Tag: Nico Ragaini

Report Card: Grading the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 27-0 win over the Nevada Wolf Pack

The Iowa Hawkeyes blanked Nevada, 27-0. Naturally, the best all-around performance thus far earns improved marks in this week’s report card.

Even though Mother Nature had other ideas, ultimately, nothing could stop the Iowa Hawkeyes from turning in their best start-to-finish performance of 2022. The Hawkeyes improve to 2-1 on the season and will now turn their attention to Rutgers next Saturday night from SHI Stadium at 6 p.m. on FS1.

As a result, the Nevada Wolf Pack exit Iowa City the victim of a 27-0 shutout and drop to 1-2 on the season.

“We got off the mat and got back in the fight and did a good job in unusual circumstances tonight. So to stay focused, that was good to see. Just really pleased. We showed some progress in certain areas. Happy about that. Obviously, it was good to get Nico (Ragaini) back and Keagan (Johnson) back and then Brody (Brecht) was able to get involved a little bit too at the receiver position. So gave us a few more guys to throw to.

“All in all, the team effort was good. Again, you go 60 minutes broken down over seven hours, not easy to do. Defensively, you all saw the game, those guys played a good game. They were aggressive and very tough to run against and they made the passing yardage tough as well. I thought especially in the first half. It was a little disjointed once we got back in the second half. But in the first half I thought we had a little rhythm offensively. The run game wasn’t perfect, but we did some better things so that was encouraging,” Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said of the victory.

Before completely turning the page over to Rutgers, let’s hand out some Nevada grades. Pull up a chair. Class in session.

Keagan Johnson, Nico Ragaini reportedly set for Iowa Hawkeyes returns

According to a report from Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown, Iowa wide receivers Keagan Johnson and Nico Ragaini will play tonight.

For the first time in what feels like eons, there could be good news brewing at the wide receiver position for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Both Keagan Johnson and Nico Ragaini, Iowa’s two leading receivers last season, were once again absent on the depth chart to start the week.

The pair was practicing, though, and, according to one report out there, it sounds like the duo is set to make their 2022 season debut against the Nevada Wolf Pack from inside Kinnick Stadium at 6:30 p.m. tonight.

Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown reported that the pair should play tonight. That would be a welcome lift for an Iowa offense that hasn’t been able to do much of anything right thus far in 2022.

“Well, they’re practicing. That’s a starting point. That’s the first step to getting in a game and playing well is practicing. You can’t do it without practicing. Having them actually in a helmet and catching a ball with shoulder pads on, that’s encouraging.

“They’ve missed time, obviously. Nico is a more experienced player, and he’s been in the fight a lot sooner than Keagan. Keagan you’re looking about an eight-plus-month deficit right now, so that’s what he’s got to overcome. It’s great to see him out there, and it’s great to get Nico back, too. We have to be careful about how fast and how far we push them as we move forward,” Ferentz said in his weekly press conference.

Naturally, it would be a gigantic lift if both Johnson and Ragaini are back today and for the long haul. Johnson finished his true freshman season with 18 receptions, 352 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. Meanwhile, Ragaini reeled in 26 grabs for 331 yards and one score in 2021. Over Ragaini’s career, he has 91 catches for 968 yards and three touchdowns.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Iowa Hawkeyes’ Keagan Johnson, Nico Ragaini practicing, Brody Brecht learning

While Keagan Johnson and Nico Ragaini aren’t on the Week 3 depth chart, the positive news is that Kirk Ferentz noted they are practicing.

While the Iowa Hawkeyes may again be without Nico Ragaini and Keagan Johnson against Nevada, the duo of receivers has been confirmed to be practicing. The two receivers will be very welcomed reinforcements once they suit up and are 100% healthy.

“Well, they’re practicing. That’s a starting point, right? That’s column number one right there. The first step to getting in a game and playing well is practicing. You can’t do it without practicing, you know, so having them actually in a helmet and catching a ball with shoulder pads on, that’s encouraging. They’ve missed time obviously.

“Nico’s a more experienced player, and he’s been in the fight a lot sooner than Keagan. Keagan you’re looking at about an eight-plus month deficit right now, so that’s what he’s got to overcome. It’s great to see him out there and it’s great to get Nico back, too. I just think we’ve got to be careful about how fast and how far we push them as we move forward,” Ferentz detailed when asked about their progress.

Unfortunately, neither was included on Iowa’s two-deep that was released to start the week. As a result, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz was asked if that meant the pair was definitively out versus the Wolf Pack.

“Yeah, we’ll see. I mean, there’s a chance, and, again, Nico I think is probably further along because he was practicing not that long ago. I can remember when he was practicing, recent memory,” Ferentz said.

Another Hawkeyes wide receiver, Brody Brecht, while healthy and even appearing in last week’s game, is still learning and getting up to speed. Ferentz was asked about Brecht’s ability to catch up.

“Brody is kind of facing the same challenges as Keagan in that Brody hasn’t played a lot of football. Last December I guess he was with us, and that’s been it since he’s been a Hawkeye. He wasn’t here last summer, was hurt in camp, hurt during the season. He’s playing catch-up, as well,” Ferentz said about Brecht’s learning curve.

“But he’s a great guy and he’s got a great attitude, he’s working
hard, and hopefully we’ll get him involved moving forward,” Ferentz added about the positive progress Brecht has made thus far.

[lawrence-related id=9798]

[lawrence-related id=9887]

[lawrence-related id=9892]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdcxf97xrgg1awc player_id=none image=https://hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Riley on Twitter: @rileydonald7

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

After hearing ‘Nico is getting close,’ both Ragaini, Keagan Johnson absent on Week 3 depth chart

After saying it’s a possibility that wide receivers Keagan Johnson and Nico Ragaini could return, neither was listed on the two-deep.

After another performance where Iowa struggled mightily offensively, reinforcements would be a welcome sight. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said as much after the Hawkeyes mustered up just 150 yards of total offense and one touchdown.

“Hopefully, getting some players back would help us, but, you know, we can’t count on that. We’ve got to play with the guys we have and see if we can do a better job,” Ferentz said.

After Ferentz said that both wide receivers Keagan Johnson and Nico Ragaini were possibilities to play this week versus Nevada, neither one was listed on Iowa’s depth chart to start the week.

It’s obviously not Iowa’s only offensive problems, but it’s fair to look at the situation and see how several skill players being out has exacerbated the Hawkeyes’ issues.

“It’s certainly a factor. It’s not an excuse, but it is a factor if you do the math on it. We’ve got I think by my count, three guys that were out pretty much from the start of camp that play outside on the perimeter. Not so much Nico’s was during camp, and then Diante Vines got hurt during camp, too. He was doing really well, so you take those two guys, (Brody) Brecht was out, Keagan Johnson has been out. That’s four players that last December I would have told you we were counting on,” Ferentz said.

While the Hawkeyes ponder whether or not Spencer Petras will remain the team’s starting quarterback or if somebody else will get a chance, everyone in the black and gold is hoping Iowa’s aforementioned top skill players return in a hurry.

Though Ferentz didn’t offer a specific timeline, it does seem like Brody Brecht, Keagan Johnson and Nico Ragaini could be back soon. He updated both Brecht and Ragaini’s statuses while answering if Iowa might consider some schematic changes.

“I’m not sure that’s going to help us right now. You know, really, we just need to find some ways to move the football and score it. I’m not sure that’s going to be going to a gimmick or wholesale change. You know, I mean, as I said earlier, we’re two weeks into it now, we should have a better idea of what we can do and what we can’t do and where the hotspots are and try to compensate for that, and then hopefully we’ll get some personnel back, too. I think, you know, Nico has a chance this week. Hopefully, Brody Brecht this week three, so maybe we can get him involved. Hopefully, that’ll be part of the solution here, but we don’t have a quick fix right now,” Ferentz said.

Nico Ragaini was Iowa’s third-highest in receiving yardage last season with 331 yards. Brecht is a 6-foot-4, 217 pound redshirt freshman out of Ankeny, Iowa, that the Hawkeye coaching staff is excited about.

Meanwhile, Keagan Johnson still hasn’t played in 2022 either. He was Iowa’s top receiving yardage leader last season among wide receivers with 352 yards on 18 grabs. After a strong true freshman season, there’s plenty of excitement about what the Bellevue, Neb., native could wind up as in Iowa City.

Ferentz was also asked in the postgame media availability if Johnson had a chance to return this week.

“I think it’s a possibility. He improved for the first time I can say that. He’s improved this past week and gave us maybe a little room for optimism. I think Nico is getting close. I don’t know if he is there. We’ll know more as the week goes on, so those two guys are definitely possibilities. Vines is going to be a while,” Ferentz said.

[lawrence-related id=9781]

[lawrence-related id=9798]

[listicle id=9698]

[listicle id=9693]

[listicle id=9776]

[vertical-gallery id=9702]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

‘It’s not going well for him right now’: Iowa set to ‘reassess everything,’ including starting QB

After just one touchdown through two games, Kirk Ferentz said the Hawkeyes will “reassess everything,” including the starting quarterback.

After Iowa was only able to muster up 150 yards of total offense and one offensive touchdown against Iowa State, it sounds like it’s officially time for the Hawkeyes to perhaps make some personnel changes.

Starting quarterback Spencer Petras had another rough outing, throwing for just 92 yards on 12-of-26 passing with a lost fumble and an interception.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz was asked why stick with Petras as the team’s starting quarterback at this point.

“I guess to me, both these games he’s still not getting enough help to really do a fair assessment. He hasn’t been perfect obviously. Nobody has. We’ve got a lot of moving parts right now on offense, and then we’re shorthanded a little bit at a couple positions. We’ll keep working through it, we’ll talk about it tomorrow, you know, and see what happens moving forward,” Ferentz said.

Then, as a follow up, Ferentz was asked point blank if Petras is the team’s sure starter in game No. 3 against Nevada.

“No, I didn’t say that. I just said today he played the whole game. In my judgment, it was the best way to continue through this game, and, you know, gave it some thought, but I felt like it was our best opportunity. We’ll reassess everything tomorrow,” Ferentz said.

With the Hawkeyes mired in an offensive desert, Iowa’s 24th-year head coach was asked why he hasn’t been the type of coach historically to quickly yank quarterbacks in general. Ferentz said part of that approach has been rooted in his quarterbacks having established reputations.

“I would agree with that comment or that statement if in fact that quarterback has built up some credit, you know, he’s got an account going. We’ve been around Spencer three years now. This is his third year playing as a starter, so we’ve been around him, seen him do a lot of really good things. And as a person, as a young man, he’s stellar. He’s been really good,” Ferentz said.

With that being said, ultimately, it’s just not working right now for Iowa, and that means that all options are on the table.

“He’s got all the attributes you’re looking for, but it’s not going well for him right now. It’s not going well for anybody on the offense quite frankly. If making a change is the best thing, then we’ll consider it. If not, we’ll just keep pushing forward, see what we can do,” Ferentz said.

Last week, Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz wasn’t completely letting Petras off the hook based on poor offensive line play.

“I felt like after watching the tape, the majority of that game, we had ample opportunity in the pocket to deliver the ball and do what we needed to do as far as making the read and getting the ball out to the correct guy on time. So, is the protection perfect? No, but if you’re waiting around for perfect protection, you’re not going to be happy with it ever,” Brian Ferentz said.

And the promise was that Iowa would play the best player, whomever that ultimately is.

“And the reality is, we’ve seen both quarterbacks play. Both guys have played well. Both guys probably have had times in their career they wish they had back — with Spencer we can look as recently as a few days ago. But the reality is they both demonstrated that they can do it. And what we need to do is find consistency at that position. I can just assure you that what we’re going to do is we’re going to continue to go with the guy, whomever that is, whenever that is, that’s going to give us the best chance to win football games,” Brian Ferentz said after the South Dakota State game.

Now, the questions are more pronounced than ever. Is Petras really Iowa’s best option at quarterback? Or, what are Alex Padilla and Joey Labas not doing to get opportunities to play?

“It’s really not that. The best way I can phrase it is we have a lot more exposure to what’s going on with our players on a daily basis. You get to see them on Saturdays, obviously you get to interview them, talk to them and all that, but we see them on a daily basis, and this goes back to the spring and last fall, as well.

“It has been our estimation that Spencer is the starter, and wanted to give him that chance again today. We’re sitting here right now, clearly we have to do better, and we’ll reassess everything this week,” Kirk Ferentz said.

Ultimately, the bottom line is Iowa needs more offensive production. As such, all options have to be on the table.

“We’ll assess all that tomorrow. Obviously the statement made about points scored, we’re not going to win moving forward if we can’t score more points than that, and we have a really good defense. But you’re not going to win a game, 7 points, 10 points a game, as a rule,” Kirk Ferentz said.

[listicle id=9693]

[listicle id=9776]

[listicle id=9698]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

‘Just doing what we need to do’: Arland Bruce IV outlines how to fix Iowa’s offensive ‘week one jitters’

Iowa wide receiver Arland Bruce IV reflected on the Hawkeyes’ “week one jitters” and said the fix is “just doing what we need to do.”

Iowa didn’t inspire much hope in its season opener that all of the offensive issues that plagued the program a season ago have magically been fixed. Instead, it felt and looked like the offense had gotten worse.

Sophomore wide receiver Arland Bruce IV isn’t hitting any panic buttons, though.

“Yeah, you know the first week everybody’s going to struggle at times. There’s times that you guys probably didn’t even notice where I messed up. It’s just about everybody doing their job. I just feel like with week one jitters, everybody sometimes messes up and doesn’t really complete their job like they’re supposed to and doesn’t get the task done. It’s not really about the coverage at times. It’s just a matter of us doing what we need to do first and not worrying about what the defense is doing, so it’s just figuring out what we need to do first,” Bruce said.

According to Bruce, therein lies the fix.

“Like I just said, just doing what we need to do. Getting the job done. Everybody doing their own job, not worrying about what the person next to you is and trusting that your brother’s going to do the right thing,” Bruce said.

It echoes some of the sentiments his quarterback Spencer Petras shared about the Hawkeyes’ struggles running the football and just the overall takeaways from a day where Iowa mustered just 166 yards of total offense and zero offensive touchdowns.

“Yeah, I think it was pretty representative of just the whole day offensively,” Petras said of the run game struggles. “Without having watched the tape yet, I bet all of our bad plays were probably one guy away from going. Run game that can be. It’s one guy in a run play, it’s one guy in a pass play. Whatever that may be, so the trick is just, you know, we’ve got our first game, we’ve got our first win. Now, let’s get back to who we are, because that wasn’t representative of who we are offensively.”

After a performance that brought out the boo birds on multiple occasions, Bruce had this to say in response to the fans voicing their displeasure.

“At the end of the day, it just matters what the people in this facility, in this building, on this team think, so I don’t really think too much of it. I mean, we all know that we left some on the field, but that’s why we’re going to get in the film room, get back at it tomorrow, look at what we could have done better and what we did good,” Bruce said.

Of course, plenty of those boos were directed squarely at Petras. Dating back to the mid-October loss last season versus Purdue, the San Rafael, Calif., quarterback now has just one touchdown pass against eight interceptions in his last six games of serious playing time.

Granted, seven of those eight interceptions came in two games against Purdue and Kentucky. Still, there was Bruce on Saturday afternoon to help swat away any criticism of his team’s starting signal-caller and to assign some of the blame on himself and the rest of his offensive teammates.

“Like I said, we all made mistakes today. I’m sure Spencer probably thought he left some stuff on the field, but there’s also some things that he probably did great. Same with me. I got a penalty. I caused a penalty. It’s just things where we leave on the field and it’s just procedural penalties and just not lining up where we’re supposed to be. Just little things like that. Like I said, it’s always the basics and the little things. We get those right and we’re going to be fine,” Bruce said.

As Iowa turns its attention to its arch rival in the Iowa State Cyclones, the Hawkeyes will once again be doing so minus two of their top three wide receivers. Neither Nico Ragaini or Keagan Johnson were listed on the two-deep.

It sets the stage for Bruce to be Iowa’s primary difference maker at wide receiver. Obviously, it would be great for the Hawkeyes to find some help from the fellow receivers on the two-deep: Alec Wick, Jack Johnson and Brody Brecht.

“Yeah, that’s the great thing with college football. I mean, we probably have 12, 13 games left. Those guys are obviously going to be back in the next few weeks. The guys that we had in today I think did a great job and it was their first time getting game experience, so I think moving forward we’re going to be just fine,” Bruce said.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdcxf97xrgg1awc player_id=none image=https://hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[lawrence-related id=9383]

[lawrence-related id=9376]

[vertical-gallery id=9261]

[listicle id=9315]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Iowa Hawkeyes to open season minus RB Gavin Williams, WR Keagan Johnson

Iowa opens the 2022 season minus its top running back and top wide receiver in running back Gavin Williams and wide receiver Keagan Johnson.

Reports surfaced just before kickoff of the 2022 season opener against South Dakota State that the Iowa Hawkeyes would be without their top running back and arguably their top wide receiver in running back Gavin Williams and wide receiver Keagan Johnson, respectively.

According to Hawk Central’s Chad Leistikow, it sounds like an ankle injury that is sidelining Williams. Meanwhile, Johnson has been dealing with injuries all throughout the offseason and now he is set to miss the Hawkeyes’ opener per the Iowa communication staff.

With Iowa already minus one of its other top wide receivers in Nico Ragaini for several weeks to start 2022, it feels like the Hawkeyes have taken several bullets before the season has even started. It does present an opportunity for a pair of walk-on receivers in Alec Wick and Jack Johnson to potentially star in the opener against the Jackrabbits. Perhaps Jacob Bostick as well.

Iowa has also lost wide receiver Jackson Ritter for the season and fellow wide receiver Diante Vines is out for probably the first half of the season as well.

In terms of wide receivers, Johnson and Ragaini were No. 1 and No. 2 for Iowa in 2021 in receiving yardage. Johnson finished with 18 grabs for 352 yards, while Ragaini registered 26 receptions for 331. Naturally, that’s some important production to try to replace in the opener versus a talented FCS team in South Dakota State.

Williams was Iowa’s No. 2 running back last year and finished the season with 65 rushes for 305 yards. While Gavin Williams entered as Iowa’s No. 1 running back on the depth chart this year, Leshon Williams was expected to factor in heavily. Now, he gets the chance as Iowa’s featured runner in the opener.

After Leshon Williams, look for the freshmen running backs Jaziun Patterson and Kaleb Johnson to see some carries as well.

[vertical-gallery id=2431]

[vertical-gallery id=2683]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

5 Offensive keys for the Iowa Hawkeyes against South Dakota State

Here’s five keys for the Iowa Hawkeyes on offense to get the season off to a strong start in week one against South Dakota State.

Week One is the perfect time to work out the kinks, earning some needed chemistry and playing time. While No. 2 Ohio State is playing a national contender in No. 5 Notre Dame to kick off their season, Iowa is also facing a national championship contender, albeit a very different one.

The Hawkeyes will host the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Kinnick Stadium to kick off their season. It certainly isn’t the toughest week one slate, they didn’t elect to schedule a top 25 team like No. 12 Oregon or a returning College Football Playoff team in No. 22 Cincinnati, but SDSU is certainly not a pushover. They aimed for a bit more of an ambitious FCS opponent than say Wisconsin taking on Illinois State, a team that didn’t even muster five wins in 2021.

Expectations are high for the Hawkeyes, fresh off of their Big Ten Championship game campaign. The first team left on the outside looking in of the USA TODAY Sports AFCA coaches poll, Iowa certainly has a chip on its shoulder entering the season. After an offseason of incessant talking points, none of that matters anymore. The season is here, time to put up or shut up. Here are five keys for the Iowa offense against South Dakota State.

Nico Ragaini sidelined several weeks to start 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes season

One of Iowa’s top returning pass-catchers, redshirt senior wide receiver Nico Ragaini, will miss the first several weeks of 2022.

Unfortunately, the fact that redshirt senior Nico Ragaini wasn’t on the Iowa Hawkeyes‘ offensive two-deep that got released to start the week means exactly what everybody assumed it did.

Ragaini is set to be sidelined at least several weeks.

“He has a medical issue right now. It’s going to be at least a couple weeks, so he’s not on the depth chart, which means he has no chance to play this week. It’s unfortunate because he’s really practicing well, great guy, and another one of our veteran players, so would be great to have him with us,” Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said at his Tuesday press conference to preview South Dakota State.

The East Haven, Conn., product was Iowa’s third-leading receiver in 2021 with 26 grabs for 331 yards and a touchdown. For an offense that’s hoping the 2022 season doesn’t resemble last year’s production, starting off the season without one of the Hawkeyes’ top threats isn’t exactly ideal.

Ferentz acknowledged as much, but did say Iowa’s two walk-on receivers have been impressive and noted how tight end depth can help the Hawkeyes withstand this injury hit early in the season.

“Yeah, first of all, those guys have done a good job, Jack (Johnson) and Alec (Wick) have done a really nice job and been consistent, and they’ve been out there every day, which is a big, big part of it. They’ve done a good job and Arland has done a nice job, as well.

“We’re not as deep as you’d like to be. It seems like every preseason or every segment — spring ball kind of goes this way, too, certain segments get tagged a little bit with the injury deal, and just got to work around it. That’s what we’re doing there. I think the good news is we’re a little deeper at tight end than maybe some years past, so we’ll figure out a way to complement things and make it work,” Ferentz said.

[listicle id=8966]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Diante Vines sidelined until at least midseason with wrist injury

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Diante Vines will be sidelined until at least midseason with a wrist injury per head coach Kirk Ferentz.

It’s the piece of football that there’s just no perfect defense for. Injuries happen and Iowa—like everyone else in college football—was hoping that they could avoid as many of them throughout the offseason and camp as possible.

Instead, after Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz recently announced the season-ending injuries to offensive guard Justin Britt and wide receiver Jackson Ritter, the Hawkeyes unfortunately now have another injury to report.

“On a negative note, I think I’ve already mentioned Justin Britt will not be able to play this year, Jackson Ritter, and one to add to the list, at least for the start of the season in our two deep. Diante Vines injured his wrist. He’ll be in a cast. You’ll see that, and that is going to impact the beginning part of the season for him.

“That’s unfortunate. He’s was really practicing well, and certainly would have been a guy who could help contribute to our football team. It’s not season-ending I don’t think, but, hopefully, we’ll get him back here somewhere midseason, whenever. We’ll just kind of take that day by day,” Ferentz told reporters at Iowa’s Media Day.

As it currently stands according to the depth chart that the Hawkeyes released just in front of Big Ten Media Days, Iowa’s wide receivers depth chart looks like this: the two that were listed as No. 1 receivers are Keagan Johnson and Nico Ragaini and the two that were listed as No. 2 receivers are Alec Wick and Arland Bruce IV.

Of course, Bruce started several games for the Hawkeyes last season and reeled in 25 grabs for 209 receiving yards with one touchdown reception and three more rushing scores.

Johnson led the way for Iowa receivers in 2021 with 18 receptions for 352 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown grabs, while Ragaini added 26 catches for 331 yards and one score.

While Iowa has been handed a pair of wide receiver injuries to both Ritter and now Vines, Ferentz seemed otherwise upbeat about what he’s seeing from those who are available.

“Receivers, injuries have been part of the deal there, predictably. Hopefully, we’re making progress, but seeing really good performances from Nico, our most veteran guy, and then Arland Bruce has done really a good job, too. Of note, Alec Wick has done a good job. Young guys who we didn’t know a lot about until last spring basically. He’s really done a good job, as well,” Ferentz said.

Still, it’s worth mentioning that Iowa also saw the departure of a pair of wide receivers through the transfer portal this offseason. Charlie Jones and Tyrone Tracy Jr. both transferred to Purdue.

Add to it that Johnson has been battling the injury bug this offseason and there’s at least cause for some angst among the Iowa fan base about what the wide receiver depth looks like headed into this season.

“Keagan is working back. He won’t do a lot tomorrow, but he’s working back. I think he’s close to being where he needs to be, and hopefully the same thing with Brody (Brecht). They’re really the two guys that have missed the most time now.

“If you look big picture, you’re including spring practice, too. So that’s—I don’t know if concerned is the right word, but that’s where my awareness is. They missed a lot of time. To get them back and playing effectively with the right tempo and getting the timing down on the offense, all those kinds of things, and you’ve heard me say it before, meetings are important, they have value and all that, but you learn how to play football by playing it. You’ve got to go out there on the field and play it,” Ferentz said.

Really, it’s probably more important for Brecht to see plenty of snaps throughout camp, but it wouldn’t hurt for quarterbacks Spencer Petras and Alex Padilla along with the Hawkeyes’ offensive coaching staff to get to see both of those targets back quickly.

“The sooner we can get them back, hopefully it’s next week, that’ll be encouraging. They’re both—in Keagan’s case, he’s played 12 games, 13 games, so he’s got experience there, but you still have to play the game and practice. Brody is a little different story because he hasn’t played. We really liked what we saw when he came back in the fall, but we’ve got to get him going.

“Hopefully, it’s sooner than later. I think it will be. But everybody else is doing a good job, and I think we’ve got some flexibility personnel-wise just with the tight ends. I think we’ve got a little flexibility there. We’ll figure that out, but so far, so good. I think our passing game, I think it’s on the right track right now,” Ferentz said.

[listicle id=7718]

[listicle id=7687]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.