The Daily Iowan
PREGAME TUESDAY, JANUARY 1 IOWA VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM
Innovation IN THE PAST TWO SEASONS UNDER BRIAN FERENTZ, THE HAWKEYE OFFENSE, SPECIFICALLY THE PASSING GAME, HAS GROWN TO NEW HEIGHTS, SIGNIFYING A CHANGE IN OLD WAYS.
2 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, December 12, 2018
REMEMBER WHEN ...
Iowa Starters SE TE LT LG C RG RT TE WR QB RB FB PK
12 39 77 59 69 61 74 38 84 4 10 36 91
Brandon Smith Nate Wieting Alaric Jackson Ross Reynolds Keegan Render Cole Banwart Tristan Wirfs T.J. Hockenson Nick Easley Nate Stanley Mekhi Sargent Brady Ross Miguel Recinos
6-3 6-4 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-5 5-11 6-4 5-10 6-0 6-1
219 250 320 295 307 296 320 250 205 242 210 245 193
SO. JR. SO. SR. SR. SO. SO SO. SR. JR. SO. JR. SR.
LE LT RT RE OLB MLB WLB LC SS FS RC PT
98 90 96 40 49 34 32 8 27 30 33 7
Anthony Nelson Sam Brincks Matt Nelson Parker Hesse Nick Niemann Jack Hockaday Djimon Colbert Matt Hankins Amani Hooker Jake Gervase Michael Ojemudia Colten Rastetter
6-7 6-5 6-8 6-3 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1
271 265 295 261 232 235 234 185 210 212 199 213
JR. SR. SR. SR. SO. SR. #FR. SO. JR. SR. JR. JR.
Mississippi State Starters
Julie Koehn/The Daily Iowan Iowa’s Shonn Greene scores a touchdown against South Carolina after an 11-yard run during the third quarter of the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida., on Jan. 1, 2009. Greene rushed for 121 yards and scored 3 touchdowns in the game, which Iowa won, 31-10.
Shonn Greene sparked Iowa’s offense while the Hawkeye defense flat-out dominated in the Hawkeyes’ 31-10 win over South Carolina in the 2009 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. The Hawkeye defense held the Gamecocks scoreless until the fourth quarter, and Iowa picked off South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia three times, twice by Tyler Sash and once by Bradley Fletcher. Meanwhile, Greene’s 121 yards and a trio of touchdowns on the ground paced Iowa, which outgained South Carolina by nearly 140 yards in the ground game.
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WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR WR QB RB PK
1 58 73 74 61 51 81 2 87 7 8 47
Stephen Guidry Greg Eiland Darryl Williams Elgton Jenkins Deion Calhoun Stewart Reese Justin Johnson Deddrick Thomas Osirus Mitchell Nick Fitzgerald Klyin Hill Jace Christmann
6-4 6-8 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-3 5-9 6-5 6-5 5-11 6-0
190 335 300 310 320 340 245 190 210 230 215 200
JR. SO. JR. SR. SR. SO. SR. JR. SO. SR. SO. SO.
DE DT DT DE OLB ILB OLB LC SS FS RC PT
9 94 95 4 10 40 6 2 38 41 3 42
Montez Sweat Jeffery Simmons Braxton Hoyett Gerri Green Leo Lewis Erroll Thompson Willie Gay Jr. Jamal Peters Johnathan Abram Mark McLaurin Cameron Dantzler Tucker Day
6-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-0
245 300 310 255 240 250 235 220 215 215 175 205
SR. JR. SR. SR. JR. SO. SO. SR. SR. SR. SO. SO.
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The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, December 12, 2018 - 3
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4 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, December 12, 2018
ON THE LINE BOWL GAME EDITION Matchups
Adam Hensley
Pete Ruden
Anna Kayser
Jordan Zuniga
Lucy Rohden
Beau Bowman
Jason Brummond
PREGAME EDITOR (32-23)
SPORTS EDITOR (35-20)
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR (36-19)
FOOTBALL REPORTER (37-18)
CO-DITV SPORTS DIRECTOR (37-18)
CO-DITV SPORTS DIRECTOR (41-14)
PUBLISHER (38-17)
MISSISSIPPI STATE I’m going to get a bulldog once I graduate.
MISSISSIPPI STATE I hope the Bulldogs use a 5-Mississippi count before they blitz in practice.
IOWA New Kirk better go out on a high note.
IOWA This game isn’t for anyone who likes scoring.
MISSISSIPPI STATE I got a fever. And the only prescription is …
IOWA M-S-U? More like M-S-Poo.
MISSISSIPPI STATE Iowa fans have Tampa fatigue. Apparently, so does the team’s second-best TE.
CLEMSON Dab on ‘em, Dabo.
CLEMSON Am I supposed to think it won’t be a Bama-Clemson national championship?
NOTRE DAME Every time I try to do an Irish accent, it somehow turns out Australian.
CLEMSON The Fighting Irish haven’t won a big game in January in 30 years. Some things don’t change.
NOTRE DAME I’ve never seen the movie Rudy.
CLEMSON NOTRE DAME IS THE FAKE ID OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
NOTRE DAME I don’t feel great about this.
OKLAHOMA A Kyler Murray-Tua Tagovailoa matchup is the best Christmas present I could ask for.
ALABAMA Time for Sheck Wes to drop a track called Mo Bama.
ALABAMA Coming soon: Alabama versus the World.
ALABAMA Kyler Murray is good, but he can’t play defense.
ALABAMA Nick Saban is an evil genius.
ALABAMA “thank u, next” — Tua after the first quarter.
ALABAMA Always pick ‘Bama.
WASHINGTON STATE Ames is good for $2.50 Coronas in the summer, and that’s it.
WASHINGTON STATE Mike Leach and his Air Raid offense is better than Drake’s offense.
WASHINGTON STATE ISU fans peaked in high school.
WASHINGTON STATE Maybe Iowa State will finally get to double-digit wins next year.
WASHINGTON STATE
WASHINGTON STATE Matt Campbell is a phony. A big fat PHONY.
WASHINGTON STATE Slightly tougher opponent than Drake.
MICHIGAN What’s Jim Harbaugh doing if he can’t beat Ohio State?
MICHIGAN Tim Tebow should still be in the NFL, though.
MICHIGAN Can we just award Jim Harbaugh the 2019 Most Hated Big Ten Coach Award now?
MICHIGAN I’m just glad Harbaugh isn’t going to Green Bay.
MICHIGAN Florida smells like old people.
MICHIGAN Wait. Adam, did you forget to include Nebraska’s bowl game?
WISCONSIN 2018 Toilet Bowl?
MIAMI How does a school that starts with “M” become “The U”?
MIAMI Sorry Wisconsin, you lost your chance to impress us like 12 weeks ago.
MIAMI The real question is over or under 2.5 picks for Hornibrook. I’ll take the over.
WISCONSIN Turnover chain my —
WISCONSIN Paul Chryst vs. The Turnover Chain Part II.
WISCONSIN A matchup of two top-10 teams (in the preseason poll).
GEORGIA TECH Things that should be abolished: the penny and the triple option.
GEORGIA TECH TaQuon Marshall is a quarterback with more rushing yards than passing yards but somehow, I’m not surprised.
GEORGIA TECH Only good thing about football szn ending is everyone can forget I had Minnesota at No. 4 in week 1 power rankings.
GEORGIA TECH How can Georgia Tech be called the Yellow Jackets and not have yellow uniforms?
GEORGIA TECH A December bowl in Detroit? Everyone is a loser here if you ask me.
GEORGIA TECH This game is in Detroit. No one is a winner in this city.
GEORGIA TECH Too bad. A Quick Lane Bowl win would have been elite.
No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Washington
OHIO STATE Urban Meyer is gonna go out on a high note whether we like it or not.
OHIO STATE Haskins Heisman revenge game.
OHIO STATE So long, farewell, no one will miss you, Urban.
OHIO STATE So long, Urban, never forget 55-24.
OHIO STATE Bye-bye Urban, see ya back in college football in like two years when you change your mind (again).
OHIO STATE tHeY nEeD tO eXpAnD tHe CoLlEgE fOoTbAlL pLaYoFf To EiGhT tEaMs.
OHIO STATE The year is 2020. Urban Meyer’s “memory issues” have improved. He returns to coaching.
No. 12 Penn State vs. No. 14 Kentucky
PENN STATE Kentucky Fried Wildcats
PENN STATE Ahmad Wagner Stat Tracker: 0 rec, 0 yds, 0 TDs. Pete Ruden Stat Tracker: 0 rec, 0 yds, 0 TDs.
KENTUCKY Penn State, who?
PENN STATE Apparently, Kentucky forgot it’s supposed to suck at football. Penn State should remind it.
PENN STATE Hey, Ahmad Wagner, sup?
PENN STATE Sup, Ahmad Wagner.
PENN STATE Trace McSorley’s final college game. Thank God.
No. 17 Utah vs. No. 22 Northwestern
UTAH Northwestern made it this far because Wisconsin and Iowa wet the bed.
NORTHWESTERN It’s a shame Utah doesn’t have a player named Mario, because we could’ve had Mario vs. Bowser.
UTAH On the bright side: Northwestern will be irrelevant again after this season (hopefully)
UTAH Pat Fitzgerald’s team is 0-3 in non conference games. How did it win the West again?
UTAH Pat Fitzgerald called me missy one time, and I’m still not over it.
UTAH Our photographer Nick Rohlman was very upset that Iowa isn’t playing Utah.
UTAH Incredibly, Northwestern going for its sixth loss.
Iowa vs. No. 18 Mississippi State
No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Notre Dame No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Oklahoma No. 13 Washington State vs. No. 24 Iowa State No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 10 Florida Miami vs. Wisconsin Georgia Tech vs. Minnesota
“I’ve specifically concentrated on not concentrating on this, and up to this point, I’ve done a really good job.” - Mike Leach
MICHIGAN Don’t worry Harbaugh, Urban isn’t the head coach at Florida anymore, so you actually have a
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, December 12, 2018 - 5
6 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, December 12, 2018
IOWA HAWKEYES vs. MISS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2019 | RAYMOND
IOWA 1 2 2 3 3 4 6 7 7 8 8 9 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 21 22 23 23 25 26 27 28 28 30 30 32 33 34 35 36 36 38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 42 43 44 45 45
Wes Dvorak Ryan Gersonde Peyton Mansell Keith Duncan Tyrone Tracy Jr. Nate Stanley Ihmir Smith-Marsette Spencer Petras Colten Rastetter Matt Hankins Kordell Stillmunkes Geno Stone Mekhi Sargent Michael Ojemudia Connor Kapisak Brandon Smith D.J. Johnson Henry Marchese Joe Evans Kyle Groeneweg Dallas Craddieth Terry Roberts Ryan Schmidt Devonte Young Drew Cook John Milani Max Cooper Mike Timm Julius Brents Ivory Kelly-Martin Samson Evans Dominique Dafney Jaden Snyder Jayden McDonald Kaevon Merriweather Amani Hooker Jack Koerner Toren Young Jake Gervase Henry Geil Djimon Colbert Riley Moss Kristian Welch Barrington Wade Brady Ross Mitch Riggs T.J. Hockenson Monte Pottebaum Nate Wieting John Carlson Parker Hesse Turner Pallissard Colton Dinsdale Drew Thomas Shaun Beyer Dillon Doyle Seth Benson Ben Campos Joe Ludwig
DB P QB PK WR QB WR QB P DB RB DB RB DB QB WR DB WR LB WR DB DB QB DB TE DB WR LB DB RB WR WR DB LB DB DB DB RB DB RB LB DB LB LB FB LB TE FB TE LB DE FB DB WR TE LB LB LB LB
6’ 0” 6’ 4” 6’ 2” 5’ 11” 6’ 0” 6’ 4“ 6’ 1” 6’ 5” 6’ 1” 6’ 1” 5’ 9” 5’ 11” 5’ 10” 6’ 1” 6’ 5” 6’ 3” 6’ 0” 6’ 3” 6’ 2” 5’ 10” 6’ 0” 5’ 10” 6’ 5” 6’ 0” 6’ 5” 6’ 0” 6’ 0” 6’ 1” 6’ 2” 5’ 11” 6’ 1” 6’ 2” 6’ 1” 6’ 1” 6’ 2” 6’ 0” 6’ 0” 5’ 11” 6’ 1” 6’ 1” 6’ 1” 6’ 0” 6’ 3” 6’ 1” 6’ 0” 6’ 1” 6’ 5” 6’ 0” 6’ 4” 6’ 3” 6’ 3” 6’ 1” 5’ 11” 6’ 0” 6’ 5” 6’ 3” 6’ 1” 6’ 1” 6’ 0”
197 198 210 180 187 242 175 227 213 185 180 209 210 199 195 219 170 195 210 186 197 171 235 203 250 201 185 220 180 200 205 225 205 220 195 210 200 221 212 215 234 185 238 233 245 230 250 210 250 200 261 220 215 189 240 227 205 225 233
JR SO #FR SO FR JR SO FR JR SO FR SO SO JR FR SO FR #FR FR SR FR FR JR JR JR JR SO FR FR SO FR JR FR FR FR JR #FR SO SR FR #FR FR JR SO JR FR SO FR JR FR SR FR JR #FR SO FR FR #FR FR
Parkston, SD Milwaukee, WI Belton, TX Weddington, NC Camby, IN Menomonie, WI Newark, NJ San Rafael, CA Guttenberg, IA Lewisville, TX Hazel Green, WI New Castle, PA Key West, FL Farmington Hills, MI South Windsor, CT Lake Cormorant, MS Indianapolis, IN Vernon Hills, IL Ames, IA Inwood, IA St. Louis, MO Erie, PA Marion, IA Waldorf, MD Iowa City, IA Iowa City, IA Waukesha, WI Delafield, WI Indianapolis, IN Plainfield, IL Crystal Lake, IL West Des Moines, IA Larchwood, IA Suwanee, GA Belleville, MI Minneapolis, MN Des Moines, IA Madison, WI Davenport, IA Green Bay, WI Shawnee Mission, KS Ankeny, IA Iola, WI Skokie, IL Humboldt, IA West Des Moines, IA Chariton, IA Larchwood, IA Rockford, IL Bondurant, IA Waukon, IA Frankfort, IL Reinbeck, IA Humboldt, IA Shellsburg, IA Iowa City, IA Sioux Falls, SD West Des Moines, IA Middleton, WI
46 46 46 47 47 48 48 49 50 52 53 54 54 55 56 57 58 59 59 60 61 64 65 66 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 74 75 76 77 78 79 81 82 83 84 84 85 86 89 90 91 91 92 93 94 94 95 96 97 98 99
Austin Kelly Tommy Kujawa Logan Klemp Lane Akre Nick Anderson Jack Hockaday Bryce Schulte Nick Niemann Jackson Subbert Amani Jones Garret Jansen Daviyon Nixon Matt Fagan Luke Empen Brian Sadler Chauncey Golston Jake Newborg Ross Reynolds Nathan Nelson Jake Morrison Cole Banwart Kyler Schott Tyler Linderbaum Dalles Jacobus Levi Paulsen Levi Duwa Landan Paulsen Keegan Render Kyle Sorenson Mark Kallenberger Coy Kirkpatrick Cody Ince Austin Schulte Tristan Wirfs Jeff Jenkins Dalton Ferguson Alaric Jackson Trey Winters Jack Plumb Ben Subbert Calvin Lockett Blair Brooks Nick Easley Austin Spiewak Nate Vejvoda Noah Feldman Nico Ragaini Sam Brincks Miguel Recinos Brady Reiff John Waggoner Brandon Simon A.J. Epenesa Caleb Shudak Cedrick Lattimore Matt Nelson Jack Kallenberger Anthony Nelson Noah Shannon
FB TE LB FB LB LB TE LB LS LB DL DT OL TE OL DE OL OL DE DE OL OL DL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL TE WR WR WR LS TE TE WR DE PK DL DL DE DE PK DL DE DL DE DL
5’ 11” 6’ 3” 6’ 3” 6’ 0” 6’ 2” 6’ 1” 6’ 3” 6’ 4” 6’ 3” 6’ 0” 6’ 2” 6’ 3” 6’ 5” 6’ 5” 6’ 1” 6’ 5” 6’ 3” 6’ 4” 6’ 3” 6’ 2” 6’ 4” 6’ 2” 6’ 2” 6’ 0” 6’ 5” 6’ 3” 6’ 5” 6’ 4” 6’ 6” 6’ 6” 6’ 4” 6’ 5” 6’ 4” 6’ 5” 6’ 4” 6’ 4” 6’ 7” 6’ 5” 6’ 8” 6’ 3” 6’ 2” 6’ 2” 5’ 11” 6’ 1” 6’ 5” 6’ 4” 6’ 0” 6’ 5” 6’ 1” 6’ 3” 6’ 5” 6’ 0” 6’ 5” 5’ 8” 6’ 3” 6’ 8” 6’ 5” 6’ 7” 6’ 1”
245 230 210 242 225 235 244 232 240 238 280 306 245 230 285 265 290 295 230 205 296 290 270 280 305 270 305 307 250 282 290 260 275 320 270 308 320 315 250 235 170 180 205 232 250 230 191 275 193 272 245 250 277 179 295 295 272 271 300
SR #FR FR JR JR SR #FR SO JR JR JR SO FR FR FR SO JR SR FR FR SO #FR FR SO JR #FR JR SR FR #FR FR FR SO SO FR SR SO FR FR FR FR FR SR SO JR #FR FR SR SR JR FR SO SO SO JR SR JR JR FR
Hickory Hills, IL Greendale, WI Jewell, IA Geneseo, IL Waukee, IA Forsyth, IL Cedar Rapids, IA Sycamore, IL Williamsburg, IA Chicago, IL Pella, IA Kenosha, WI Council Bluffs, IA Clinton, IA Jesup, IA Detroit, MI Inwood, IA Waukee, IA Waukee, IA Waukee, IA Ottosen, IA Coggon, IA Solon, IA Palo, IA Moville, IA Kalona, IA Moville, IA Indianola, IA Waukee, IA Bettendorf, IA Madrid, IA Luck, WI Pella, IA Mount Vernon, IA Crystal Lake, IL Solon, IA Detroit, MI Ankeny, IA Green Bay, WI Williamsburg, IA Largo, FL Cedar Rapids, IA Newton, IA Rolling Meadows, IL Homer Glen, IL West Liberty, IA East Haven, CT Carroll, IA Mason City, IA Parkston, SD West Des Moines, IA Newark, NJ Glen Carbon, IL Council Bluffs, IA Redford, MI Cedar Rapids, IA Bettendorf, IA Urbandale, IA Montgomery, IL
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, December 12, 2018 - 7
SISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
D JAMES STADIUM | 11:00 AM | ESPN2
MISSISSIPPI STATE 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 21 21 23 23 24 25 25 26 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 30 30 32 33 33 34 35 38 38
Stephen Guidry Deddrick Thomas Jamal Peters Devonta Jason Cameron Dantzler Gerri Green Chauncey Rivers Jamal Couch Willie Gay Jr. Nick Fitzgerald Marcus Murphy Kylin Hill Maurice Smitherman Malik Dear Montez Sweat Keytaon Thompson Leo Lewis Geor'quarius Spivey Dezmond Harris Jaquarius Landrews Rip Kirk Shawn Preston Jr. Travis O'Connor Tyler Williams Jalen Mayden Nathaniel Watson TJ McMahon Korey Charles Logan Burnett Aaron Odom Cameron Gardner Aaron Brule Stephen Adegoke Cole Deeds Taury Dixon Nick Gibson Jaylon Reed Keith Mixon Raymond Freeman Chris Rayford Brad Cumbest Somon Anderson Aeris Williams Alec Murphy Jordan Lawless Esaias Furdge Kody Schexnayder Dontavian Lee Londyn Craft C.J. Morgan Sh'mar Kilby-Lane Dan Mills Brian Keith Cole Robert Rivers Joshua Short Cory Thomas Landon Guidry Cason Grant Johnathan Abram
WR WR CB WR CB DE DE WR LB QB S RB CB WR DE QB LB TE LB S QB S WR CB QB LB QB CB QB DE WR LB S PK CB RB CB WR LS CB TE CB RB LB PK CB P RB S S LB PK S RB S DT S WR S
6' 4" 5' 9" 6' 2" 6' 3" 6' 2" 6' 4" 6' 3" 6' 4" 6' 2" 6' 5" 6' 1" 5' 11" 5' 10" 5' 9" 6' 6" 6' 4" 6' 2" 6' 5" 6' 4" 6' 0" 6' 3" 6' 0" 6' 2" 6' 2" 6' 2" 6' 2" 5' 11" 5' 10" 6' 2" 6' 3" 6' 4" 6' 1" 6' 0" 6' 2" 5' 9" 5' 11" 6' 0" 5' 8" 6' 1" 6' 0" 6' 5" 6' 0" 6' 1" 6' 0" 6' 0" 5' 11" 5' 10" 6' 1" 6' 0" 6' 0" 6' 2" 6' 0" 6' 2" 5' 11" 5' 10" 6' 5" 6' 0" 5' 11" 6' 0"
190 190 220 220 175 255 275 225 235 230 195 215 190 225 245 225 240 250 243 190 240 200 205 175 220 230 195 180 200 265 215 225 210 185 165 215 185 185 210 200 245 200 215 235 190 170 195 230 195 200 230 190 210 210 175 310 195 175 215
JR JR SR FR SO SR JR JR SO SR FR SO JR JR SR SO JR FR SR JR JR FR SO #FR FR FR FR SO SO #FR FR FR SR FR SO JR FR JR #FR SR FR #FR SR JR SO FR JR SR #FR SO JR #FR JR FR FR SR #FR FR SR
New Roads, LA Memphis, TN Bassfield, MS New Orleans, LA Hammond, LA Greenville, MS Stone Mountain, GA Phenix City, AL Starkville, MS Richmond Hill, GA West Point, MS Columbus, MS Adamsville, AL Jackson, MS Stone Mountain, GA New Orleans, LA Brookhaven, MS Monroe, LA Bessemer, AL Summit, MS Hattiesburg, MS Saint James, LA Kenner, LA Oxford, MS Sachse, TX Maplesville, AL Anaheim, CA Miami, FL Pelham, AL Jackson, MS Starkville, MS Metairie, LA Snellville, GA Fairhope, AL Madison, MS Birmingham, AL Olive Branch, MS Birmingham, AL Cantonment, FL Byhalia, MS Hurley, MS New Orleans, LA West Point, MS Nixa, MO Lindale, TX Clarksdale, MS River Ridge, LA Hattiesburg, MS Rio Rancho, NM Bossier City, LA Hollywood, FL Canton, OH Saginaw, MI Ocala, FL Flowood, MS Bessemer, AL Spring Hill, TN Abilene, TX Columbia, MS
39 40 41 42 42 43 44 45 47 48 48 49 50 51 51 52 53 54 54 55 56 57 58 58 61 62 64 65 66 67 69 70 73 74 75 77 78 80 81 82 83 84 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 93 94 95 96 97 98
Nathan Swanson Erroll Thompson Mark McLaurin Marquiss Spencer Tucker Day Fletcher Adams Jett Johnson Devon Robinson Jace Christmann Chris Redmon Scott Goodman Aadreekis Conner Tim Washington Stewart Reese R.J. Jennings Kobe Jones Cameron Miller Blake Mitchell Fabien Lovett Greg Eiland Dareuan Parker John Garner Kameron Jones Tyler Dunning Deion Lenard Calhoun Matt Stanic Marlon Reese Sherman Timbs Joel Baldwin Paul Blackwell Kwatrivous Johnson Tommy Champion Darryl Williams Elgton Jenkins Michael Story Cordavien Suggs Tyre Phillips Christian Roberson Justin Johnson Farrod Green Evans Wilkerson Dontea Jones Jaden Crumedy Austin Williams Jesse Jackson Osirus Mitchell Powers Warren Vincent Taylor Grant Harris James Jackson Kendell Jones Cameron Young Tyler Smith Jeffery Simmons Braxton Hoyett Tre Brown Lee Autry Joseph Garner
LS LB S DE P DE LB DT PK LB PK S LB OL LB DE LB OL DE OL OL DE OL LB OL OL OL DT LS LS OL OL OL OL OL OL OL TE TE TE OL TE DE WR WR WR TE WR DT DT DT DT PK DT DT DT DT LB
6' 5" 6' 1" 6' 2" 6' 4" 6' 0" 6' 2" 6' 2" 6' 4" 6' 0" 6' 0" 5' 10" 6' 2" 6' 3" 6' 5" 6' 0" 6' 4" 6' 0" 6' 0" 6' 4" 6' 8" 6' 4" 6' 4" 6' 5" 6' 1" 6' 3" 6' 4" 6' 4" 6' 2" 6' 3" 5' 9" 6' 7" 6' 5" 6' 2" 6' 4" 6' 4" 6' 6" 6' 5" 6' 5" 6' 3" 6' 4" 6' 5" 6' 4" 6' 5" 6' 3" 6' 2" 6' 5" 6' 3" 5' 10" 6' 3" 6' 3" 6' 4" 6' 3" 5' 11" 6' 4" 6' 3" 6' 4" 6' 2" 6' 3"
230 250 215 285 205 265 235 275 200 225 200 205 230 340 235 270 220 315 335 335 325 230 315 230 320 345 280 260 230 200 355 315 310 310 310 300 340 255 245 240 310 250 295 205 215 210 240 190 290 330 290 305 175 300 310 315 310 235
SO SO SR JR SO JR FR FR SO SO FR #FR JR SO SO SO SO SO FR SO SO FR FR #FR SR JR SR #FR SR JR FR JR JR SR JR #FR JR SO SR JR JR SO FR #FR SR SO #FR SO SR #FR JR FR SO JR SR SR JR FR
Norcross, GA Florence, AL Collins, MS Greenwood, MS Brentwood, TN Brandon, MS Tupelo, MS Memphis, TN Houston, TX Fayetteville, AR Brandon, MS Port Gibson, MS Yazoo City, MS Fort Pierce, FL Birmingham, AL Starkville, MS Odessa, FL Brentwood, TN Olive Branch, MS Philadelphia, MS Olive Branch, MS Ridgeland, MS Starkville, MS Fort Lauderdale, FL Pleasant Grove, AL Madison, MS Columbia, SC Indianola, MS Tupelo, MS Pascagoula, MS Greenwood, MS Jackson, MS Bessemer, AL Clarksdale, MS Ripley, MS Jackson, MS Grenada, MS Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL Wesson, MS Ridgeland, MS McCool, MS Hattiesburg, MS Ocean Springs, MS Petal, MS Sarasota, FL Minnetonka, MN Memphis, TN Bolton, MS Pascagoula, MS Pinson, AL Crosby, MS Coppell, TX Macon, MS Pelham, AL Ackerman, MS Albemarle, NC Ridgeland, MS
8 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Brian Ferentz’s offense in full swing In the past two seasons under Brian Ferentz, the Hawkeye offense, specifically the passing game, has grown to new heights. BY ADAM HENSLEY adam-hensley@uiowa.edu
In former Hawkeye offensive coordinator Greg Davis’ final game at the helm, Iowa produced just 226 yards of offense in its 30-3 loss to Florida in the 2017 Outback Bowl. Iowa’s ground game did what it normally does — the Hawkeyes rushed for 171 yards, with starting tailback Akrum Wadley averaging 5.2 yards per carry. But in the passing game, things fell apart. The Hawkeyes completed just 7 of their 24 attempts, for 55 yards. Fast forward to the current season. Iowa returns to the Outback Bowl, but this time, it’s Brian Ferentz in charge of calling plays. Iowa’s current offensive coordinator has had his fair share of mountain peaks Brian Ferentz and valleys, but after nearly two full seasons, it’s clear that this is a different Iowa offense. He’ll have his hands full against No. 18 Mississippi State, though. Come Jan. 1 in Iowa’s second dance in three seasons in Tampa, the Hawkeyes clash with one of the SEC’s best defenses. Mississippi State’s defense ranks 10th in rushing yards allowed per game (104.3) and sixth in passing yards (164.2). But, as Iowa has suffered offensive woes in the past two Outback trips (459 yards of total offense in both games combined), this isn’t the same Hawkeye offense in years past. “It’s definitely fun. You just never know when your play might come,” receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette said after Iowa’s win over Indiana. “You just always got to be on your toes. Every play, it might come your way. You might be able to make an 80-yard touchdown, 90-yard touchdown, you just never know. When [the passing game] is clicking like that, it just gives Brian Ferentz more confidence.” Brian Ferentz’s scoring offense ranks in the top half of Iowa teams in the past 20 years. Under Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeye offense has averaged 30 points or more in a single season six times. One of those years was this season. Through the regular season, Iowa averaged 31.5 points per game, which is the thirdmost under Kirk Ferentz. That 31.5 points per game ranks Iowa’s offense 47th in the country, just the seventh time in the past 20 seasons that it has ranked in the top 50. Excluding 2018, every season in which
the Hawkeyes averaged 30 points or more featured at least 174.7 rushing yards per game. 2018, however, featured the second-fewest rushing yards per game in the past six seasons, coming in at 162. Kirk Ferentz’s bread and butter is a heavy dose of the ground game; in all but three of his 20 seasons, the Hawkeyes have ran for at least 114.2 yards per game. Through 12 games this season, Iowa’s 162 yards per game ranks 10th in Kirk Ferentz’s tenure. “Some weeks, the running game’s not going to be as strong — we’ve got to rely on the passing game,” Toren Young said after Iowa’s win over Nebraska. The running numbers picked up as the season went on; in the Hawkeyes’ finale against Nebraska, Iowa ran for 266 yards. “Our line continues to mature,” Kirk Ferentz said after the game. “They’ve really grown and gotten better. The veteran guys inside, [Ross] Reynolds and Keegan [Render] — those guys have really done a good job.” Iowa ran the ball on 57.1 percent of plays in 2017, but that number shrank by 2 percentage points this season. Out of the Hawkeyes’ 840 plays in 2018, 44.9 percent of those have been passing plays. The scoring reflects those changes. The Hawkeyes averaged 2 touchdowns per game through the air, which ties for the third-most under Kirk Ferentz. In 2017, the team averaged 2.1, which ties for the most. Never once under Kirk Ferentz has Iowa’s offense averaged 2 or more passing touchdowns per game in consecutive seasons. From 2010-2011, the Hawkeyes came close, averaging 2 and 1.9, respectively. Point being, Iowa’s offense isn’t in new territory in terms of point production. What’s been innovative (on Brian Ferentz’s part) is how the Hawkeyes are scoring those points. In the past two seasons, at least 38.1 percent of the Hawkeyes’ scoring came from the passing game. 2017 was the high mark — 44.1 percent came through the air. Quarterback Nate Stanley has thrown for 49 career touchdowns in two seasons. Last year, he tied Brad Banks for the second-most touchdowns in a single season (26) and this season, his touchdown count (23) ranks sixth. If Stanley throws at least 2 touchdowns against Mississippi State, he’ll become the first Hawkeye quarterback to have at least 25 touchdowns in two separate seasons, something not even Iowa legend Chuck Long managed to accomplish.
Joseph Cress/The Daily Iowan Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz talks with tight ends and running backs during warmups before the Iowa/Nebraska football game in Memorial Stadium on Nov. 24, 2017.
Offensive numbers
2 29.9 44.9
Touchdowns until Nate Stanley becomes first Iowa quarterback with at least 25 touchdowns each in two seasons Iowa’s points per game with Brian Ferentz as offensive coordinator Percent of Iowa’s plays were passes in 2018
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, December 12, 2018 - 9
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10 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Bowling from one season to the next After a lengthy bowl-season losing streak, Iowa will try to start a postseason winning streak starting against Mississippi State.
Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan Kirk Ferentz holds up the New Era Pinstripe Bowl trophy after beating Boston College in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York on Dec. 27, 2017. The Hawkeyes won, 27-20.
Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan Iowa defensive back Josh Jackson (15) celebrates an interception in the second half of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York on Dec. 27, 2017.
BY PETE RUDEN
matchup.” Because Iowa has faced similar defenses — although not so powerful — the Hawkeyes have a chance to take advantage of the familiarity. Even though the Bulldog defense is built like a Big Ten program, Iowa still has to deal with change. Boston College and Mississippi State have different playing styles, and New York City is certainly a different trip from going to Tampa. Amani Hooker compared Mississippi State’s offense with a spread-heavy squad such as Purdue. But preparation, he said, doesn’t change. “You’ve got to treat it like you’ve been doing all year long,” Hooker said. “You just got to take approach like any other game, watch your film, and then just understand what they’re trying to do to us as a defense.” Establishing a winning culture in the postseason is huge when it comes to starting the next season with momentum.
peter-ruden@uiowa.edu
From 2011-17, there was a bad taste left in the Hawkeyes’ mouths after each season. Losing bowl games repeatedly does that to a team. It hurts to end the season on a low note each time. But after Iowa topped Boston College in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, 27-20, on Dec. 27, 2017, the Hawkeyes found new postseason life. “Establishing the winning culture and being able to end the season with a win is something we really want to do,” tight end T.J. Hockenson said. “I think it’s something that we owe this team, so we’re going to go down there and look for a win. After a losing streak, that’s not a fun time to be a competitor and do a lot of things, but it’s a lot more fun when you win.” The last time Iowa was in the Outback Bowl, things didn’t go well for the
Hawkeyes. A 30-3 shellacking by Florida in 2017 served as the final game of the careers for C.J. Beathard, George Kittle, and Desmond King, but Iowa moved on quickly. Now, it’s a chance for some of the team’s older players to redeem themselves after a rough showing in Tampa two years ago. Iowa hasn’t played a team quite like Mississippi State yet this season, however. The Bulldogs lead the country in scoring defense, giving up just 12 points a game, while ranking third with 268.4 yards allowed. The Hawkeyes, on the other hand, give up 17.4 points per game, ranking 11th, and finished the season seventh in total defense, allowing 289.6 yards each contest. “The Big Ten takes pride on playing defense, so that’s the way a lot of Big Ten games go,” defensive end Parker Hesse said. “That’s something we’re used to, and we’re excited to, hopefully, have a defensive
For five seasons, there were Hawkeyes who never won a bowl game during their time in Iowa City. Now, Iowa wants to put the program in a solid position for future classes so losing doesn’t carry over. “We were in a little rut there where we hadn’t won a bowl game in a while, and we got to send the seniors out last year with a win at the Pinstripe Bowl,” safety Jake Gervase said. “If we can go out and get that win No. 9, finish on a strong note, not only is it a good way to send the seniors out, it’s also good for momentum into next year for next year’s team. It’ll be big for us to, hopefully, get a little bowl winning streak going this year.” ———————————— Go to dailyiowan.com for more Pregame content, such as the weekly power rankings in Around the Big Ten and a numbers piece on Mississippi State.
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, December 12, 2018 - 11
12 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, December 12, 2018