2021 First Glance Preview: Week One (Iowa Hawkeyes)

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

2021 Opponent Preview – Iowa Hawkeyes

Written by: Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Week 1: Iowa Hawkeyes

Date & Time: September 4, 2021, 3:30pm ET

Venue: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA

TV: BTN

Hawkeyes at a Glance

Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz

Entering his 23rd season as Iowa’s head coach

Record at Iowa: 168-106 (103-77 in Big Ten)

Overall Record: 180-127

Last Season: 6-2 (6-2) Qualified for the Music City Bowl (Cancelled)

Hawkeye Returning Leaders

Passing: Spencer Petras (1,569 yards, 9 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, 57.1%)

Rushing: Tyler Goodson (762 yards on 143 carries 5.3 yards per carry)

Receiving: Sam LaPorta (271 yards, 27 catches, 10 yards per catch, one touchdown)

Tackles: Seth Benson (47 tackles, three TFLs, two sacks)

Hawkeyes Preseason Predictions

Athlon: 2nd in the Big Ten West

Lindy’s:2nd in the Big Ten West

Pick Six Previews: Not Published Yet

Phil Steele: Not Published Yet

SP+: 19th Nationally

Impact Newcomers for the Hawkeyes

RS Freshman, DT, Yahya Black

RS Freshman, DT, Logan Jones

RS Freshman, LT Mason Richman

Biggest Questions Facing Iowa

How Quickly Can They Rebuild the Defensive Line?- The Hawkeyes lost two stars from last year. Knowing what you have in fall camp is tough, but doable. If Iowa has growing pains there, it could help Indiana’s offensive line gain some confidence.

Will Iowa Avoid Last Year’s Slow Start?- Iowa started 0-2 in 2020 and the 2021 schedule does them no favors as they will face the Hoosiers followed by Iowa State in week two. Iowa dug out of a poor start last year, but momentum doesn’t translate year-to-year like that all of the time.

Can Spencer Petras Take the Next Step?- Iowa will need quarterback Spencer Petras to be more efficient. He completed less than 60-percent of his passes and had five interceptions.

Program Preview

The Hawkeyes were, and still are, in the middle of a scandal regarding racist behaviors by the coaching staff. While it has been quiet on that front there is a court date set and Iowa lost their strength and conditioning staff due to these issues.

The Hawkeyes started the shortened 2020 season slowly as they lost their first two games against Purdue and Northwestern, however they rebounded to win their final six and finish 6-2. They ended the year as one of the hottest teams in the country, but had their Music City Bowl matchup against Missouri cancelled.

The Hawkeyes lose plenty of production off of last year’s squad, most noticeably along the defensive line where they only return one starter. Their incoming recruiting class was ranked 24th nationally and seventh in the Big Ten and had six earl enrollees. Their schedule starts out with a bang as they will face Indiana and then rival Iowa State back-to-back to open the season.

The Hawkeyes and Hoosiers have not played as often after the divisional realignment in 2014, but the Hawkeyes have had the advantage in the series since losing back-to-back games in 2006 and 2007. Iowa has won seven of the last eight in the series with IU’s last win coming in 2012.

Offensive Preview

Iowa is known for their toughness in the trenches and playmakers at tight end and running back. Historically, they’ll pair a good receiver and a capable quarterback with that and create a very solid team that can contend for the Big Ten West title. In 2021, however, the Hawkeyes do not have all those ingredients just yet. While Iowa returns preseason All-American center Tyler Lindenbaum, they have to replace three starters along the offensive line.

Quarterback Spencer Petras was inconsistent and had trouble with interceptions when defenses pressured him, which makes the offensive line questions even bigger, but he did put up 1,569 yards and nine touchdowns in eight games. Petras has been a statue in the pocket for Iowa as well, the six-foot-five, 235-pound quarterback may be a load to tackle, but he had minus-four rushing yards on 32 carries last year and was sacked 11 times. Iowa is hoping Petras will take the next step in his development in terms of accuracy as he completed just 57.1-percent of his passes last year.

The Hawkeyes’ tradition of great tight ends should continue in 2021 as Sam LaPorta returns after leading Iowa in receiving yards in 2020. He has the tools and size at six-foot-four to do some damage in both the pass and run games.

Iowa will need to retool their wide receiving group as well as Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith both moved on. They combined for 52 catches, 616 yards and five touchdowns last year. Stepping into the starting roles will be junior Tyrone Tracy who had 14 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown and junior Nico Ragaini who made 18 catches for 191 yards in 2020. Their backups are seniors Max Cooper and Charlie Jones who have minimal experience for veteran players.

Tyler Goodson, who led Iowa in rushing in 2020 with 762 yards, returns, but the Hawkeyes will miss Mekhi Sargent who added another 432 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Goodson is a very good running back, but the depth will be challenged. Ivory Kelly-Martin, who has 33 games of experience will be the primary backup. Kelly-Martin ran for 54 yards last season.

Defensive Preview

The Iowa defense will be as good as their front four allow them to be and they have some rebuilding to do heading into 2021. The Hawkeyes lose the 2020 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in Daviyon Dixon. Dixon had a ridiculous 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in eight games last season. As if that was hard enough, Iowa also has to replace All-Big Ten defensive end Chauncey Golston as well. Golston also had 5.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. Iowa returns just one starter up front, but there is talent in the pipeline.

Senior defensive end Zach VanValkenburg chose to return for a fifth season after posting 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2020. Redshirt freshman Yahya Black could find himself in a starting role after playing in four games last season. Juniors John Waggoner and Noah Shannon will round out the starting front four.

Iowa returns six of their back seven from 2020, which should give them some hope they can deal with the growing pains of the front four.

A trio of juniors will anchor the linebacker position as Seth Benson, Dane Bolton and Jack Campbell played well as the year went on in 2020. They combined for 109 total tackles and nine tackles for loss.

The secondary is led by free safety Jack Koerner who made 45 total tackles and three interceptions. As a whole the secondary accounted for six of Iowa’s 11 interceptions in 2021. Seniors Matt Hankins and Riley Moss will man the corner positions and junior Kaevon Merriweather will be at strong safety.

Special Teams Preview

Special teams follows the same theme for the Hawkeyes in that they need to replace very productive players. 2019 All-American Keith Duncan is gone. Duncan made 14-of-18 field goals a year ago was nearly automatic for his career. Caleb Shudak will take over the field goal duties after being the kickoff specialist in 2020. He missed his only field goal attempt in 2020.

Ihmir Smith-Marsette was one of the best kick returners in the conference and his 22 yard per return average is going to be missed, but Ivory Kelly-Martin could be a capable returner as well. Wide receiver Charlie Jones will handle the punt return duties.

Tony Taylor had a monster freshman season where he averaged 44.1 yards per punt. The Australian punter is looking to build on that and will be a weapon as Iowa tries to get hot again on offense.