Tag: Kelvin Bell

Iowa football is in danger of being left behind in new era of college football

Iowa football better act quick, or it is in danger of being left behind in this new era of college football.

Iowa football is facing its most critical period in recent memory.

This isn’t a direct reaction to a game against No. 2 Ohio State that Iowa was always going to lose, though the idea that they already lost before stepping foot in the Horseshoe should set off alarm bells right away. This goes further than just this past afternoon, this has all been mounting over the past few seasons and is finally come to a head this fall.

Iowa football is in real danger of being left behind due to their refusal to adapt to the modern football game, both on and off the field.

There has been rapid change over the past few years to college football. It is a completely foreign operation from what college ball was a decade ago. It is not the same game or the same landscape at all. The introduction of the transfer portal, in conjunction with NIL deals, has altered everything.

Look at the success other teams have had with the transfer portal. Tennessee is currently the fourth-ranked team in the country. Their Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Hendon Hooker was overlooked at Virginia Tech, so he transferred to Tennessee. He eventually won the starting spot, and is one of the top players in all of college football while the coach who forced Hooker out is out of a job.

Caleb Williams is also a Heisman candidate now for 12th-ranked Southern California, a team who has killed it in the transfer market due to their use of NIL deals. Bringing in Lincoln Riley doesn’t hurt either.

You know who else is looking like the most recent transfer portal success story? Current Big Ten receptions and receiving touchdowns leader Charlie Jones, who has surpassed his entire career totals already this season for Purdue.

Whether you like it or not, this is the new college football landscape. Whether out of arrogance or ignorance, Iowa has not caught up to the rest of college football. Iowa was the least active Big Ten team in the transfer portal this past offseason. Only two players on roster have played for other schools, Steven Stilianos and Nick Phelps coming from FCS programs.

Iowa has the idea that they do not need the transfer portal. They’d rather develop their own guys and look inward for replacements. They looked at this current roster, especially at quarterback, and decided that it was good enough.

All of this really reminds me of a quote from an article John Steppe of the Gazette wrote over the summer. Defensive line coach Kelvin Bell gave insight on Iowa’s view of the transfer portal, and why some other programs and coaches might be more keen to lean on it.

“If I knew I didn’t have time and I knew I needed to win right now, oh yeah, I’m in the portal,” Bell said. “But we don’t have to do that.”

That quote really does bother me, and shows a massive underlying issue with Iowa football. That right there just kind of indicates a lack of fire in the program to try and contend for the Big Ten. You have the perfect opportunity to inject even more talent, while developing guys of your own to try and take yourself to the next level.

“We don’t need that,” Iowa football says. “We’re doing completely fine.”

The program reeks of arrogance and an over-reliance on doing things in an old-fashioned “proper” way, and it’s going to continue to hold the Hawkeyes back. Just look at this Brian Ferentz-led offense and tell me I’m wrong.

College football, as a whole, has become more about high scoring and throwing the football. Even though the Big Ten has the reputation of still clinging to the old standards of football, it is still seen in the top teams. Then, you have Iowa.

Boasting an archaic offense that would have been seen as passé 20 years ago, they’ve done nothing over the past few years to make any changes or innovations. They see nothing wrong with having routinely one of the least effective offenses in college football, the same way they see nothing wrong with trotting out one of the worst quarterbacks in college football.

Alex Padilla might not be better than Spencer Petras, and the upside might just be wishful thinking from the fanbase, but what the Hawkeyes faithful have received from their quarterbacks this year is nothing short of embarrassing. The passing attack under Ferentz has typically been pretty bad, but with the lack of a dominant offensive line, and some additional injuries, not to mention some horrible play-calling, we’ve seen an even worse version this season.

They failed to recognize and address the lack of talent on the offense before the season, and they are continuing to fail by not doing anything to try and improve it.

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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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A look at all of the Iowa Hawkeyes’ assistant coaches’ 2022 base salaries following raises

Iowa’s assistant football coaches saw salary raises across the board. What do their 2022 salaries now look like?

Salary figures obtained by USA TODAY Sports through an open-records request and reported on by The Register’s Chad Leistikow reveal that Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz got his wish.

As Hawk Central’s Kennington Lloyd Smith III touched on, one of Ferentz’s stipulations when he inked his new contract was to increase his assistant coaches’ salary pool to $7 million annually as a group.

Of course, Ferentz signed his new contract that extends him as the Hawkeyes’ head football coach through the 2029 season and that’s precisely what’s happened for his assistants. Collectively, Ferentz’s 10 on-field assistants and his strength coach combine for $6.95 million in annual salary.

Here’s a look at the big raises his assistant coaches saw across the board.

Iowa was the least active Big Ten team in the transfer portal for good reason

The Iowa Hawkeyes were the least active Big Ten team in the transfer portal. And for good reason. They develop their own internally.

The transfer portal is the talk of NCAA football every offseason it seems. Coaches move and players follow them. Players don’t feel things are a fit at their current school and leave. Or, you get programs that retain, develop, and go with their guys they know and have bought into. That is what Iowa does.

The Iowa Hawkeyes were the least active Big Ten team in the transfer portal this offseason, as reported by The Gazette’s John Steppe. There was one player that joined the Hawkeyes through the transfer portal this offseason and that was Steven Stilianos, a tight end coming from FCS school Lafayette.

Stilianos makes up one player, or 0.97% of transfers in the Big Ten. Iowa doesn’t use the portal. They develop their guys and they do so very, very well. Iowa has a strong culture, a rich history of turning unheralded recruits into college stars and NFL talents.

Iowa’s defensive line coach provided a great quote to their strategy surrounding their philosophy to filling gaps that arise.

“Is there somebody here? He may be in another position room,” Bell said in a June episode of The Gazette’s Hawk Off the Press podcast. “I’m going to check that before I check the portal because if he’s in the building, that kid understands the culture. If he’s in the building, that transition would be seamless.”

With their success and development, another reason for the lack of transfers joining the Iowa program is simply due to the experience already on the roster. With many upperclassmen starting, contributing, and helping win, the Hawkeyes don’t need to go away from what is clearly working.

Since the NCAA Transfer Portal originated in October of 2018, Iowa has won 73% of their games over the last four seasons with two 10-win seasons in there.

As Steppe discussed, the transfer portal can be a case of the grass not always being greener. Of those entering the portal, 42% of them are stuck without a new home, didn’t return to their original school, and many have given up scholarships.

Former quarterback Deuce Hogan gave up his Iowa scholarship when entering the transfer portal and is one of those individuals who was lucky enough to find a new home. Yet, he is now a walk-on, a steep price to pay in the transfer portal.

Luckily, the Iowa Hawkeyes have found success internally, moving guys around, growing them, and developing them into Big Ten football players. With their track record speaking for itself, don’t expect or think the Hawkeyes need to get their hands in the mess that the transfer portal is.

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3-star EDGE Kenneth Merrieweather commits to Iowa, becomes 16th 2023 pledge

Kenneth Merrieweather, a three-star 2023 EDGE out of Detroit, Mich., committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes, becoming the 16th pledge in 2023.

Iowa and defensive line coach Kelvin Bell added another talented piece to its defensive line, earning a commitment from class of 2023 EDGE Kenneth Merrieweather out of Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, Mich. The decision from Merrieweather is sure to delight Hawkeye defensive coordinator Phil Parker as well.

“First I want to thank god for everything he has done for me in this process. I want to thank all family, friends and coaches who supported me throughout the way. I appreciate every coach and trainers who helped me get developed on every level to reach the dream I always wanted to live. Thanks to every school who gave me an opportunity. I’m just a kid from the eastside trying to make it!! Let’s keep it black and gold💛🖤 COMMITTED!!!” Merrieweather wrote in his Instagram announcement.

The 6-foot-3, 245 pound Merrieweather is rated as a three-star commit by 247Sports, On3 and Rivals. According to 247Sports, Merrieweather is the nation’s No. 50 EDGE and the No. 14 player from Michigan. In the 247Sports composite rankings, Merrieweather checks in as the No. 892 player nationally, the No. 75 EDGE and the No. 16 player from Michigan.

On3 ranks Merrieweather as the No. 75 EDGE in the 2023 class and the No. 15 player from Michigan. In the On3 consensus rankings, Merrieweather is the No. 852 player nationally, the No. 66 EDGE and the No. 18 player from Michigan. Lastly, according to Rivals, Merrieweather is the No. 18 player from Michigan in the 2023 class.

He chose the Hawkeyes over fellow finalist Purdue. Some of Merrieweather’s other notable offers included Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Oregon, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.

Now, Merrieweather joins a defensive line class for Iowa that also features three-star EDGE Chase Brackney out of Cherry Creek High School in Colorado, three-star defensive lineman Maddux Borcherding-Johnson out of Norwalk High School in Iowa and three-star EDGE David Caulker of North High School in Des Moines.

Prior to Merrieweather’s commitment, the Hawkeyes’ 2023 class was rated as the No. 16 class nationally by Rivals, the No. 18 class by 247Sports, and the No. 22 class by On3. With those respective team rankings, Iowa has the No. 4 class among Big Ten teams across each of the three ranking services.

Here’s a look at Merrieweather’s junior season Hudl highlights at Martin Luther King High School, a peek into his full recruiting profile and Iowa’s complete list of 2023 commits.