Iowa Football: Will A Wide Receiver Emerge Alongside Matt VandeBerg?

Wide receiver isn’t a position that Iowa is known for producing NFL talent. In fact, quite the contrary during the Kirk Ferentz era. But, with new offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, what can be expected at wideout for the Hawks?

Known on the offensive side of the ball as being an o-line and tight end ‘factory’ in terms of those who advance into the NFL, Iowa doesn’t have the same recent pedigree with wide receivers.

Having All-Big Ten talent at the position hasn’t been around Iowa City since the beginning of the decade with players like Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt. 2017 doesn’t necessarily present itself as being the year in which that will be changing.

Matt VandeBerg who was struck down by injury after a promising start to the 2016 season returns for this ‘last go-around’ for the Hawks. VandeBerg needs a strong season of 69 catches to pass Kevonte Martin-Manley for the most receptions in program history. But, what VandeBerg is going to be most important for is his experience.

The Hawkeyes present plenty of opportunity in terms of the younger players joining Matt VandeBerg on the field this season.

JuCo transfer Nick Easley along with Adrian Falconer and Brandon Bishop are the only upperclassmen at the position for the Hawkeyes. Attrition helped with that with the departures of Jerminic Smith, Jay Scheel and Ronald Nash in the offseason.

After those players it is unknowns who are looking to emerge.

The only sophomores are Dominique Dafney and Devonte Young. That is why the true freshmen crop of players have a very real chance to see the field in their first season.

Those players include Brandon Smith, Henry Marchese, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Max Cooper and multiple-position threat Trey Creamer.

Following these young players as they make their way through August camp will be one of the more interesting story lines for Hawkeye fans. Not being in the coaches conversations about the potential for these players, it would seem like more than one of the players could see the field for the opener against Wyoming.

Brandon Smith looks the part of a future huge talented receiver in the Big Ten, and some of the highlight tapes of players like Smith-Marsette and Marchese have to excite the Hawkeye faithful.

While the tight end room is very crowded with players who could be very successful, and the Hawkeyes are expected to include a more than healthy dose of Akrum Wadley and James Butler, they will need to have play makers on the outside. This will be especially needed if they want to avoid being one of the more one-dimensional offenses in the Big Ten like in past seasons under Greg Davis.

Early known returns for the 2018 recruiting class have yielded two prospects that will join the team next season in potential dynamic talents Samson Evans (Illinois) and Tyrone Tracy (Indiana). With most likely half the recruiting class filled, the Hawkeyes could look to add 1 more wide receiver.

New OC.

New QB.

New mindset about the wide receiver position?

I wouldn’t bet on what has made Iowa successful in the past changing, but it is time to find pass-catchers that can be the future of the program in 2018 and beyond.