Harty: My 10 players of interest for this spring
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Spring practice is when to make an impression.
It’s a chance to move up the depth chart and to gain the trust of the coaches.
It’s a chance to build depth and to lay the foundation for next season.
Here are 10 players on the Iowa football team who could have significant roles next season if they take care of business this spring. Only three of the 10 players are listed as starters this spring. But they’re all listed on the two-deep roster and poised to make an impact in some fashion.
It would’ve been easy to just list 10 starters, but it takes more than starters to win a Big Ten title. The 10 players on this list could be key performers whether they start or not.
Here they are listed in no particular order:
1. Matt Nelson, 6-8, 275, Soph., defensive end – The first thing you notice about Nelson is his unusual height, which seems more suited for a power forward in basketball than a defensive end in football. He used to play both sports at a high level for Cedar Rapids Xavier High School, but has focused solely on football for nearly two years, adding strength and girth to what used to be a slender frame.
Nelson is listed as the starter this spring, partly by default, though, as Drew Ott waits for the NCAA to make a decision on his appeal for a fifth year.
Either way, Nelson should have a bigger role during the 2016 season with Nate Meier having used up his eligibility last season.
Nelson’s classmate, Parker Hesse, played extensively at defensive end last season and made a positive impact after Ott was injured in the sixth game against Illinois. Much of the uncertainty with Hesse is gone, whereas Nelson still hasn’t proven much yet.
2. Michael Ojemudia, 6-2, 190, Fr., cornerback – The Farmington Hills, Mich., native is listed as the backup at both cornerback positions. That partly is due to injuries to fellow cornerbacks Greg Mabin and Josh Jackson, but is also a testimony to Ojemudia’s talent.
He is taller than most of the players at his position, but still quick enough to play a position where speed and quickness matter more than anything else.
3. Jay Scheel, 6-1, 195, soph., receiver – His presence on the 2015 preseason depth chart caused quite a stir with some in the media. But that would prove to be the high point of Scheel’s season.
He barely has played in his first two seasons at Iowa because of injuries and because of being buried on the depth chart.
Scheel is close to being healthy again and has climbed back on to the depth chart, listed as Jerminic Smith’s backup at split end. Iowa needs help at receiver, players who can be effective after making a catch.
With Scheel entering his third season, it would seem now is the time for him to help fill that role.
4. Jameer Outsey, 6-3, 245, soph., tight end – The Somerset, N.J., native showed last season as a redshirt freshman that he could handle the physicality of Big Ten football. He was used almost exclusively as a blocker after Jake Duzey was injured and held his own for the most part.
Outsey now has to expand his game and show that he can help Iowa move the chains on offense by making tough catches in traffic.
Henry Krieger Coble excelled in that role before using up his eligibility last season. It’s imperative that somebody pick up where Krieger Coble left off.
5. Brandon Snyder, 6-1, 210, soph., free safety – A former multi-sport star in high school, Snyder certainly fits the description of Iowa’s next great safety. He was lightly recruited in high school and came to Iowa as a walk-on and with something to prove.
He already has proved enough to be listed as the starter at free safety this spring.
6. Jonathan Parker, 5-8, 188, Jr., receiver – Remember him?
He’d be easy to forget considering how little he contributed last season while buried on the depth chart.
But somewhere inside Parker is the exciting little player who has shown flashes of brilliance as a Hawkeye just waiting to bust out. The question is whether we’ll ever see that player again?
With his quickness and elusiveness, Parker would seem to fit nicely in Iowa’s offense under Greg Davis. They still have two more seasons to make it work.
7. Steve Ferentz, 6-2 282, Sr. center – Even though we’re used to it by now, it always is interesting when the head coach’s son cracks the depth chart.
Steve Ferentz as a fifth-year senior is trying to follow in the footsteps of his two older brothers, but it hasn’t been easy as the only walk-on among the three Ferentz brothers.
Steve’s development at center could be crucial because if he performs well enough this spring, that might convince the Iowa coaches, namely his father and his older brother Brian Ferentz, to move Sean Welsh back to guard.
That would leave Steve Ferentz and sophomore-to-be James Daniels to compete for the center job.
8. Faith Ekakitie, 6-3, 290, Sr., defensive tackle – The former four-star recruit, who grew up in Canada, has one more season to try to live up to the enormous hype.
He has contributed at times, including making a key fumble recovery against Wisconsin last season. But stardom has eluded Ekakitie to this point.
9. Miguel Recinos, 6-1, 190, Soph. – The Mason City native is listed as the No. 1 kicker and the backup punter for spring practice. That by itself makes him intriguing.
10. Brady Ross, 6-1, 240, Fr., fullback – The Humboldt native came to Iowa as a walk-on linebacker. That says something about his toughness, his determination and his unselfishness.
Ross has since shifted to fullback and already has cracked the depth chart as a redshirt freshman. He is listed as the backup behind junior Drake Kulick.
Iowa likes to use two fullbacks, so it’s reasonable to think that Ross would make an impact this fall.