Iowa spring football position series, Part 1: Receivers
IOWA CITY, Iowa – With 13 starters returning from a team that finished 12-2 last season, the 2016 Iowa football team looks pretty good on paper.
Now two weeks into spring practice, let’s take a closer look at why Iowa passes the test on paper by breaking down each position.
This article on the receivers is the first in an eight-part series about each of the positions on the 2016 Iowa team.
RECEIVER
If Iowa’s receivers were a movie, they’d get mixed reviews.
There are parts to like about Iowa’s receivers and parts not to like, mostly the void left by departed senior Tevaun Smith.
The good news is that Matt VandeBerg returns after catching just about everything thrown his way last season, which resulted in 65 receptions for 703 yards and four touchdowns.
The bad news is that Smith used up his eligibility last season, leaving Iowa without one of its most explosive players from a year ago.
The hope is that another Smith – sophomore Jerminic Smith – will resemble Tevaun Smith in more ways than just having the same last name.
Jerminic Smith only caught six passes as a true freshman last season, but they gained 141 yards, including 118 yards against Illinois on four catches. The Garland, Texas native showed the ability to get separation and stretch defenses.
“He runs well and he’s got a good sense out there as a receiver,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of Jerminic Smith. “He really plays the position well. He’s tough, tough-minded and competes for the ball. He does a lot of good things.
"That was integral in our thinking as far as playing him last year. Hopefully, the experience he got, again, it will help him progress here this spring."
Jerminic Smith and VandeBerg give strong-armed Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard a diverse one-two punch at receiver.
Throw in senior Riley McCarron, who made a key 25-year touchdown catch against Iowa State last season, and Iowa has three receivers with valuable game experience.
Florida native Adrian Falconer also appeared in eight games last season, but had no statistics besides recovering an onside kick against Maryland. Falconer and Jerminic Smith were among four true freshmen who played for Iowa last season.
“We lost a really good player in Tevaun, certainly,” Ferentz said. “So that whole group, we’re going to need some guys to step up. We’re pretty young in that group. Jerminic is one of the guys, he and Adrian are guys we played as true freshmen.
“So, hopefully, that experience will carry over and give them a chance to push forward. I wouldn’t expect (Jerminic) to play like a senior next year, or Adrian the same way. But that’s going to be VandeBerg’s job and McCarron’s job to play like seniors. But hopefully, that next group coming up, those guys have to be in that group, this will be a big spring for them and a good opportunity.”
The next group of receivers to which Ferentz was referring also includes junior Jonathan Parker and sophomore Jay Scheel.
Parker is coming off a sophomore season in which his role was greatly diminished compared to his freshmen season in 2014 when he played running back. Parker saw action in all 13 games in 2014 and led the team in kickoff returns with 24, along with rushing 16 times for 141 yards and catching three passes for 42 yards.
But as receiver last season, Parker appeared in just six games and had no catches. He had two rushing attempts last season, one that gained two yards and another that lost 10 yards.
“I would call last year a developmental year for him,” Ferentz said of the 5-foot-8, 188-pound Parker, who switched from running back to receiver prior to 2015 spring practice. “He didn’t get a lot of touches in game situations. But like I talked about the two freshmen, you’ve got a lot of quality work at that position.
"It was new to him. Every position is different, so there is certainly a lot of learning going on. We feel like he’s improved, and we’re all, as a staff, eager to see him on the field in the next 15 practices, because players in college tend to improve as they’re doing things right.”
Parker has shown explosiveness in space, but also has been unpredictable, evidenced by when he tossed the football out of bounds while trying to return a kick in the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl.
“He works hard,” Ferentz said. “He’s got a great attitude. So I think he’s, obviously, got good speed and good talent."
Scheel caused a stir last summer when his name appeared on Iowa’s 2015 preseason two-deep roster. But he would go on to appear briefly in just two games last season and had no statistics.
Texas native Emmanuel Ogwo also will be in the mix after being redshirted last season. The former star sprinter in track might be the fastest player on the team.
Blocking is also a key part of a receiver’s job and Iowa lost perhaps its best blocking receiver from last season with Jacob Hillyer having exhausted his eligibility as a senior. The players battling to make the two-deep roster this spring would help their cause by performing well as blockers.
Iowa will add at least one receiver with the addition of the 2016 recruiting class. Maryland native Devonte Young was the only receiver who signed with Iowa in February.
New Jersey native Frank Darby is committed to Iowa, but he couldn’t sign a letter of intent in February because he still needed to achieve a satisfactory score on his freshman entrance exam.
Darby reportedly is making progress in that area and still hopes to attend Iowa.
Receivers listed on Iowa’s 2016 spring roster
Matt VandeBerg 6-1, 190, Sr. Brandon, S.D. – Led Iowa in both catches (65) and receiving yards (703) last season.
Jerminic Smith 6-1, 185, Soph., Garland, Texas – Averaged 23.5 yards on six receptions last season as a true freshman.
Riley McCarron 5-9, 186, Sr., Dubuque, Iowa – His 25-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter gave Iowa a 24-17 lead over Iowa State last season in Ames.
Adrian Falconer 6-1, 190, Soph., Leesburg, Fla., – One of four true freshmen who played for Iowa last season.
Jay Scheel 6-1`, 195, Soph., Mount Auburn, Iowa – Entering his third season and now healthy, he could be another play-maker that Iowa needs.
Andre Harris 6-0, 190, Jr., Kirkwood, Mo., – Continues to be buried on the depth chart after three seasons in the program.
Emmanuel Ogwo 6-0, 172, Fr., Mesquite, Texas – A former track star in high school, he could give Iowa another deep threat.
Walk-ons
Ronald Nash 6-2, 210, Soph., Sioux City, Iowa
Brandon Bishop 5-9, 180, Soph., Sugar Grove, Ill.
Connor Keane 6-1, 195, Jr., St. Paul, Minn.
Key losses
Tevaun Smith – Iowa’s third leading receiver last season with 32 catches for 563 yards and three touchdowns.
Jacob Hillyer – Excelled as a blocker and had 16 catches for 212 yards last season.