Iowa football: Five biggest recruiting busts in the Kirk Ferentz era

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IOWA CITY, IA- SEPTEMBER 29: Tight end Ray Hamilton #82 of the Iowa Hawkeyes is tackled during the second quarter by defensive back Cedric Thompson #27 of the Minnesota Gophers on September 29, 2012 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa defeated Minnesota 31-13. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

Ray Hamilton

Tight ends are supposed to be awesome with the Iowa football team. After all, they are tight end university. I mean, even if you aren’t a highly touted tight end recruit, such as TJ Hockenson, with a good work ethic, the Hawkeyes are able to turn you into an NFL player.

Ray Hamilton had a different trajectory than Hockenson though. Hamilton was a four-star recruit when he signed with the Iowa Hawkeyes, but he didn’t exactly put up elite statistics.

In four seasons, he started 16 games total and only registered 305 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns on 29 receptions. His best season, in 2014, still wasn’t great as he caught just 18 passes for 175 yards.

His status as a four-star prospect and coming from the Iowa football team did still get him a few shots in NFL training camps, but he couldn’t cut it at the next level. Unfortunately for Hamilton, he’s being compared to the other great tight ends in the Iowa football program.

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As a four-star prospect, you’re expected to be even better, and his statistical production for the Hawks just didn’t cut it.