Tag: matt hankins

Iowa Hawkeyes tied for the most returning starters among Big Ten programs entering the 2022 season

Athlon Sports took a look at returning starters among Big Ten programs. Iowa has the most returning starters, which sets up well for 2022.

Among Big Ten teams, Iowa has the most returning starters. Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassan took a look at returning starters on Big Ten teams and Iowa is tied for the most returning starters.

According to Lassan, Iowa has 17 returning starters. That number for the Hawkeyes is actually 15 returning starters. Iowa is replacing three starters offensively: running back [autotag]Tyler Goodson[/autotag], All-American center [autotag]Tyler Linderbaum[/autotag] and left guard [autotag]Kyler Schott[/autotag].

Goodson rushed for 1,151 yards on 256 carries with six rushing touchdowns. He also caught 31 passes for 247 yards and a score. Linderbaum started each of the team’s 35 games over the past three seasons and Schott started the final 10 games of last season and 18 over his Hawkeye career.

Defensively, Iowa will replace defensive end [autotag]Zach VanValkenburg[/autotag] who started all 14 games and 35 in his career. VanValkenburg had 15 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks last season. The Hawkeyes are also replacing linebacker [autotag]Dane Belton[/autotag], cornerback [autotag]Matt Hankins[/autotag] and safety [autotag]Jack Koerner[/autotag].

Koerner finished third on the team with 88 tackles in 2021. Meanwhile, Belton had 46 tackles, seven pass breakups and five interceptions. Hankins added 44 tackles, five pass breakups and three interceptions. That trio combined to start 95 games over the course of their Iowa careers.

Although the Hawkeyes are in good shape, the losses – center Tyler Linderbaum, running back Tyler Goodson, defensive end Zach VanValkenburg, safety Jack Koerner, defensive back Dane Belton and cornerback Matt Hankins – are significant. – Lassan, Athlon Sports.

The production that Iowa is replacing offensively and defensively is certainly notable. Goodson was Iowa’s leading rusher and Koerner and VanValkenburg were the Hawkeyes’ third and fourth-leading tacklers. Still, there should be optimism that Iowa returns its top two tacklers in linebackers Jack Campbell and Seth Benson who racked up 143 and 105 tackles last year, respectively.

Offensively, Iowa has both quarterbacks [autotag]Spencer Petras[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex Padilla[/autotag] returning. While fans have good reason to want to see more production from both, returning experience at the quarterback position can never be overstated. The Hawkeyes also return five of their top six receiving yardage leaders in tight end [autotag]Sam LaPorta[/autotag] and then wide receivers [autotag]Keagan Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Nico Ragaini[/autotag], [autotag]Charlie Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Arland Bruce IV[/autotag].

Iowa’s 15 returning starters matches Maryland and Purdue. Michigan State returns the next-most starters with 14.

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247Sports lists Iowa Hawkeyes as team to sell in 2022

247Sports writer Brad Crawford says Iowa is one of the top 25 teams to sell stock of in 2022.

Iowa enjoyed a fast 6-0 start in 2021 and rode a four-game winning streak to close the regular season to a Big Ten West division title. A scoring offense that ranked just 99th nationally kept the Hawkeyes from soaring to greater heights, but, all in all, it was a very successful 2021 season.

Now, as Iowa replaces its top running back, a pair of talented offensive linemen and several key defensive players, there’s mixed feelings about what kind of team the Hawkeyes will field in 2022. 247Sports writer Brad Crawford listed Iowa as one of his top 25 teams to sell in 2022.

With an average preseason ranking of No. 17 (across six major polls), it may be hard for the Hawkeyes to live up to outsiders who obviously labeled Kirk Ferentz’s team as a contender in the Big Ten. Iowa plays top 10s Michigan and Ohio State in 2022 after missing both during last year’s 10-win campaign. Schedule favorability means a great deal in one of college football’s competitive leagues and this fall, that’s not an advantage for the Hawkeyes. Iowa’s core of linebackers will rank near the top of college football, but there are questions elsewhere in key spots. – Crawford, 247Sports.

Looking at the schedule, the dates versus Michigan on Oct. 1 and at Ohio State on Oct. 22 do ratchet up the difficulty meter. Ohio State is one of the most popular picks to reach the College Football Playoff and Iowa knows all too well that Michigan is the defending Big Ten champion. The Wolverines beat the Hawkeyes 42-3 in the Big Ten championship game last season.

Crawford mentioned Iowa’s linebackers. The Hawkeyes return arguably the nation’s best tandem in seniors [autotag]Seth Benson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jack Campbell[/autotag]. Campbell finished last season with 143 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a pair of interceptions and one sack. Meanwhile, Benson added 105 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception.

Iowa will be replacing one of its best players up front defensively in defensive end [autotag]Zach VanValkenburg[/autotag]. The Zeeland, Mich., product registered 15 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 2021. On the back end of its defense, the Hawkeyes are replacing [autotag]Dane Belton[/autotag], safety [autotag]Jack Koerner[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Matt Hankins[/autotag].

Offensively, Iowa will turn to either [autotag]Gavin Williams[/autotag] or [autotag]Leshon Williams[/autotag] to step in for running back [autotag]Tyler Goodson[/autotag]. The interior of the Hawkeyes’ offensive line will be something to watch. Iowa lost the Rimington Trophy winner in center Tyler Linderbaum and its left guard Kyler Schott.

If Iowa is to match its 10-win feat from a season ago, the offense needs to take a big step forward even after losing several key cogs along its offensive line and its leading rusher. Defensively, Iowa figures to be stout once again. The Hawkeyes ranked 13th nationally in scoring defense, surrendering just 19.2 points per game last season.

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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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Colts’ 7-round mock draft pre NFL combine

With the NFL combine just over a week away, here’s a 7-round mock draft for the Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts are still a few months away from the 2022 NFL draft but throughout the entire offseason we’ll be looking at which prospects they might consider.

The Colts are without a first-round pick due to the Carson Wentz trade so general manager Chris Ballard will have to work his magic in order to continue improving the roster.

Since we haven’t even gotten to the NFL combine yet, a lot is going to change over the next few months. We’ll get more information and learn more about these prospects, but it’s still a good idea to run through some simulations.

Using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine, here’s a seven-round mock for the Colts:

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 66 Matt Hankins

Iowa CB Matt Hankins is up next in Unpacking Future Packers, a countdown previewing the 2022 NFL draft for Packers Wire.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Green Bay Packers have two lockdown cornerbacks in Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes. With those two, the cornerback position figures to be a strength for Green Bay this upcoming season.

If Rasul Douglas isn’t re-signed there are major question marks about the depth behind Alexander and Stokes.

Even if Douglas is re-signed, the Packers will likely look to add at least one cornerback via the 2022 NFL Draft.

A player that Brian Gutekunst could target on day three of the upcoming draft is Matt Hankins. The Iowa cornerback checks in at No. 66 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.

In 2018, Hankins recorded 48 tackles and three pass deflections. The following season Hankins recorded 58 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, nine pass deflections, and two interceptions.

In 2020, the Iowa cornerback recorded 41 tackles, six pass deflections, and picked off one pass. 

This past season Hankins recorded 44 tackles, one tackle for loss, eight pass deflections, and three interceptions.

“There are a few different areas where Hankins has a leg up on other draft-eligible defensive backs,” Rob Donaldson, a contributor for Black Hearts Gold Pants, said. “His greatest strength has to be a toss-up between his agile, yet technical feet, his ball skills, his hip fluidity in regards to change of direction, or his overall positioning, which he’s really sharpened into an art form during his time at Iowa.”

Hankins is a seasoned cornerback with 36 career starts. He’s quick-footed and has natural body control in his pedal to stay in phase. He has a loose lower body to turn and run with wide receivers downfield. The Iowa cornerback does a great job of staying on top of routes. 

Hankins does a good job of crowding the wide receiver at the catch point and is always searching for the ball. He has natural hands and if the ball is in his zone he’s likely going to make a game-changing play.

“Hankins’ ball skills are one of his greatest strengths, as he has great change of direction skills to work towards the football on off-target throws and has great eye discipline and read and react skills to get his hands on throws that are late to their target as well as general poor decisions from opposing quarterbacks,” Donaldson said. “In addition, Hankins is a guy who will finish the play when the opportunity is there, as he reliably catches interceptable passes and if the ball is placed in a spot to be contacted, Hankins is skilled at least getting a hand on the ball to force a difficult contested catch.”

Hankins doesn’t show much interest in run support. He tends to shy away from driving downhill to take on blockers. He’s passive when it comes to run support.

It’s not that he’s not a reliable tackler, because he is. He rarely gives up any YAC when he’s in coverage. It’s just he’s not a Jaire Alexander-type cornerback that’s going to drive downhill to blow plays up behind the line of scrimmage.

“Hankins’ run filling ability and physicality taking on blockers wouldn’t be considered part of his strongest areas,” Donaldson said. “That said, from a technical and understanding of assignment standpoint, Hankins does have a strong grasp on where he’s supposed to be and what he’s supposed to be doing in run support. Hankins’ issue in terms of run support almost entirely stems from the execution and physicality side of the job.”

Hankins played primarily on the boundary during his time at Iowa. However, he has the short-area quickness, instincts, and lateral agility that he could kick inside at the next level. Some teams may view him as a safety, like a former Iowa Hawkeye, Micah Hyde. That type of potential versatility would make him an attractive day three target for any NFL team. 

“I’d be surprised if Hankins couldn’t make a borderline seamless transition to the inside for the Packers or some other NFL team if that’s what they prefer,” Donaldson said. “Not only do I think Hankins projects well in a slot role for an NFL team, but similar to former Green Bay Packers defensive backs Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde, Hankins’ exceptional ball skills, eye discipline, read and react skills and overall positioning lend him to being a multi-role sort of player who can transition from the slot to the outside and potentially even fill into a safety role as well.”

Fit with the Packers

With Alexander and Stokes in place, the Packers don’t have a “pressing” need at cornerback.

If Douglas isn’t re-signed the Packers will have to find a new No. 3 cornerbacks and could take a cornerback in the first three rounds to replace him.

Regardless of what happens with Douglas, Gutekunst will most likely draft at least one cornerback on day three of the draft.

With his experience and ball skills, Hankins would provide quality depth behind Alexander and Stokes.

“Given Hankins’ experience and refined technical skills, in my opinion, he projects as a player who will be ready to perform from day one as well as a player with a much higher ceiling than that of a baseline average NFL defensive back,” Donaldson said. “That’s quite the return value on a guy who’s being projected in that third-round to the seventh-round range.”

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The Big Ten’s top five Cornerbacks heading into 2021

Sevyn Banks is the next stud cornerback at Ohio State, but how high does the #Buckeye rank.

Ohio State football kicks off in less than a month, and we have been rolling through the best of the best of the Big Ten at each position. We have already completed our list of top five quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive tackles, guards, centers, defensive ends, defensive tackles, inside linebackers and outside linebackers.

Despite the loss of Shaun Wade and a few embarrassing performances last year, I have a ton of faith in the Ohio State Buckeyes defensive backfield and believe that their number one corner can be one of the best in the nation. The Big Ten has some intriguing corners and we give you the top five below.