Tag: Jermari Harris

Trio of Hawkeyes named to Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List

A trio of Iowa Hawkeyes have been named to the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list.

If things go according to plan, there will be multiple Iowa Hawkeyes up for the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award.

A trio of Hawkeyes were named to the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list. Quarterback Cade McNamara, tight end Erick All and cornerback Jermari Harris were all named to the watch list.

McNamara takes over as the Hawkeyes’ starting quarterback after guiding the Michigan Wolverines to the 2021 Big Ten title. The 6-foot-1, 205 pound quarterback passed for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns while leading Michigan to the Big Ten title and to a College Football Playoff berth that season.

After J.J. McCarthy took over as Michigan’s starter in the second game last season, McNamara suffered an injury that eventually led to a knee surgery in November of 2022.

Now, McNamara is expected to be arguably the most integral part of Iowa’s offensive turnaround.

With him in Iowa City is fellow Wolverine transfer in tight end Erick All. The 6-foot-5, 250 pound tight end snagged 38 receptions, 437 yards and two touchdowns during the 2021 season.

After that breakout season, injuries derailed his 2022 campaign. It wound up with All undergoing surgery.

Finally, Jermari Harris returns from injury to help bolster Iowa’s defensive backfield. The 6-foot-1, 190 pound corner was suspended for the Hawkeyes’ 2022 season opener after an offseason arrest for an OWI charge in April of 2022. Then, he missed the remainder of the season due to an undisclosed injury.

Harris appeared in 13 of 14 games and started six in 2021. The Chicago product tallied 34 tackles, eight pass break-ups, four interceptions, and 1.5 tackles for loss during the 2021 season.

A total of 21 Big Ten players were named to the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list.

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Gettin’ it done: 5 most impactful ‘glue guys’ for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023

A “glue guy” isn’t always the standout, but they do the little things right that add up. Iowa’s five most impactful glue guys of 2023.

Every team has the guy who does the little things that go unnoticed. They get less shine than other players and their contributions might not be as lauded in comparison. But that’s okay for those guys and you often see them embrace that role. Those are your “glue guys” and every team needs a handful of them.

In a way, some may say that the majority of the Iowa Hawkeyes‘ roster are made up of these players that do their job, don’t need the recognition, and just always gets it done. Even in that capacity, some guys hold things together by their contributions coming at the right time or when it matters most.

The Hawkeyes have a handful of these players that turn up in big moments, always are in the right place, or make life easier for those around them. Here are the Hawkeyes’ five most impactful “glue guys” entering the 2023 season.

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Iowa Football 2023 Snapshot Profile: No. 27 Jermari Harris

Jermari Harris is back! Starting opposite Cooper DeJean, he should help form one of the nation’s best one-two combos at corner in 2023.

Out of all the defensive playmakers, junior cornerback Jermari Harris has unfortunately been left behind on the preseason hype train.

The nation’s attention is firmly on his defensive back partner Cooper DeJean, which is fair given the sophomore season Cooper had. DeJean was the breakout superstar last year at the cornerback position, but people forget how he ended up playing on the outside. DeJean was originally slated to play the CASH position, but injuries forced him into action on the outside. Injuries to players such as Jermari Harris.

It’s a shame what a year’s time can do for a player, especially when he misses the season due to injury. Harris has sort of become the forgotten member of Iowa’s defense, and he certainly isn’t a player that you should sleep on.

Harris was somewhat a breakout star in his own right his sophomore year, contributing four picks in 2021. He was supposed to be the budding superstar opposite Riley Moss last season. Now, Harris will look to prove that his injury last year did not wipe out his breakout year as a starter. Rather, it only delayed it to 2023.

Here’s everything you need to know about starting Iowa cornerback Jermari Harris.

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‘It kind of gets passed down’: Iowa Hawkeyes star Riley Moss embracing 2022 leadership reins

As a returning All-American and elder statesman, Iowa Hawkeyes cornerback Riley Moss is embracing the leadership reins entering 2022.

As a returning first-team All-American, Iowa cornerback Riley Moss is naturally going to be looked to for leadership. The 6-foot-1, 193 pound defensive back from Ankeny, Iowa, registered four interceptions, five pass breakups and 39 tackles last season.

The fact that he also brings back 25 career starts with him only adds to that.

Plus, the Hawkeyes are replacing a pair of players in safety Jack Koerner and cornerback Matt Hankins that started 32 and 37 games in their careers, respectively.

In his first meeting with the Iowa media since the spring, Moss broke down with Hawk Central‘s Chad Leistikow, HawkeyeReport‘s Tom Kakert and others how he’s handling that leadership responsibility.

‘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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Iowa Hawkeyes cornerback Riley Moss named Walter Camp preseason All-American

Iowa Hawkeyes cornerback Riley Moss has been stamped as a preseason All-American by Walter Camp as the 2022 college football season nears.

After being named a first-team All-American by Sporting News following the 2021 college football season, Iowa Hawkeyes cornerback Riley Moss has been named to the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s preseason second-team All-American defense.

Moss, who chose to come back and play in his final year of eligibility after some thought he may depart for the NFL, will look to expand on a year that saw him not just take the next step, but really jump a few levels upward.

Coming off of a stellar season in which Moss was the Big Ten’s highest graded cornerback based on his performances, all signs point to him being the leader of the Iowa secondary. He takes the reins of the Hawkeyes’ defensive backs room that is ranked as the No. 3 secondary in the entire nation.

Not only was Moss good last year, he is Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded coverage cornerback in the entire country over the last two seasons. Coming back this year gives Moss another season to put tape out and only improve his draft stock for when he is inevitably taken in next year’s 2023 NFL draft.

Joining Moss in the secondary will be Kaevon Merriweather, Jermari Harris, Quinn Schulte, Terry Roberts, Cooper DeJean, and Xavier Nwankpa. The group looks to continue turning the ball over and reeling in interceptions as it has become a bit of a Hawkeye specialty due to their sizable interception lead over every other college football team.

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Athlon Sports ranks Iowa Hawkeyes No. 32 nationally entering 2022

What all did Athlon Sports have to say about the Iowa Hawkeyes that resulted in Iowa outside the top 25 at No. 32 nationally?

Several weeks ago, Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassan released his top 25 rankings for 2022 and the Iowa Hawkeyes weren’t among that list. Instead, five other Big Ten teams were among Lassan’s top 25 rankings for 2022 heading into the summer.

That group included No. 2 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan, No. 14 Michigan State, No. 19 Wisconsin and No. 25 Penn State. When Lassan’s top 25 was released, he had Iowa in his “next tier” of teams that also included Air Force, Appalachian State, Auburn, Boise State, BYU, Coastal Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Fresno State, Kansas State, LSU, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Purdue, South Carolina, Texas, UAB, UCLA and UTSA.

Now, after Athlon Sports’ release of its 2022 Iowa football preview, there’s a precise number to attach from the outlet to the Hawkeyes. Athlon Sports ranks Iowa No. 32 nationally heading into the 2022 season.

Here’s a breakdown on everything Athlon Sports had to say about Iowa.

22 Iowa Hawkeyes football stats to know entering the 2022 season

Kickoff of the 2022 season is nearing closer every day. Here’s 22 Iowa Hawkeyes stats to know from last season as we inch toward 2022.

By now, you know the drill. The 2021 Iowa Hawkeyes had one of the nation’s stingiest defenses, but the offense left so much to be desired. As a result, a perfect 6-0 start lost its luster with a pair of midseason losses to Purdue and at Wisconsin.

After four straight wins to close the regular season locked down the Big Ten West crown, the Hawkeyes were exposed in the Big Ten championship game by the Michigan Wolverines, 42-3. Iowa followed that championship game loss up with a field goal defeat in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl against Kentucky. Enter the spring and summer of offensive discontent.

A step forward in the Hawkeyes’ quarterback play and Iowa’s offense in general would go a mile in 2022. If Iowa can find that recipe, then fans can start realistically thinking about a return trip to the Big Ten championship game.

With an ongoing quarterback competition still being waged in Iowa City, what’s to come next is really anybody’s guess. There’s optimism that Spencer Petras can elevate his game to the next level. The 6-foot-5, 233 pound signal-caller from San Rafael, Calif., has been working out with quarterbacks coach and trainer Tony Racioppi this offseason to refine his body and his game.

Still, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said to end the spring that he and the rest of his offensive staff are planning a long, hard look heading into the fall at each of their three options under center.

Where does that leave us entering the 2022 college football season? Here’s a look back at all of Iowa’s key offensive and defensive numbers from last season to get fans prepped for what may lie ahead in 2022.

Iowa Hawkeyes ranked No. 7 in ESPN’s future defensive power rankings

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg ranked the Iowa Hawkeyes No. 7 in his future defensive power rankings.

Iowa doesn’t appear to be giving up its tradition of strong defensive football any time soon.

Recently, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg whipped out his crystal ball to rank the top 25 defenses in college football over the next three years. The Hawkeyes cracked the top 10, finishing 7th in the rankings. Rittenberg was especially impressed with Iowa’s ever-replenishing supply of defensive backs, as well as the immediate impact of the linebackers currently on the roster.

Can we start calling Iowa low-key DBU? Coordinator Phil Parker and his group aren’t the type to ask for labels, but they’ve produced the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year five times in the 12-year history of the award, including four times since 2015. – Rittenberg, ESPN.

The next in line for “low-key DBU” is cornerback Riley Moss, last year’s Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year. That’s awarded to the best defensive back in the Big Ten.

The senior had four picks last year in his first-team All-Big Ten campaign. The third-team All-American will be returning for his fifth season and is flanked by returning starting safety Kaevon Merriweather and corner Jermari Harris.

While they did lose star safety and newly drafted New York Giant Dane Belton, keep an eye on incoming five-star freshman Xavier Nwankpa. While his playing status is uncertain for this year, it would not be blasphemous to picture Nwankpa as Iowa’s next Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year winner as well.

Rittenberg also had positive things to say about the Hawkeyes’ defensive line entering 2022.

Iowa’s front four also projects well with veterans such as Logan Lee, Noah Shannon, Joe Evans and John Waggoner all back. Lee is the only non-senior, though, and Iowa will look for sophomore tackles Lukas Van Ness and Yahya Black, sophomore end Deontae Craig and others to keep taking on bigger roles. – Rittenberg, ESPN.

The other position highlighted was the Hawkeyes’ linebacker group. Seen as the backbone of the defense, Iowa is returning a trio of starters. Led by rising draft prospect Jack Campbell, the 6-foot-5, 243 pound linebacker led the nation with 143 tackles. Senior linebacker Seth Benson added 105 tackles in his own right.

Campbell and Seth Benson are joined by junior Jestin Jacobs and will spell trouble for any Big Ten opponent looking to establish the run. The development of the next generation of Hawkeye linebackers in 2021 three-stars Karson Sharar and Jaden Harrell will also be key for maintaining a stranglehold on the position.

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Iowa Hawkeye Tyler Linderbaum is Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded 2021 college football player

Pro Football Focus graded Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum as its top 2021 college football player.

Iowa center [autotag]Tyler Linderbaum[/autotag] is going to be an excellent addition for somebody in the 2022 NFL draft. That much is evidenced by his Pro Football Focus grade.

Linderbaum had the highest grade of any college football player in 2021. The 6-foot-3, 290 pound center earned a grade of 95.4.

That mark was well clear of the next-closest center. Missouri’s Michael Maietti finished the 2021 season with a PFF grade of 89.1, Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz earned a grade of 88.5, USC’s Brett Neilon registered a grade of 86.2 and Wyoming’s Keegan Cryder recorded a grade of 85.5 to round out the top grades for Division I centers.

According to PFF, Linderbaum had a run blocking grade of 96.6 and a pass blocking grade of 79.8. His run blocking grade was tops among all Division I players, while his pass blocking grade checked in at No. 15. Linderbaum was also recently listed among Bucky Brooks of NFL.com’s top five interior blockers.

Iowa’s top ten offensive players during the 2021 season according to PFF looked like this: Linderbaum at No. 1 with a grade of 95.4, left guard [autotag]Kyler Schott[/autotag] with a grade of 86.1, offensive lineman [autotag]Tyler Elsbury[/autotag] with a grade of 80.4, offensive guard [autotag]Justin Britt[/autotag] with a grade of 78.5, center [autotag]Matt Fagan[/autotag] with a grade of 75.8, running back [autotag]Gavin Williams[/autotag] with a grade of 75.1, offensive guard [autotag]Cody Ince[/autotag] with a grade of 75.1, quarterback [autotag]Spencer Petras[/autotag] with a grade of 73.9, tight end [autotag]Sam LaPorta[/autotag] with a grade of 72.5 and right guard [autotag]Connor Colby[/autotag] with a grade of 71.5

The Hawkeyes’ top 10 defensive players in 2021 via PFF went as follows: defensive end [autotag]Zach VanValkenburg[/autotag] with a grade of 84.2, cornerback [autotag]Riley Moss[/autotag] with a grade of 80.1, cornerback [autotag]Matt Hankins[/autotag] with a grade of 80.0, safety [autotag]Dane Belton[/autotag] with a grade of 77.1, safety [autotag]Quinn Schulte[/autotag] with a grade of 75.3, safety [autotag]Kaevon Merriweather[/autotag] with a grade of 73.1, cornerback [autotag]Jermari Harris[/autotag] with a grade of 72.9, defensive tackle [autotag]Noah Shannon[/autotag] with a grade of 70.6, defensive tackle [autotag]Lukas Van Ness[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Jack Campbell[/autotag] with a grade of 69.8.

Iowa’s top-five graded specialists according to PFF were defensive tackle [autotag]Logan Lee[/autotag] with a grade of 89.0, cornerback [autotag]Terry Roberts[/autotag] with a grade of 84.6, cornerback [autotag]Cooper DeJean[/autotag] with a grade of 76.3, cornerback [autotag]Xavior Williams[/autotag] with a grade of 76.1 and defensive back [autotag]Henry Marchese[/autotag] with a grade of 74.2.

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