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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) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 06: Chris Williamson #6 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers pulls Ihmir Smith-Marsette #6 of the Iowa Hawkeyes out of bounds during the first quarter of the game on October 6, 2018 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 06: Chris Williamson #6 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers pulls Ihmir Smith-Marsette #6 of the Iowa Hawkeyes out of bounds during the first quarter of the game on October 6, 2018 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

4. Ihmir Smith-Marsette

From a pure talent perspective, Ihmir Smith-Marsette is amazing. His biggest strength is his speed, and that was on full display anytime he was able to return a kick.

After winning the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year Award last season, there is no sleeping on the 6’1” 183-pound junior from New Jersey. If the Iowa football team would just deliberately get the ball in his hands more, the whole nation could see this talent on full display.

Last season he led the team in yard per catch average (for receivers with over 2 receptions) with 15.7 yards per catch. If he can maintain, or even improve that while being the number one or two option in the offense we could see him put Tim Dwight type of numbers in his senior All-American season.

That season, Dwight had 39 catches for 653 yards and 8 touchdowns while returning 19 punts for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns and returning 8 kicks for 229 yards.

The sky is the limit for Smith-Marsette if the Iowa football team can get him the ball, and the media agrees as they listed Smith-Marsette a preseason All-American.