Signing Day 2010: Which Hawkeyes Will See the Field in 2010 (Pt. 1)

Head Coach Kirk Ferentz has said that after the 2006 season—a season during which three true freshmen played—the Hawkeyes staff got together and reconsidered their typical reticence not to play true freshmen.

In 2007, the Hawkeyes played nine true freshmen. In 2008, they played six. This past season, out of a class of 19, three true freshmen played.

I would expect 2010 to be similar to 2009—and, quite frankly, what we've seen from every incarnation of Ferentz's Hawkeyes, with the exceptions of 2007 and 2008.

I don't doubt what Ferentz has said about reconsidering his philosophy. I just think that because of attrition, 2007 and 2008 were extreme cases. If the Hawks hadn't played a good number of freshmen that year, they might have been unable to field a team.

With that said, which members of this year's recruiting class can we expect to see the field in the upcoming football season?

As 2007 and 2008 demonstrate, the determining factor as to who plays is often what the Hawkeyes already have. What incoming players bring to the table is often irrelevant.

If, for example, Shonn Greene had opted to stay at Iowa last year and Jewell Hampton hadn't gotten injured, Brandon Wegher's chances of seeing the field last year would have decreased dramatically.

In 2010, the Hawks have a fairly senior bunch—at least, it is considerably more senior than the past two years have been.

The defense will be playing at least five seniors, with a potential for seven to start. Moreover, they will be returning eight starters.

The offense will be playing at least four seniors, with a potential for five to start. Thus, it would seem that there is more potential for offensive freshmen to see the field, but I don't think that will happen.

First of all, Iowa has signed three running backs: Anthony Hitchens, DeAndre Johnson and Marcus Coker. However, Iowa has a logjam of sophomores and freshmen at tailback.

Frankly, I would expect at least one of the incoming freshmen backs—probably Hitchens—to switch to defensive backfield.

As for Johnson and Coker, they will redshirt. There is just no room for them.

Then there is quarterback. Iowa signed two potential quarterbacks in this class: Austin Vier and Iowa City's A.J. Derby.

Vier, at 6'7" and 220 pounds, will be a work-in-progress as he gets bigger and learns to play tight end. Don't expect to hear from him for a few years. Nonetheless, when you do, as is often the case with tight ends that wear the black and gold, he could be very productive.

As for Derby, Norm Parker has intuited that you can expect Derby to line up on the defensive side of the field, but I just don't see it.

Firstly, at 6'5" and 220 pounds, and with his athleticism, he could line up at quarterback, tight end, or linebacker. He could even put on 50 pounds and line up at defensive end, although that is extremely improbable.

The problem is, this class is very heavy on linebackers.

Moreover, with Vier, there are at least two tight ends in the 2010 class.

On the other hand, there are no quarterbacks this year. There were also no quarterbacks in last year's class.

College football recruiting rule No. 1 is that you try to get exactly one quarterback for every recruiting class. However, even if you can't get one, you certainly don't go two years without any.

Expect Derby to play quarterback.

And with senior Ricky Stanzi, and sophomores James Vandenberg and John Wienke  ahead of him, expect Derby to redshirt.

Meanwhile, the wide receiver position is stacked.

There are three seniors: Colin Sandeman, Paul Chaney, and returning starter Darrell Johnson Koulianos; one junior: returning starter Marvin McNutt; one sophomore: Keenan Davis; and one redshirt freshman: Jordan Cotton.

Iowa signed two wide receivers in this class, both of them lightly recruited: Don Shumpert out of St. Louis and Kevonte Martin-Manley out of Michigan.

With so many receivers poised to graduate next year, it would be great to get one of the incoming receivers' feet wet.

However, there is just no room for them. All of the aforementioned receivers are fairly distinguished and experienced. In effect, they are not going to get passed on the depth chart by a true freshman.

Therefore, Shumpert and Manley will redshirt.

Next is offensive line.

Offensive line is a tricky position to just come in and burn a redshirt. First of all, there are the physical requirements of linemen.

An offensive lineman at FBS level—except for maybe the service academies—usually has to weigh in at around 300 pounds.

Needless to say, there aren't that many 17- to 18-year-olds coming out of high school in a state in which they are physically able to compete.

Furthermore, there is plenty of room on special teams for linebackers, tight ends, safeties, and receivers. Kickoffs and punt teams offer plenty of playing time for nonstarters looking to earn their first playing experience.

On the other hand, the only place for a lineman to earn playing time on special teams is on the field goal unit.

Therefore, unless a lineman can immediately crack the 2-deep, there is little use for him to burn a redshirt.

In the 2010 class, Iowa signed two O-linemen: Andrew Donnal and Brandon Scherff.

With five D-linemen also signed in this class, I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see one of said D-linemen change to the offense at some point.

Nevertheless, with five O-linemen graduating last year, there is opportunity for a freshman to crack the 2-deep.

However, I don't expect it to happen unless one of them turns out to be that good—which has only happened once in the Ferentz era with Bryan Bulaga—or there are a lot of injuries.

This moves us to tight end and the crown jewel—as far as recruiting Web sites go—of Iowa's recruiting class: the No. 2 ranked tight end in the country, C.J. Fiedorowicz.

Next year, senior Allen Reisner will be the starting tight end.

Iowa plays a lot of two tight sets, and word is that junior Brad Herman is being groomed to be the second tight end.

There should also be opportunities for tight ends in Iowa's three tight and goal line sets, as well as on special teams.

I expect to see Fiedorowicz burn his redshirt and play in these situations next year.