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Iowa football: Best/worst case scenarios for Hawkeyes in 2019

By Ryan Sikes

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 01: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes passes during the 2019 Outback Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 01: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes passes during the 2019 Outback Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

The Iowa football team will be going through a bit of a transition in 2019. Here are the best and worst case scenarios that could happen.

The Iowa football team figures to compete for another B1G West title this season, but they lost a lot of production to the NFL Draft. Guys like T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, Amani Hooker, and Anthony Nelson were all selected by NFL teams.

That does not factor in what the team lost to graduating players. Parker Hesse, Jake Gervase, and Nick Easley have all moved on and the team will need to fill the voids left by those key contributors.

Kirk Ferentz will be entering his 21st season as the head coach. He has an overall record of 152-101 at Iowa. The team will be returning quarterback Nate Stanley, who will be in his third year as the starting quarterback for the team.

The offense will need the entire running back and receiving groups to step up in 2019. All three running backs in Mekhi Sargent, Ivory Kelly-Martin, and Toren Young will be juniors this season as will both starting wide receivers Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith.

The defense on paper looks to be rock solid despite the aforementioned departures as they will be anchored by star defensive end A.J. Epenesa and a linebacker corps returning all three starters. They will be replacing both starting safeties, but figure to have experienced depth at the cornerback position. Geno Stone saw significant time at the safety position with Hooker’s emergence in the “cash” role.

Miguel Recinos will no longer be kicking field goals for the Hawkeyes in 2019 as he has moved on as well, but the team figures to have either Caleb Shudak and Keith Duncan kicking the field goals for them in 2019. Duncan, if you recall, kicked the game-winning field goal to beat Michigan during the 2016 season, but redshirted in the 2017 season and did not attempt any kicks last year.

So with that quick roster synopsis, here are the best and worst case scenarios that could make or break the Iowa Hawkeyes 2019 season.

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