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Iowa OC Brian Ferentz Sounds Off On Rivals Recruitment Strategies

By Joe Favia

Sep 3, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant coach Brian Ferentz stand together on the sidelines during the second half against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes won 45-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant coach Brian Ferentz stand together on the sidelines during the second half against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes won 45-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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The battle to the top of the Big Ten is always ongoing, and in the new age of recruiting tactics, and trying to get an edge on the top talent, things are getting testy. The differences in strategies can be clearly seen in the hunt for prized recruits in the Big Ten West. New Iowa Offensive Coordinator Brian Ferentz shared his thoughts on some of the way Iowa does business, as well as some rivals in the Big Ten West.

While speaking on Hawk Central Hour, Ferentz described both trophy game rivals Iowa State and Nebraska’s recruiting tactics relative to the Hawkeyes approach:

“I can tell you this much, if the University of Iowa offers you a scholarship and you commit to us, we intend to sign you and we intend to take your commitment. I think you have to look no further than in-state to see there were a lot of offers that went out in the 2018 class very early out of Ames. And I’m not sure all of those guys were able to commit to them if they wanted to, because some of those guys have since gone other places.”

Ferentz went on to describe another newer staff in the division in the Cornhuskers, and how they are going about things:

“We recruit against a couple of schools that talk about a ‘pipeline,’” he said. “I’m thinking of one a little bit west of Omaha that talks about their pipeline, and I think they’ve had two guys drafted in two years. So I’m not sure how much of the pipeline the coaches have contributed to.”

The Hawkeyes reputation of developing talent is amongst the best in the Big Ten, and after producing four NFL draft picks this past month, the claims of what they can do in a players development speaks for itself.

Since the renaming of the divisions from the disdained ‘Legends’ and ‘Leaders’ to ‘West’ and ‘East, Wisconsin has captured the West twice, and Iowa once.

It will be interesting to see as the Summer months, and the 2017 season gets closer if Kirk Ferentz shares similar sentiments, and especially if the coaches at rival Big Ten West schools and Iowa State share their side of these opinions.