Spring Practice Battles: A Look at The Iowa Hawkeyes

The Iowa Hawkeye football team is looking to recreate the magic that led them to three consecutive top eight finishes from 2002-2004, including two Big Ten Championships.

After going 19-18 the following three seasons, Iowa appears to have steadied the ship by winning six of their last seven games, including a 31-10 romp over South Carolina in the Outback Bowl to finish 9-4.

Last season's run included a 24-23 victory over then No. 2 Penn State at Kinnick Stadium, knocking the Nittany Lions out of the National Championship picture. 

Throughout the season, the two consistents for the Hawkeyes were a 100 yard rushing effort from Shonn Greene and havoc inside from defensive tackle Mitch King. 

Those two All Big Ten performers are gone, but optimism is still there for Iowa, as they return six starters on offense, eight from the defense and their three kicking specialists.

The quarterback position is solid after Ricky Stanzi took over the reigns from the embattled Jake Christensen for good, following the loss on the road to Pittsburgh. 

Stanzi threw for just under 2000 yards with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions.  The biggest issue for Stanzi to improve upon is turnovers, as fumbled snaps hurt the Hawkeyes at key points during the 2008 season. 

The battle for the backup position is a close call between redshirt freshmen John Weinke and James Vandenberg.  Both freshman enter the spring listed as co-backups to Stanzi on the depth chart, though Vandenberg has got plenty of hype from practices dating back to the bowl game.

Shonn Greene went over the 100 yard mark in all 13 games for the Hawkeyes a year ago.

After coming back from a season away from football to tend to academics at Kirkwood Community College, Greene took the college football scene by surprise rushing for 1850 yards and 20 touchdowns.  His decision to leave for the NFL Draft was no surprise, but the running back position appears to be in good hands.

A season ago, many were wondering who would be carrying the ball for the Hawkeyes.  Now, many ponder if their will be enough carries for all of the talent. 

As a true freshman in 2008, Jewel Hampton rushed for 463 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.  Hampton uses his small stature to hide behind Iowa's big offensive line and a combination of power and cut back ability to gain extra yardage. 

Redshirt freshman Jeff Brinson is a big back in the mold of Greene and expects to see plenty of opportunities. 

The wild card in the mix will be true freshman Brandon Wegner.  After turning down scholarship offers from Auburn, Penn State, Nebraska, and a host of others to stay with his home state Hawkeyes, Wegner appears to have the physical ability to jump into the lineup and play some meaningful snaps. 

Derrell Johnson-Koulianous (DJK) is back for his junior year, looking to take his strong finish and become the big time receiving threat that many thought they were getting three years ago.  DJK's strong finish included 17 catches for 296 yards and two touchdowns in his final three regular season games. 

Junior Colin Sandeman and Senior Trey Stross are listed as the starting wide receivers going into spring practice. 

Stross has shown a unique ability to make big plays over the past three season for the Hawkeyes, as well as an ability to get hurt.  If Stross stays healthy, expect a huge uptick in his productivity.

Tight End Tony Moeaki was a High School All American, but hasn't been able to stay healthy during his years in Iowa City. 

Departing senior Brandon Myers was able to be productive in Moeaki's absence and the Hawkeyes have had productive tight ends every year of the Ferentz era.  If Moeaki can overcome his injuries, Allen Reiser has already shown bright spots.

Along the offensive and defensive fronts, Iowa is looking to replace two interior starters at both spots. 

Gone are four year defensive tackle starters Mitch King and Matt Kroul.  Though undersized, both players were able to plug the gaps and help make plays in the middle. 

Iowa appears to be going undersized again with a combination of Karl Klug, Steve Bigach, Mike Daniels, and Cody Hundertmark. 

Hundertmark played as a true freshman and redshirted a year ago, due to injuries.  The Army All American could be the dark horse to help replace the four year starters.  Iowa has a great threesome of young defensive ends with Adrian Clayborn, Christian Ballard, and Broderick Binns.

Seth Olsen and Rob Bruggeman depart for the Hawkeyes offensive line, but this may be the deepest position for the Hawkeyes.  The battle for the center position appears to be a three player race between James Ferentz, Josh Koeppel, and former starter Rafael Eubanks. 

Koeppel is listed as the starter going into spring practice, but Ferentz has the knowledge needed to become the next great center for the Hawkeyes. 

The two players that have starting experience, in Andy Kuempel and Dan Doering, look to lock down the other starting guard position.  This battle is too close to call as both players have shown a number of positives.

Iowa returns its three starting linebackers from a year ago.  Jeremiah Hunter, Pat Angerer, and AJ Edds all made big plays and will be a force for the Hawkeyes in 2009.

At cornerback, Bradley Fletcher went from an enigma to a star in his final season in Iowa City. 

Looking to replace Fletcher at the position are Jordan Bernstine and Shaun Prater.  Bernstine is listed as the starter after an OWI arrest for Prater during the winter.  Look for Prater to take over the position if he can return to the coaches good books.  Prater showed a knack for being in the right position during his true freshman season.

Iowa has put out plenty of talented safeties over the years and Tyler Sash appears to be the next great one. 

Sash's interception against Penn State set the stage for the dramatic victory.  He, along with returning starting free safety Brett Greenwood, will sit out spring practice nursing injuries. 

David Cato and Jack Swanson will have plenty of opportunities to show if they have what it takes to be players in the Big Ten.

Punter Ryan Donahue took a big step forward in 2008, averaging 41.8 yards per punt, along with 11 of his 50 punts going over 50 yards. 

A huge question mark for the Hawkeyes is; who is the kicker? 

Iowa stuck with Trent Mossbrucker for the most part of the year, but when the biggest kick of the season was on the line against Penn State, Daniel Murray trotted onto the Kinnick Stadium turf and knocked home the game winner. 

Mossbrucker went into a bit of a funk after that, missing two extra points and not attempting a kick in the Outback Bowl.  Mossbrucker appears to have the better trajectory on his kicks, but Murray was automatic down the stretch. 

Iowa opens the 2009 season against one of the top FCS programs in Northern Iowa.  From there they go to their house of horrors over the years, Jake Trice Stadium, to take on Iowa State. 

For some reason Iowa has struggled against this team over the past decade, falling to the Cyclones in 2007, 2005, 2001, and 1999 in Ames. 

The nonconference schedule concludes with home games against Las Vegas Bowl Champion Arizona, and Arkansas State, with a road date at Penn State in between.

If the Hawkeyes want to win their third Big Ten Championship in eight seasons, they need to find a way to win road games. 

Trips to Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State might derail this team from that goal.  Even with an experienced team coming back, the road schedule will be too much to overcome. 

A one game improvement for 9-3 might not be what the Hawkeye fans want, but with this schedule it would be a wonderful season.