Tag: Monte Pottebaum

Former Iowa fullback Monte Pottebaum retiring from NFL

Former Iowa fullback Monte Pottebaum has retired from the NFL. Here’s a look at some of the best photos of his time with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are one of the few teams in the country that still utilize a fullback often in their run game. Few have done it as well as Monte Pottebaum did during his time as a member of the Hawkeyes.

The former Iowa fullback signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent earlier this year. Pottebaum has since made the decision to retire from the NFL.

Pottebaum didn’t put up gaudy statistics while at Iowa, but he didn’t need to and that wasn’t asked of him. He did reel in 10 receptions for 85 yards and have 20 rushes for 82 yards during his career. Pottebaum did get rewarded with one touchdown run in his career.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1444113207489085440?s=20

Over 45 games for Iowa, Pottebaum used a hard-nosed mentality to meet linebackers in the hole and clear paths for his running backs paired with his long locks of blonde hair to become a favorite of Hawkeye fans.

Here is a look at some of the best photos of Monte Pottebaum as a member of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Monte Pottebaum earns reported $10,000 signing bonus from Pittsburgh Steelers

Monte Pottebaum signed as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers and received a reported $10,000 signing bonus.

Another Iowa fan favorite knows their professional destination. Longtime Hawkeye fullback Monte Pottebaum signed as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He’s getting a pretty penny with his reported signing bonus, too. Per KPRC Channel 2 News‘ Aaron Wilson in Houston, Pottebaum received a $10,000 signing bonus from the Steelers.

Pottebaum appeared in 45 games over his Hawkeye career and started 13.

Perhaps the greatest tribute to a fullback is how the head football coach talks about you when you aren’t there.

Iowa was without Pottebaum in its regular season finale versus Nebraska. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz described how his departure would impact the Hawkeyes at the time.

“It’s a little unsettling not to have Monte because he’s one of our best players on our football team, one of our best leaders,” Ferentz said of Pottebaum. “Then Monte can do so many things, play in different positions, help us. It kind of limits what we have to do. We have to be smart about it.”

While Pottebaum doesn’t play a glamor position, he’s one of the nation’s best fullbacks. Now, he’s off to the Steel City where he’ll continue to crack open running lanes with the best of them.

Here’s a look back at his Hawkeye career.

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Week 1 Iowa Hawkeyes offensive depth chart versus the South Dakota State Jackrabbits

The Iowa Hawkeyes

The season-opening week for the Iowa Hawkeyes is upon us and that means it’s almost time for Iowa to lock horns with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes released an offensive depth chart ahead of Big Ten Media Days, but, now that kickoff is this week, the Hawkeyes have revealed an updated offensive depth chart.

Fans suspected that Spencer Petras would remain as Iowa’s No. 1 quarterback. That is the case in the season-opening depth chart. What other surprises await Hawkeye fans in the first in-season depth chart reveal? Let’s take a look at the full Iowa offensive depth chart for South Dakota State.

7 Iowa Hawkeyes make Senior Bowl watch list

Seven Iowa players made the Senior Bowl watch list, signifying there’s some NFL eyes watching these Hawkeyes.

The Senior Bowl watch list was released on Wednesday. Basically, the watch list is a who’s who of all the important soon-to-be graduated college football players. If they are on the list, it means there’s at least a few pairs of NFL eyes on them heading into the season. At the bare minimum, they are ones to watch out for in this upcoming college football season.

At seven players, Iowa features a good crop of prospects that may see themselves on the Senior Bowl roster. There are a few locks to make the final roster, and a few surprises to see included here.

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’ 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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Mike Timm’s move to fullback signals Iowa’s comfort at middle linebacker

Senior Mike Timm is transitioning to offense and has moved to fullback, signaling Iowa’s confidence at middle linebacker.

[autotag]Mike Timm[/autotag] is one of two players that got moved to the offensive side of the football to start Iowa’s spring practices. Timm joins redshirt sophomore [autotag]Logan Jones[/autotag] as Hawkeyes that are transitioning to offense.

Jones is transitioning to the center position along the Hawkeye offensive line, while Timm is adjusting to fullback. Currently, Jones and Timm are both listed third on the initial spring depth chart at their respective positions.

Timm arrived in Iowa City from Delafield, Wis., as a walk-on linebacker and recorded four total tackles in the 2020 season. He was listed as the second team middle linebacker following the spring last year, but Timm saw game action sparingly outside of special teams.

As a result, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz saw an opportunity to perhaps find more snaps for Timm at fullback.

“And then Mike has done a great job on special teams. We’re a little bit deep at the middle linebacker position and that’s what he plays, so I felt like he might have a better avenue for playing time at the fullback spot. But we count on him to be a real good special teams guy, continue to be a great special teams leader,” Ferentz said.

This also speaks to the confidence that Ferentz and the Hawkeye coaching staff have with their top two middle linebackers. It makes sense, too. Senior [autotag]Jack Campbell[/autotag] is arguably Iowa’s best returning defensive player after racking up 143 tackles, eight passes defensed, 3.5 tackles for loss, a pair of interceptions, one sack and one forced fumble in 2021. The Hawkeye coaching staff feels great about what it has backing up Campbell as well in junior middle linebacker Jay Higgins.

Again, more than anything, this is about putting Timm in a spot where he’ll have a chance to see more snaps.

“Just give him an opportunity to play a little bit more. I think we’re pretty well set with Jack (Campbell) and Jay (Higgins). Although, you know, they’ve got to play and they’ve got to improve. I’ll go back to the first point, but you’re stacked up in there a little bit. Turner (Pallissard) had a lot of injury issues last year so, and those fullbacks, they get beat up a little bit so it’s good to be able to roll guys through if you have (injuries). He was excited about it. Mike’s just a high-energy guy,” Ferentz said.

Spring practices are for tweaking and experimenting some. Iowa will find out quickly whether or not the moves of Jones to center and Timm to fullback make sense moving forward.

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