Tag: Xavier Nwankpa

Guessing the top 10 highest-rated Iowa Hawkeyes in EA Sports College Football 25

Ahead of the return of EA Sports College Football 25, here is a guess at who may be the top 10 highest-rated Iowa Hawkeyes in the game.

After a decade-long wait, the return of one of the most highly-anticipated video games is finally coming. EA Sports has announced that this summer will be the official return of EA Sports College Football 25.

The game was discontinued after NCAA Football was released in 2013. This pause came amid the strife around paying players for their name, image, and likeness. Obviously, it goes without saying that NIL has taken leaps and bounds to allow players to be correctly compensated.

With the return of the video game, fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes are eager to see their favorite team and its best players as they lead them to glory in dynasty mode. This is every Hawkeyes’ fans chance to light up the scoreboard and put up truly “video game” numbers on offense.

Ahead of the release, here is a guess at who are the top 10 highest-rated Iowa Hawkeyes in EA Sports College Football 25.

6 days to kickoff: 6 bold predictions for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023

It has officially become game week and there are just six days to kickoff. Here are six bold predictions for the Hawkeyes in 2023.

It is game week. For the first time in over nine months, it is time to get ready for the Iowa Hawkeyes to strap up their helmets and play a game inside Kinnick Stadium. The buzz around this team is palpable this year and there is a sense of urgency for Iowa to perform with the immensely talented roster they have. The schedule is set up nicely, the Big Ten realignment hasn’t occurred yet, and this is Iowa’s chance to show something.

To perform at those levels and live up to their expectations, it is going to take some primetime efforts from primetime players. Each year a few select individuals step up, some units come together when it matters most, and teams find a way to win.

With the 2023 college football season just six days away for the Hawkeyes, the countdown is truly on now. As we approach kickoff, today looks into six bold predictions for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023.

WATCH: Xavier Nwankpa gets mic’d up at Iowa Hawkeyes’ practice

An ascending star in Iowa’s defensive backfield, safety Xavier Nwankpa gave fans an inside look at Hawkeyes practice as he was mic’d up.

Iowa fans can’t wait to see what five-star defensive back Xavier Nwankpa does next.

A Southeast Polk product out of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, the in-state star showcased just a taste of what might be to come in his first career start in the Hawkeyes’ 21-0 TransPerfect Music City Bowl shutout of Kentucky.

Nwankpa reeled in a Destin Wade pass for his first career interception and proceeded to race 52 yards for a pick-six. The 6-foot-2, 210 pound safety also tallied eight tackles against the Wildcats, which was the second-highest total in the contest for Iowa.

On Thursday, Nwankpa went ahead and treated fans to a behind the scenes look at practice by tossing on the microphone. With Nwankpa mic’d up, Iowa Hawkeyes fans get a look at the sophomore defensive back singing, interacting with his teammates as he gets his work in and a special cameo from a famous Hawk.

Nwankpa is listed as Iowa’s starting strong safety and will be an integral piece in Hawkeye defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s defensive backfield. The sophomore joins a group of safeties that also includes Sebastian Castro, Quinn Schulte and Koen Entringer.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz talked about how Nwankpa is progressing and the group of safeties recently at Iowa’s media day.

“He’s doing a good job. He’s out there competing, and still on the back end, (Quinn) Schulte is the veteran guy if you will, kind of the stabilizer right now, and then we’ve got a bunch of other guys competing.

“Xavier is doing a good job and making good progress. (Koen) Entringer is the same way. He’s doing a good job, as well Castro has been practicing well, played his best in the bowl game. That’s kind of us. We’ve got some young guys coming along, and we’ve got an older guy like Castro who finally got some traction in that bowl game and really looked like a Big Ten safety, not just a specialist, if you will. So I think we have good competition back there,” Ferentz said.

Iowa kicks off its season in under two weeks on Sept. 2 when it welcomes in Utah State at 11 a.m. on FS1 from Kinnick Stadium.

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Iowa Hawkeyes 2023 Snapshot Profile: No. 1 Xavier Nwankpa

One of the Hawkeyes’ all-time most-heralded recruits, it’s officially showtime for safety Xavier Nwankpa in 2023.

The 2023 season marks the true debut year for heralded Iowa defensive back recruit Xavier Nwankpa. Mostly contributing on special teams, Nwankpa put the college football world on notice in his lone start.

Given his chance in the Hawkeyes’ TransPerfect Music City Bowl game against Kentucky, Nwankpa was arguably the best player on the field. He racked up seven solo tackles and even had a pick-six. Though a true freshman, the Southeast Polk product looked the part already. Possessing tantalizing physical abilities out of high school, it was a dream debut for one of the best recruits in recent school history.

Given his five-star status, there was a lot of excitement surrounding the Pleasant Hill, Iowa, native. After his fantastic play against Kentucky, that hype has rocketed through the roof. Right away this kid looked like he belonged and that his high regard for entering college was warranted. Nwankpa not only has star potential, he could very well be the best prospect Phil Parker has ever molded in the defensive backfield.

Here is a look at rising star safety Xavier Nwankpa.

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Next man up: 5 potential breakout stars for the Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa always develops well and each year a lesser known name or a newcomer steps up. Here are five potential breakouts stars for 2023.

Each year, someone from the Iowa Hawkeyes rises from the ranks and proves once again that their development and penchant for finding hidden talent is nearly unmatched. There are a handful of Hawkeyes that have a breakout season each year.

Last year, Cooper DeJean became nationally known for his ability to intercept the ball and play lockdown coverage. Kaleb Johnson went from a true freshman to Iowa’s leading rusher. Even Tory Taylor exploded with his punting prowess and is arguably the best at his position in the nation.

It is often those that are under the radar and not as talked about that make some of the biggest impacts in college football. Should Iowa have a year some anticipate it to have, it will take some strong efforts from individuals stringing together their best seasons yet.

Here are five potential breakout stars for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023.

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Xavier Nwankpa listed as ‘on-schedule’ sophomore by 247Sports

Xavier Nwankpa already looks like he’s tracking to live up to a lofty billing coming in. 247Sports named him an “on-schedule” sophomore.

Iowa fans are understandably excited about Xavier Nwankpa’s future in the black and gold.

Rated as a five-star signee per 247Sports out of Southeast Polk High School, the former No. 25 signee in the 2022 class only amplified expectations with his performance in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. During the Hawkeyes’ 21-0 shutout of the Kentucky Wildcats, Nwankpa took a 52-yard interception back to the house in his first career start.

His strong performance combined with the expectations coming in has 247Sports singing his praises heading into his sophomore season. The site lists Nwankpa among a group of former 5-star signees across college football that are “on-schedule” sophomores.

A huge in-state win for Iowa in the 2022 class, Nwankpa did not start right away for the Hawkeyes but did see his role grow as the season went on. Nwankpa got the start against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl and looks like an important piece in the defense for 2023.

Iowa’s defense has never been the issue, and Nwankpa has the type of range on the back end to further juice the Hawkeyes’ pass defense. An All-Big Ten season could be in the cards. – Weinstein, 247Sports.

Nwankpa definitely looks like he’s got the goods at safety to form a terrific duo within Iowa’s secondary. Hawkeye cornerback Cooper DeJean set a single season record with three pick-sixes last season and was named a first-team All-Big Ten choice by the Big Ten media.

It’s exciting to think about what lies ahead for both Nwankpa and DeJean. Nwankpa finished with eight tackles in Iowa’s Music City Bowl win. As he slides into a starring role with the Hawkeyes, Nwankpa is a sure bet to blow his 2022 marks out of the water.

He ended last season with 12 tackles, two passes defensed and the one interception.

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Xavier Nwankpa looking to become a leader in 2023

Though he may only be a sophomore, Xavier Nwankpa looks ready to lead a new generation of Iowa Hawkeyes football.

At this time last year, Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa was the new wide-eyed baby face on the team.

One of Iowa’s highest-ranked recruits in recent years, Nwankpa entered Iowa City with a star-like aura around his name. This was the future of the Hawkeyes’ secondary. This was the man to lead the new guard of Iowa’s defense.

While he didn’t play a ton as a freshman, Nwankpa was impressive when given his chance. During his lone start in the Music City Bowl, Nwankpa recorded eight tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown. It was a star-making performance and just a taste of what fans could get from Xavier in 2023.

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Iowa’s defense was one of the best in the nation in 2022, lead by various experienced stars. Now, those stars are heading to the NFL. In the secondary specifically, the Hawkeyes lose two leaders in Riley Moss and Kaevon Merriweather.

Nwankpa detailed recently that his goal for this year is to transition from a baby-faced youngster to a true leader.

“Really trying to lead, help all the young guys. Get to the level that we need to be at as a defense just to keep what we’ve been doing,” Nwankpa said.

Of course, Nwankpa is doing his part this offseason to improve his overall game. The Pleasant Hill, Iowa, native is busting his backside to become the player he knows he can be.

True to the Iowa mentality, though, it is not just about one player. Everyone holds not only themselves, but their teammates around them to a high standard. It’s a true team effort, a brotherhood of Black and Gold lifting each other up.

While Nwankpa is only entering his sophomore season, it’s clear that he just gets it. He’s played with players like Moss and Merriweather who know what it takes to win in the Big Ten. He’s learned from a defensive coordinator in Phil Parker who knows the results that a true 11-man defense yields.

Nwankpa may not have played a ton his freshman year, but early in the offseason, that year in Iowa City has done wonders. He may be young, but Xavier Nwankpa is ready to lead a new generation of Iowa football.

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5 Iowa Hawkeyes poised for a breakout in 2023 college football season

A look at five Iowa Hawkeyes who can become the next stars of the Iowa football program during the 2023 college football season.

A new spring season of Hawkeyes football is upon us, folks! If you know anything about Iowa ball, they have an established pipeline to the NFL. You’ll rarely find a draft without Hawkeye representation and this year is no different.

Iowa has five candidates for the upcoming 2023 NFL draft in defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness, linebacker Jack Campbell, tight end Sam LaPorta, cornerback Riley Moss, and safety Kaevon Merriweather. Van Ness, Campbell, and LaPorta have been the talk of the NFL Draft community after their stellar NFL Combine performances.

Van Ness in particular featured highly in recent mock drafts. Moss and Merriweather also have a number of fans in the football world as well.

Despite being known as a program greater than the sum of its parts, every year Iowa football manages to produce stars who go on to the NFL. That team-first mentality really aids in preparing players for the next level. Five key stars are moving on, but who will be the next breakout stars in Iowa City?

With the depth charts released for the spring season, we now have a better idea of how these players are viewed by the coaching staff. With that in mind and combined with what we already saw last year, here are five breakout candidates to keep an eye on throughout spring ball.

Several Iowa Hawkeyes freshmen already starting to make an impact

Running back Kaleb Johnson and kicker Drew Stevens are the two prominent names, but there’s several other freshmen making impacts for Iowa.

If there are any bright spots on this middling 3-3 Iowa football team (we certainly need some good with Ohio State coming up this week), it is the youth carving out roles already.

We already know the impact sophomore Cooper DeJean has made in the secondary this year, looking like the next star Hawkeye defensive back. Multiple freshmen, though, have started to gain significant playing time early in the season.

According to Sean Bock of 247Sports’ Hawkeye Insider, his midseason Iowa redshirt tracker shows that six true freshmen have received game time this season.

Running back Kaleb Johnson, kicker Drew Stevens, and defensive backs Xavier Nwankpa and TJ Hall have all played in Iowa’s six contests thus far. Defensive tackle Aaron Graves has appeared in five games, tight end Addison Ostrenga in four and running back Jaziun Patterson has one lone appearance this season.

Johnson already has 50 carries for 232 yards with three rushing touchdowns. He finished with seven carries for 103 yards and a pair of scores from 40 and 55 yards out against Nevada. Then, versus Michigan, Johnson scored Iowa’s first points on a 2-yard touchdown run.

Kaleb Johnson has shown flashes of success as perhaps the Hawkeyes’ starting running back of the future, however, the struggles of the offensive line this season have really hampered any consistent impact he’s been able to have. Aaron Graves currently has seven tackles and Patterson has six carries for 20 yards.

Kicker Drew Stevens has probably seen the most success of the Iowa youngsters, staking his claim as the starting kicker. Stevens is 6-of-7 on field goal attempts this season, his first miss a 45-yarder coming in Iowa’s most recent 9-6 loss against Illinois. Despite the miss, special teams coordinator Levar Woods had a lot of positive things to say about the freshman kicker.

“As far as that goes, field goal units, I think Drew is coming along as a player,” Woods said. “He is definitely young. He has had — every game is really like a new experience for him in some way because he was a high school kid a year ago. Really less than a year ago. I think he has made a huge transition since spring. We’ve all kind of seen that. He missed a kick, his last kick, against Illinois, which I know is just eating at him, but to me that shows the guy is a competitor. He may be young. He may be inexperienced, but he is a competitor, and he has that drive inside.”

Both Nwankpa and Hall have received significant playing time on special teams so far this season. While many are anxious to see the five-star Nwankpa get on the field for Phil Parker’s defense, I’d like to remind them of Cooper DeJean’s career arc at Iowa thus far. A lot of his contributions his freshman year came on special teams, and we see how well he’s done in his second year.

It may not be the most glamorous on the stat sheet, but special teams is a great way for both Nwankpa and Hall to get their feet wet, to adjust to the speed of Division 1 ball. Their time will come.

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

Iowa released their first defensive depth chart of the season. What changes were made for their week one clash against South Dakota State?

Iowa released their depth chart on Monday for their week one clash against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits and it surely is interesting. Virtually nothing is changed on the defensive line from the depth chart we’ve already seen, and that might puzzle some.

Some players are listed at different areas on the chart than how we’ve seen them used during camp. The most important thing to note with head coach Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes, the depth chart is not the be all end all. Just like the pirates code, Iowa’s depth chart is more what you would call guidelines instead of rules.

Defensive coordinator Phil Parker and defensive line coach Kelvin Bell know how to utilize their guys best, relying on the depth and versatility abundant with this unit. Expect to see Iowa’s front line look a lot different on game day. That being said, here’s a look at the week one defensive depth chart that was released.