Dear Old Gold
Fansided

Iowa football: Top five players on the 2019 Hawkeye’s roster

By Andrew Wade

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 01: The Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate after winning 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: The Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate after winning 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 06: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes passes the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the game of the game on October 6, 2018 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 06: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes passes the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the game of the game on October 6, 2018 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

5. Nate Stanley

This one was tough because it’s such a gray line of talent versus importance to the team versus “best” player for the Iowa football team. At the end of the day, I don’t think you can make a top five best players on the Hawkeyes and not include third-year starter, Nate Stanley.

After all, there is a reason he is being looked at as one of the best senior quarterbacks in the nation, a potential sleeper Heisman candidate, and a possible first-round pick in next year’s draft.

The guy has some incredible arm talent.

In the last two seasons, he’s narrowly missed breaking Chuck Long’s single-season touchdown passing record and with an improved receiving core (especially if Oliver Martin is granted a waiver), he should have no problem surpassing Long’s single-season or career record.

One thing not talked about often is how bad the running game was last season, and when the run game is bad on the Hawkeyes, it’s put significant pressure on the quarterback. Despite that, Stanley turned in a solid season, making big-time throws and performing well in the red zone. His accuracy certainly needs to improve, but accuracy issues aside, he is still a top-five player on this team.