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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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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 01: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes calls a play 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 calls a play 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) /

3. Alaric Jackson

Deciding between Alaric Jackson and Tristan Wirfs at the two and three spot was truly difficult, but for me, it comes down to versatility and true talent. Jackson plays the left tackle position, which NFL teams will love, but he reportedly doesn’t have as much flexibility to move to the right side hence the reason Wirfs is over there.

That’s neither here nor there though as Jackson is a supreme talent, and if he puts on a good show this season destroying would-be pass rushers and keeping Nate Stanley clean in the pocket, he could be a top-15 selection next season.

He’s that good.

The 6’6” 320 pound monster of a human was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team his first year as a starter and was named Second Team All-Big Ten last season. This year, he is easily a part of the Big Ten’s preseason team, and he received preseason All-American recognition as well.

As a likely first round pick, his talent is obvious, which is why he is debuting at number three on this list ahead of Smith-Marsette and Stanley.