Iowa Football Recruiting: The Hawkeyes Top 10 Targets For National Signing Day
The 2010 season is finished. The Iowa Hawkeyes didn't quite live up to expectations, but they did come away with another winning season and their third consecutive bowl victory.
While that's good, the question still remains: is it good enough? Perhaps more importantly, who can help the Hawkeyes surpass expectations next year?
It's never too early to look ahead. Let's look at the top ten recruits Iowa needs to land on National Signing Day, as well as a glimpse of who they've already nabbed for their future.
We only have a few sources where we can see high school kids rated by professional scouts. One of Rivals.com and the other is Scout.com. The two are generally fairly close to each other, but occasionally they do see things a little differently.
For the sake of saving some argument, I will use Scout.com throughout this slide show.
I will go on record right now as saying that I don't like the "star" ranking system. I don't think it's even remotely accurate, and good coaches (like Kirk Ferentz) can take a "one-star" recruit and turn them into an all-conference superstar, if they have the right attitude.
However, we have no better way of gauging the strengths of players, so that is what we will have to use for the time being.
Without further ado:
Cyrus Kouandjio OT
1 of 11
In a pro-style system, you can never have too many quality offensive linemen.
Cyrus ranks No.1 nationally at his position, according to Scout.com, and is given a five-star rating. Bob Lichtenfels says of Cyrus:
"Not many kids can walk around at 280-plus pounds and look skinny...plays the game with a mean streak and he finishes blocks."
Kouandjio is listed as standing 6--7 and weighing 295 pounds. He's a good sized young man coming straight out of high school and has tremendous upside to him.
Cyrus shows "medium" interest in the Hawkeyes, but don't let that lead you into thinking they're not a real possibility. In fact, according to Scout.com, Kouandjio doesn't show anything higher than "medium" interest to anyone.
Listed among his schools of interest are:
Alabama (which he visited on 12/03/10), Iowa, Miami (FL), New Mexico and USC. Schools being shown "low interest" include: Auburn, Clemson, Maryland, Penn State, Rutgers, Tennessee and Virginia.
Iowa needs to ramp up their recruiting of Mr. Kouandjio before he decides on Alabama. Their O-Line is solid now, and is generally a staple of Kirk Ferentz-coached teams, but current players will eventually move on and the Hawkeyes need someone like Cyrus Kouandjio to be the next O-Line star.
Branden Jackson OLB
2 of 11
Jackson is given four stars by Scout.com. He stands 6--4 and weighs approximately 225 pounds -- good size for a linebacker.
Bob Lichtenfels says of the young man:
"At the next level he could be a dangerous force as an outside linebacker or speed rusher off the edge...Solid against the run and will get after the quarterback."
Last year, Iowa was the beneficiary of three tremendous linebackers that stayed relatively healthy and provided great depth and strength to Iowa's defense. In 2010, they found themselves much thinner than expected at those key positions.
Would Jackson remain at linebacker? That's anyone's guess, as Iowa tends to mold players into new position players once they get on campus.
However, given the difficulties the Hawkeyes had in the LB corps this year, and given that they'll lose Jeremiha Hunter, Tyler Nielsen and Jeff Tarpinian to graduation; they may well decided to keep Branden right where he is and bolster a young unit.
Branden shows "medium interest" to Iowa, Michigan State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Texas Tech. He has visited Iowa (10-22-10), Oregon (11-06-10), Rutgers (9-25-10) and Texas Tech (9-18-10).
It could be tough for Coach Ferentz to convince this young man to choose Iowa over Oregon or Michigan State. Jackson would be a terrific fit in Hawkeye black 'n' gold, but did that 8-5 campaign hurt their chances?
Ejuan Price MLB
3 of 11
Another four-star linebacker out of Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh), Price reminds me a little of Pat Angerer. A little short at 6--0, 235 pounds, Bob Lichtenfels says that Price is:
"a devastating tackler who has a very quick first step and closes fast on the ball carrier. He sheds blocks and plays well in traffic. Price moves well laterally tracking down ball carriers sideline to sideline."
In a nutshell, Price has exactly the skill set that works very well in Iowa's system. He would undoubtedly be a tremendous asset to the Hawkeye defensive secondary.
However, Iowa may have a tough time nailing him down as well. Price has shown "high interest" in Iowa, but also has shown high interest in Ohio State. It's very difficult to out-recruit the Buckeyes and Coach Ferentz will have a job on his hands to convince the young man to come to Iowa City.
Price has likewise shown "medium interest" in Boston College, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and West Virginia. He hasn't taken an official visit to any school.
Once again, locking down Price could be a huge boost to the linebacker corps. As per usual though, how well he really fits in will be determined entirely on his work ethic and desire to prove himself on the field.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Delvon Simmons DT
4 of 11
Delvon Simmons is another four-star recruit that has the Hawkeyes on his radar. A little undersized at 6--5, 262 pounds, Simmons will need to bulk up a bit if he's going to stay at DT for Iowa.
Scott Kennedy says of Simmons:
"on the defensive line he plays with good strength and leverage. He's a good athlete that will need to learn to get off blocks better if he's to remain on the defensive side of the ball. Plays with a high motor and gets in on 2nd effort tackles."
Simmons needs a little work to be a big time player at the next level. That's not really a big deal as the Iowa staff has done a fantastic job of "coaching up" young players and turning them into all-conference talent.
Iowa's defensive line has been fantastic for a few years now. Going back to 2008, Mitch King and Matt Kroul terrorized opponents from the interior of the D-Line. Through 2009-2010, it was Adrian Clayborn giving opponents fits from the DE position and Karl Klug that was a real inside threat (along with Mike Daniels).
Would Simmons fit in on a line that has had so much talent recently? That could be debated. Then again, perhaps he would be better served bulking up and moving to the O-Line. Maybe he would be better as a TE or a Safety. That's something the staff would have to figure out.
Simmons has shown "medium interest" in all eight schools on his list. Those schools include Florida, Iowa, Miami (FL), Oregon, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Texas Tech and USC. He has visited Iowa (10-22-10), Oregon (11-06-10), Rutgers (9-25-10) and Texas Tech (12-17-10).
Darian Cooper DT
5 of 11
Yet another four-star athlete looking at the Hawkeyes, Cooper hails from Hyattsville, Maryland.
Cooper has shown "medium interest" in Georgia Tech, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State. It would appear that Cooper has an interest in the Big Ten, which bodes well for Kirk Ferentz and his staff.
Having said that, it's tough to grab the edge over Michigan or Penn State. How do you say "no" to the winningest program in college football history or to a living legend like Joe Paterno?
Scott Kennedy says of Cooper:
"A high motor 300 pounder is a treasured commodity, and Cooper can frequently be seen hustling down field after plays that have gone to the wide side of the field. Cooper has quick feet to get by or steer his blockers, but his compact frame hinder his ability to get off of them. Quick enough off the ball that he sometimes lines up at end..."
That makes for an interesting twist. Looking down the line into the future, imagine Cooper at end, with Simmons at tackle. With this pick-up, Iowa could help solidify the D-Line well into the future.
Once again, he needs a little work. Personally, I think that works in his favor, if he chooses Iowa City over the other schools of interest. The need to prove himself could push Cooper to realize his potential whereas a more complete player might be less motivated to learn anything new.
Cooper has visited Georgia Tech (12-10-10), Iowa (01-21-11 is scheduled), Michigan State (12-04-10) and Penn State (scheduled 01-14-11).
Jordan Walsh OG (Verbal)
6 of 11
Why would I add a player who has already committed to Iowa? Actually, the last five slides will have to do with players who have already verbally committed to the Hawkeyes, but have not signed a Letter of Intent (LOI).
Walsh is the first on that list. Jordan is a four-star recruit that is ranked No. 2 in the nation at his position, according to Scout.com.
As mentioned before, Iowa is very much in the business of solidifying its O-Line for the future. Injuries have sometimes been a problem along Iowa's line and the Hawkeyes very much want a man of Walsh's talents to help secure the future.
Walsh still had 17 schools on his list when he verbally committed to the Hawkeyes, including Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Scott Kennedy says:
"Quick off the ball from his offensive tackle position, Walsh keeps good pad level coming off the ball and engaging a defender. Plays with a high motor and takes pride in finishing off his blocks all the way to the ground."
Again, why bother even talking about guys like Walsh?
To put it simply, there's plenty of time for these guys to back out of their commitment to the Hawkeyes. The coaching staff can't rest easy believing that Walsh is firmly in the fold yet. His commitment is only a "verbal" and can easily be changed.
The Hawkeyes have to reassure Walsh that the 2010 season -- with all of its problems both on and off the field -- was an anomaly. They will be better next year and he can help, if he sticks around.
Rodney Coe RB (Verbal)
7 of 11
Coe is another "verbal" commit to Iowa. He's one that also needs to be re-groomed, so to speak.
Rodney is a four-star recruit out of Edwardsville, Illinois that had 16 teams still on his list, including Alabama, Auburn, Nebraska and Notre Dame. He attended camp at a number of those schools before settling on Iowa.
Scott Kennedy says of Coe:
"sets up his blocks well and runs with good patience. Tough to knock off his feet despite playing high, because of his strength and balance."
Coe is ranked No. 11 in his position in the nation.
Given Iowa's recent problems at running back, it's incredibly important to keep Coe happy and on the roster. Jewel Hampton is gone. Brandon Wegher is gone. Adam Robinson is gone.
Marcus Coker is a tremendous back who could (and should) lead the Hawkeyes into the future. However, who is lined up behind him?
Brad Rogers is a quality back, but there have been some health concerns for him that could limit his participation. Who else?
With the mass defections/expulsions of late, Iowa doesn't have a ton of depth left at running back. To put it mildly, they need Coe to honor his verbal commitment and sign his LOI come February.
If he does, he could (and should) find his way into the rotation very, very quickly and have an opportunity to make an impact as a true freshman.
Jacob Rudock QB (Verbal)
8 of 11
Rudock is a three-star recruit out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida that chose Iowa over Miami (FL) and Wisconsin, among others.
Is Rudock the perfect match for Iowa? That's yet to be seen, but reading through his scouting report, I was impressed with this young man.
Geoff Vogt had this to say about Rudock:
"He is very cerebral, consistently making excellent reads, and can deliver the ball accurately and in rhythm to all levels of the field. He has the height at 6'3, now he needs to start filling out his frame. He possesses great touch when throwing down the field."
Ricky Stanzi is now a thing of the past at Iowa. We'll remember him fondly and hope for great things on his behalf, but he will never again line up under center as a Hawkeye.
James Vandenberg looked very good relieving Stanzi in 2009 against Ohio State. Also, A.J. Derby was a sensational recruit a year ago that could pay dividends down the line for Iowa. However, will Derby remain a QB? Will Vandenberg come out looking more like he did against Northwestern than he did against Ohio State?
I really like the point made that Rudock makes excellent reads and is a very cerebral player. Having a good touch on the ball sure doesn't hurt either.
Locking down Rudock's LOI could be big for Iowa. Yes, he has a little bulking up to do at only 185 pounds, but I'm confident Iowa's strength and conditioning crew can take care of that.
Having a smart QB that has a good touch on the ball could make the fight for starting position very interesting. I don't expect Rudock to change positions. He's too well suited as a quarterback to waste his talents in another area of the field.
Quinton Alson OLB (Verbal)
9 of 11
Quinton Alston is another three-star recruit that has verbally committed to the Hawkeyes. An OLB from Erial, NJ, Alston appears to be a pretty solid fit for what Iowa wants.
Matt Alkire had this to say about him:
"Alston is a very intelligent and instinctive linebacker and a great leader. He has the range to play sideline to sideline and the closing speed to make plays behind the line of scrimmage."
A few words jumped out at me there: "intelligent", "leader" and "sideline to sideline" are big for the Hawkeyes. Once again, he's the kind of guy that reminds me of A.J. Edds or Pat Angerer.
He could grow into the kind of linebacker that can make plays all over the field.
What also impressed me was that Alston initially picked Pittsburgh, but decommitted amidst all of the coaching changes that have happened with the Panthers. Iowa's own off-the-field issues apparently weren't as big an issue for the young player.
Alston is quoted on Hawkeye Insider as saying, "they've not guaranteed me anything in terms of playing time, which I like. I'm going to come in to compete and we'll go from there."
That's exactly the kind of attitude Kirk Ferentz wants and Iowa needs. This kid may not be the highest recruit on the docket for the Hawkeyes, but he's quick, tough and has the right frame of mind to really make an impact in Iowa City.
Getting that LOI from Quinton should be a fairly high priority for Iowa at this point. He can help build on a traditionally tough defense and make Iowa a contender for another four or five years.
Marcus Grant WR (Verbal)
10 of 11
Marcus Grant is the highest rated WR Iowa has on their radar right now. Good thing they've got a verbal commitment from him.
Grant is a three-star recruit out of Groton, MA. He's listed at 6--2, 190 pounds. He could use just a shade more weight, but not a lot, and his height is good enough to allow him to go up and grab passes.
Derrell Johnson-Koulianos would have graduated after this year if he hadn't been kicked off the team shortly before the bowl game. Colin Sandeman is lost to graduation, as is Paul Chaney. Who does Iowa have returning?
Marvin McNutt is a solid receiver that could grow into something special. Keenan Davis and Jordan Cotton are a couple of underclassmen that could step up and become solid contributors for the Hawkeyes.
Outside of those few people though, there aren't many recognizable names on Iowa's roster that scream "big time".
The Hawkeyes could have a serious talent-depth issue at WR. Can Grant help fill that out? I'm not sure, but he can't hurt. In just a couple of years, the Hawkeyes could be very, very thin at a skill position that they can't survive without.
How Do They Stack Up?
11 of 11
So far, Iowa's 2011 recruiting class is ranked 28th in the nation. They have two Top 100 recruits, two four-star recruits and 15 three-star recruits.
That's a bit better than last year's No. 45 ranking where the Hawkeyes only had one Top 100 player, two four-star recruits and 12 three-star recruits.
I've said before and I'll say it again: I don't put a ton of stock in these ranking systems. How do you effectively rank kids coming out of high school when their apparent talent is subjective compared to the level of talent they face on the field? It's almost impossible to have a uniform system that is accurate.
However, this is the best we can do, and I tried to dig a little deeper into what the scouts said about the players. It appears that Iowa has a few incoming players that are quick, talented and hungry.
They've also got a handful of really talented prospects that are giving the Hawkeyes serious consideration.
If Iowa continues to do "more with less", then this recruiting class could very well lead into something really spectacular in a few years.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
