71. It’s unlikely but not impossible he’ll be extended, so all us Iowa fans assume we have seven more seasons of the Captain. The question is “what’s next?”

It’s generally assumed that Ferentz wants his son Brian, who is currently Iowa’s offensive coordinator, to replace him. Many Iowa fans are lukewarm to that prospect, since Iowa under Kirk Ferentz has never been known for offensive prowess. But I think Hawkeye fans should consider the possibility that the elder Ferentz has limited the tools in Iowa’s playbook.

I’ve done extensive research on coaching changes in the Big Ten and I’ve found that continuity of staff is one of the largest factors in maintaining long-term success. Iowa has been a fairly consistent seven- to nine-win football team over the last forty seasons. That is not dominance, but it’s a long history of success. “Evolution, not revolution” would be a good philosophy to follow.

Iowa fans who want more sweeping change should look one state to the west and realize that change won’t automatically turn Iowa in to a 10-win team that fights for the College Football Playoff.

— Mark Hasty

10 for 20: Iowa basketball

Iowa basketball in the 2020s

The Iowa Hawkeyes aren’t expected to be a giant in the college basketball world, but the program has shown under numerous coaches that it can reach a relatively lofty place in the sport — not the top tier, but in a very solid and respectable second tier below the heavyweights. No, Iowa shouldn’t be expected to be Michigan State or Ohio State, but it is hard to deny the sense that it should be a little more dependable than it has been under Fran McCaffery.

Iowa, to be very clear, is a hard-to-peg Big Ten program. It doesn’t have the access to big-city talent other league schools enjoy. It doesn’t have a towering reputation, but it does have an appreciably impressive basketball tradition developed by Ralph Miller, Lute Olson, and Tom Davis, three great college basketball coaches. If one is to ask about the big challenge facing Iowa basketball in the 2020s, you will probably get many different responses and many different standards. Some will say Iowa ought to be making more Sweet 16s — it has made none under McCaffery. Some will say Iowa needs to get higher NCAA seeds. The highest under Fran is No. 7. Those are good answers.

To me, however, the ultimate challenge facing Iowa basketball is this: Can it make the NCAA Tournament a high percentage of the time? That gets at the sense of underachievement in Iowa City more than anything else.

If you look at Iowa under Fran McCaffery, you will note that the Hawkeyes have missed the NCAAs five times in nine seasons. Sweet 16s are good, and more high seeds will likely translate to a Sweet 16, but before Iowa tackles those bigger goals, the Hawkeyes simply have to get to the Big Show more often. Wisconsin is a really good role model here. The Badgers wouldn’t always thrive under Bo Ryan in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, but they were always there. One of those years, they were bound to do better, and they did occasionally climb higher.

Wisconsin fans won’t mind if Iowa continues to stumble… but if Iowa wants to reach a specific level of quality in the coming decade, it needs to give itself more chances in March.

Saints’ pass rush gets stronger in ESPN’s 2020 NFL mock draft

The New Orleans Saints selected the best player available in Todd McShay’s first 2020 NFL mock draft, adding Iowa Hawkeyes DE A.J. Epenesa.

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What is the biggest offseason need for the New Orleans Saints? With an 11-3 record and one of the NFL’s deepest and most widely-talented rosters, there isn’t much to complain about. There’s a good chance that they struggle to find a day-one starter in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Maybe wide receiver is the position to target. While Michael Thomas has managed the tall task of running a one-man show, it’s a very bad thing that he outpaces the next-best wide receiver by 104 receptions, 1,441 receiving yards, and four touchdown catches.

Guard could be an option if the Saints focus on offense. While they have two Pro Bowlers on each side of the offensive line, they’re both hurt, and left guard Andrus Peat is going to be a free agent in March (with right guard Larry Warford on track to test free agency a year later).

Quarterback is fascinating. The Saints will get the opportunity to scout several big-name draft prospects at January’s Senior Bowl, such as Utah State’s gambling Jordan Love and unfinished Michigan project Shea Patterson. Other names worth monitoring include Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurd and his former Alabama teammate Tua Tagovailoa.

The first mock draft from ESPN senior writer Tod McShay throws the Saints a curve ball, connecting them with Iowa Hawkeyes defensive en A.J. Epenesa. McShay cites the injuries that have struck the Saints defensive front this season as a natural draw for the team to target Epenesa, though he acknowledges needs at wide receiver and quarterback, too:

The Saints’ defensive line depth has been ravaged this season, and Epenesa is a powerful end with a high ceiling. The Saints also have a need at receiver, and they could keep a close eye on the quarterback class, with Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater headed to free agency. But Epenesa offers the best value at No. 29, and adding a quality edge rusher is never a bad call.

It would be tough to question Epenesa being the selection. He’s a well-coached technician who has bagged 24 sacks (34.5 total tackles for loss of yards), 8 forced fumbles (1 recovery), and 7 passes defensed in his first three years for the Hawkeyes (a stretch of 36 games). The big junior is listed at 6-foot-6, 280 pounds, and could help out right away if Marcus Davenport’s recovery from Lisfranc surgery lags into the regular season.

And if Davenport does return in time for training camp, there’s absolutely room for them to both coexist behind Cameron Jordan at the top of the defensive end rotation. Trey Hendrickson will be in a contract year next season, as will be defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. Starting tackle David Onyemata is scheduled to see which offers are out there in free agency. Epenesa has the frame to bulk up further and rush from interior alignments sometimes, as do Davenport and Jordan.

The Saints ran an eight-man rotation along the defensive line in 2019; adding a talented first-rounder to the mix in 2020 makes plenty of sense despite their other needs. Still, it would be nice to see them target a position of higher need, but maybe they’ll be able to invest well in free agency and go into the draft ready to select the best players available, regardless of position. Isn’t that the goal?

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Hayden Fry’s Coaching Tree Spread to South Bend for Decades

When you take a look you find the names of Bob, Mark and Mike Stoops, Bill Snyder, Kirk Ferentz and Bret Bielema along with plenty of others.

You’ll also find a pair of former Notre Dame defensive coordinators that led Notre Dame to their two most-recent national championship game appearances.

Former Iowa head coach, the legendary Hayden Fry died on Tuesday at the age of 90 after battling cancer.

Fry is best known for his 20 years as the head coach at Iowa where he took the Hawkeyes from being a Big Ten doormat to 14 bowl games including three appearances in the Rose Bowl.  Iowa has been back to Pasadena just once since his career ended following the 1998 season.

Notre Dame and Iowa haven’t met on the gridiron since October of 1968 so Fry never went head-to-head coaching against Notre Dame while with Iowa.

What you’ll hear many discuss when Fry is remembered is his flat-out ridiculous coaching tree.

When you take a look you find the names of Bob, Mark and Mike Stoops, Bill Snyder, Kirk Ferentz and Bret Bielema along with plenty of others.

You’ll also find a pair of former Notre Dame defensive coordinators that led Notre Dame to their two most-recent national championship game appearances.

Before getting to Notre Dame as part of Lou Holtz’s staff in 1987, Barry Alvarez was linebackers coach at Iowa for Fry from 1979-86, joining Fry’s staff after a brief but successful run as a head high school coach in Iowa.

Fry is said to have been upset when Alvarez left Iowa to work with Holtz but was even more enraged when Alvarez eventually took the Wisconsin job in 1990 and hired away a couple of Fry’s most valued assistants.

The other name you’ll see on Fry’s coaching tree that will be especially familiar for Notre Dame fans is that of Bob Diaco.

Diaco played for Fry from 1992-95, earning a spot on the All Big Ten second-team as a linebacker in 1995.  He also got his start in coaching as a grad-assistant under Fry in 1996 and ’97.

“Bob Diaco is one of the all-time great leaders I’ve had in 47 years of coaching” Fry said of Diaco in 2013.

Fry died Tuesday at the age of 90.

His career ended with a record of 232-178-6 with stops at SMU and North Texas (State) before landing at Iowa.  Fry was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.