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Iowa football: Predicting the Hawkeyes 2019 depth chart

ByAndrew Wade|
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 06: Julius Brents #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes congratulates teammate Riley Moss #33 on an interception during the fourth quarter of the game on October 6, 2018 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Iowa defeated Minnesota 48-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 06: Julius Brents #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes congratulates teammate Riley Moss #33 on an interception during the fourth quarter of the game on October 6, 2018 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Iowa defeated Minnesota 48-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Quarterbacks and Running Backs

This is probably one of the most stable groups of everyone on this list considering the Iowa football team is returning two-year starter Nate Stanley and a stable of running backs that are solid, but not spectacular. Who sits behind each of these guys though, especially at quarterback, is what will truly be exciting to watch.

Quarterback

  1. Nate Stanley – No explanation needed here.
  2. Spencer Petras – The 6’5”, 227-pound redshirt freshman has the look and feel of an Iowa quarterback and he is the most comparable mold to that of Stanley. He is a former four-star prospect who I believe will be the starter when Stanley leaves.
  3. Peyton Mansell – I liked what I saw from Mansell in the few moments he got to play this past season, but I just don’t think he fits the mold of what Iowa likes to do. A little on the smaller side and more of a scrambler, he definitely adds a dynamic component to the offensive attack, but Petras is just too talented.
  4. Alex Padilla – Incoming freshman who enrolled early, but it won’t be enough time to overcome the experience both Petras and Mansell have currently, but watch out for this kid in a few years. He can really sling the ball.

Running Back

  1. Mekhi Sargent – Sargent did enough to take the starting role late in the season last year, which means he will enter the season as the starter, but there will be a lot of competition and regardless of who “wins” there will likely be shared snaps and the Iowa football team will likely go with the hot hand come game time.
  2. Ivory Kelly-Martin – Kelly-Martin battled injuries all year, but he is the most explosive returning back on this roster. He forms a good one-two punch with Sargent.
  3. Toren Young – Young will get carries regardless of where he is on this roster because he is an absolute bulldozer. There’s always carries for a guy like that.
  4. Tyler Goodson – There has been a lot of hype around Goodson being the second coming of Akrum Wadley (who just signed with the AAF). If he can manage to not have fumbling issues like Wadley did earlier in his career, I could see him working his way past Henry Geil throughout camp and potentially work his way up into the rotation late in the season.

Fullback

  1. Brady Ross – Ross suffered an injury partway through the season and never returned, but he was playing pretty darn good football at the fullback position. He is without a doubt the starter next season.
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