Signing day special: Iowa football recruiting under the microscope
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Wednesday is the much-anticipated national signing day for college football.
It's a day when every head coach gushes with optimism about the future and when hopes and dreams come true for thousands of kids from all walks of life.
National signing day is more like a celebration in which recruits bask in the glory and seize the spotlight.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz will welcome his 19th recruiting class on Wednesday. Iowa currently has 19 players committed to its 2017 class, with Pennsylvania defensive back Geno Stone the latest to pledge to the Hawkeye on Tuesday.
Iowa's 2017 class is similar to most of the classes under Ferentz from a rankings standpoint. But the class is also unique for having a rare five-star recruit in defensive end A.J. Epenesa.
The son of former Iowa defensive lineman Eppy Epenesa, the younger Epenesa has stardom written all over him based on his individual ranking. He is big, tough, fast for his size and physical. Epenesa is the closest thing to a can't-miss prospect in a world where there are no guarantees.
Even with all the resources spent covering recruiting these days, it still is an inexact science as the following lists will show.
The lists were compiled to give you a better look at how recruiting has unfolded under Ferentz, who is the dean of Big Ten football coaches with 18 seasons under his belt. The lists are broken down into seven categories with each category consisting of five players, but in no particular order.
The hardest list to compile, by far, was the five biggest over-achievers under Ferentz. I started by listing 20 players, all of whom were deserving, before trimming it to 10 and then finally reluctantly settling on five knowing that some great over-achievers such as Mike Daniels, Karl Klug, Brandon Myers, Mitch King and Tyler Sash were being left off the list.
I was reluctant to do the biggest bust category because I know it upsets Ferentz when his players are singled out for criticism. But they're now former players and adults who should realize that it's nothing personal.
Biggest near gets
Star players who picked another school after seriously considering Iowa.
Melvin Gordon, RB, Kenosha, Wis. – He committed to Iowa and stayed committed for several months before finally switching to his home-state Badgers where he became a star. Gordon rushed for 4,915 yards and scored 45 touchdowns in just three seasons at Wisconsin from 2011-14. He gained a school-record 2,587 yards and scored 29 touchdowns as a junior in 2014. He skipped his senior season to enter the NFL Draft and now plays for the San Diegp Chargers.
Matt Ryan, QB, Philadelphia, Pa. – He recently said in an interview that he picked Boston College over Iowa partly because of location. Iowa was just too far away from home. Ryan threw for 9,313 yards in college and had his jersey retired at Boston College. He is now the starting quarterback for the Super Bowl-bound Atlanta Falcons.
Sean Lee, LB, Upper St. Clair, Pa. – He attended the same high school as Kirk Ferentz and their connection helped to attract Lee to Iowa. But in the end, his Pennsylvania roots and his love for Penn State was too much for Ferentz and the Hawkeyes to overcome. Lee twice made second-team all-Big Ten and now starts for the Dallas Cowboys.
Ross Pierschbacher, OL, Cedar Falls, Iowa – His switch from Iowa to Alabama was a painful reminder that nothing is official in recruiting until a prospect signs a national letter of intent. Pierschbacher grew up as an Iowa fan and was committed to Iowa for nearly 10 months before switching to Alabama, where he has started at offensive guard in each of the past two seasons.
Dwayne Jarrett, WR, New Brunswick, N.J. – Iowa gained his interest enough for Jarrett to make an official visit. But he ultimately signed with the University of Southern California, which was dominant at the time under head coach Pete Carroll. Jarrett was a consensus first-team All-American in 2005, and a unanimous first-team All-American in 2006. He was USC's all-time receptions leader with 216 and the Pacific-10 Conference's all-time leader in touchdown receptions with 41.
Biggest over-achievers
Players who came to Iowa as either a two- or low three-star recruits and then made at least second-team All-Big Ten.
Bob Sanders, DB, Erie, Pa. – Known for his violent playing style, Sanders helped to establish the culture under Kirk Ferentz before becoming a star in the NFL. Sanders made first-team all-Big Ten three times and was a second-team All-America selection by the Associated Press as a senior in 2003.
Brad Banks, QB, Belle Glade, Fla. – He went from being Iowa’s backup quarterback as a junior in 2001 to runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2002.
Chad Greenway, LB, Mount Vernon, S.D. – A former quarterback and free safety in high school, Greenway switched to linebacker at Iowa and the rest is history. He overcame a knee injury early in his Hawkeye career to make first-team all-Big Ten in 2004 and 2005. He also has played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, making the Pro Bowl in 2012 and 2013.
Desmond King, DB, Detroit, Mich. – Iowa’s only Jim Thorpe Award winner had no other power five scholarship offers, which is hard to believe now. King was a four-year starter at Iowa and tied the school single-season record with eight interceptions in 2015. He also excelled as a return specialist.
Micah Hyde, DB, Fostoria, Ohio – Another former two-star recruit, he picked Iowa over several offers from teams in the Mid-American Conference. He played both safety and cornerback for the Hawkeyes and was named the Big Ten’s top defensive back as a senior in 2012. Hyde now plays for the Green Bay Packers
Good as advertised
To make this list, a player had to be at least a four-star recruit and a first-team all-Big Ten selection.
Matt Roth, DE, Villa Park, Ill. – He became a quarterback’s worst nightmare after switching from linebacker to defensive end early in his career. His ability to get pressure off the edge made him a disruptive force and back-to-back first-team all-Big Ten selection in 2003 and 2004.
Tony Moeaki, TE, Wheaton, Ill. – The only thing he didn’t have at Iowa was durability as injuries caused him to miss numerous games. But when healthy, Moeaki was a force as a blocker and receiver. He stayed healthy as a senior in 2009 and made first-team all-Big Ten.
Adrian Clayborn, DE, St. Louis, Mo. – Much like Roth, he was a violent and disruptive force who had a knack for getting to the quarterback. Clayborn made first-team all-Big Ten in 2009 and 2010 and is now a member of the Super Bowl bound Atlanta Falcons, although, he is injured and won’t play in the Super Bowl.
Bryan Bulaga, OL, Crystal Lake, Ill. – He was named the Big Ten’s offensive lineman of the year as a junior in 2009 despite missing three games with a thyroid condition. He picked Iowa over a host of power five offers partly because the Iowa coaches promised him that he could play on the offensive line, while other schools recruited him as a tight end or for defense. He now starts for the Green Bay Packers.
C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Johnsburg, Ill. – After a slow start in which he struggled as a blocker, he became a starter during his junior season, and totaled 84 receptions for 830 yards and nine touchdowns in his career. He was named a first-team All-Big Ten as a senior and now plays for the Houston Texans..
Biggest busts
This list consists of former four- and five-star recruits whose careers never lived up the hype.
Dan Doering, OL, Barrington, Ill. – A former five-star offensive lineman, he was considered the biggest prize in Iowa’s heralded 2005 recruiting class. He would go on to play sparingly, though, as a Hawkeye, partly because of injuries.
Blake Larsen, OL, Atlantic, Iowa – His career path was similar to Doering’s in that both were five-star recruits who failed to live up to enormously high expectations, partly because of injuries.
Richard Kittrell, DL, Hamden, Conn. – Known as the Big Human, Kittrell certainly looked the part at 6-5 and 300 pounds. But he never even lettered at Iowa.
Jake Christensen, QB, Lockport, Ill. – The former four-star recruit started at Iowa for the entire 2007 season, but the offense struggled with him behind center. Christensen continued to struggle in 2008 and eventually lost the starting position to Ricky Stanzi before transferring to Eastern Illinois.
Greg Garmon, RB, Erie, Pa. – He made a modest contribution during Iowa’s 4-8 season in 2012 before leaving the program. He attended junior college for a while before returning to his hometown where he has since encountered legal problems.
Best de-commitments
Players who previously were committed to another school before switching to Iowa.
Desmond King, DB, Detroit, Mich. – He first committed to Central Michigan then Ball State before finally picking the Hawkeyes after receiving a late scholarship offer. King was offered a scholarship from Iowa after fellow Detroit defensive back Delano Hill switched his commitment from Iowa to Michigan.
Drew Tate, QB, Baytown, Texas – The Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2004 was previously committed to Texas A&M before switching to Iowa. Tate was a three-year starter for the Hawkeyes and is second on Iowa’s career passing list with 8,292 yards and 61 touchdowns.
Albert Young, RB, Moorestown, N.J. – Before Melvin Gordon, there was Albert Young, only in reverse. Young switched his commitment from Wisconsin to Iowa and now ranks third on Iowa’s all-time rushing list with 3,173 yards and 23 touchdowns. Young’s best season was in 2005 when as a senior he rushed for 1,334 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
Colin Cole, DL, Plantation, Fla. – He took a chance on Iowa and then helped lay the foundation under Kirk Ferentz. Cole had previously been committed to Virginia Tech, which was a national power at the time, before switching to Iowa. He was part of Ferentz's first recruiting class at Iowa in 1999.
Riley Reiff, OL, Parkston, S.D. – Nebraska’s loss was Iowa’s gain in a big way as Reiff developed into an all-Big Ten offensive tackle. He skipped his senior season to enter the 2012 NFL Draft where he was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round and with the 23rd pick overall.
Best walk-ons
Dallas Clark, TE, Livermore, Iowa – He came to Iowa under Hayden Fry, but achieved stardom under Ferentz after switching from linebacker to tight end. Clark as a junior won the John Mackey Award, which goes to the nation’s top collegiate tight end. He skipped his senior season to enter the 2003 NFL Draft where he was selected in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts. Clark would go on to play 11 seasons in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Colts, before retiring.
Bruce Nelson, C, Emmetsburg, Iowa – He came to Iowa as a walk-on tight end under Hayden Fry and left as an all-Big Ten center under Kirk Ferentz.
Sean Considine, DB, Byron, Ill. – He first made his mark on special teams before becoming a starter for multiple season at safety. He also played for five teams in the NFL and won the Super Bowl as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
Brett Greenwood, DB, Bettendorf – A four-year starter at free safety, he finished his career in 2010 as one of three Hawkeyes to record 200 tackles and 12 interceptions in a career.
Kevin Kasper, WR, Park Ridge, Ill. – Just like Clark, he came to Iowa as a walk-on under Hayden Fry but flourished under Kirk Ferentz. Kasper led a 3-9 Iowa team in receiving in 200 with 1,010 yards and seven touchdowns.
Best junior-college recruits
Brad Banks, QB, Belle Glade, Fla. – He played two seasons at Hinds Community College in Mississippi before signing with the Hawkeyes.
Marshal Yanda, OL, Anamosa, Iowa – He was maybe the least-heralded of all the players in Iowa’s 2005 recruiting class after transferring from North Iowa Community College. He started for two seasons at Iowa and made second-team all-Big Ten in 2006. He now is considered one of the top offensive guards in the NFL as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
C.J Jones, WR, Boynton Beach, Fla. – The cousin of Brad Banks was a big-play threat for two seasons at Iowa. Jones returned the opening kick of the 2003 Orange Bowl 100 yards for a touchdown against Southern California.
Derrick Pickens, DT, Houston, Texas – He transferred to Iowa after two productive seasons at Kilgore Junior College in Texas. He immediately became a starter at Iowa in 2000 and played a key role in helping the program get over the hump.
Tyler Luebke, DT, Iowa City, Iowa – The Iowa City West graduate was a starter as a senior for Iowa's heralded 2004 defense, alongside future NFL players Matt Roth and Jonathan Babineaux. What Luebke lacked in size he made up for with quickness, toughness and desire. He also was an accomplished swimmer in high school.