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Iowa football: Five Hawkeyes who should get a shot at the XFL

By Andrew Wade

PISCATAWAY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 24: Akrum Wadley #25 of the Iowa Hawkeyes carries the ball as Trevor Morris #15 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends at High Point Solutions Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 24: Akrum Wadley #25 of the Iowa Hawkeyes carries the ball as Trevor Morris #15 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends at High Point Solutions Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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IOWA CITY, IA – NOVEMBER 22: Tight end Jake Duzey #87 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates as he scores a touchdownin front of safeties Peniel Jean #21 and Michael Caputo #7 of the Wisconsin Badgers, in the fourth quarter on November 22, 2014 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IA – NOVEMBER 22: Tight end Jake Duzey #87 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates as he scores a touchdownin front of safeties Peniel Jean #21 and Michael Caputo #7 of the Wisconsin Badgers, in the fourth quarter on November 22, 2014 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

Jake Duzey/Henry Krieger-Coble

I honestly feel for Jake Duzey who’s career took quite a turn due to injuries, but his name resurfaced last year when he reportedly signed with the Alliance of American Football. Yet, when the official player list came out, he was nowhere to be found. I’m not sure he suffered a setback in his recovery or chose to just focus on a different career, but if he is still in football shape, the XFL should be looking at him. And they should also be looking at Henry Kreiger-Coble, the cousin of San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro tight end George Kittle.

In 2014, Duzey appeared to be the next good tight end from the Iowa football program after he led the Big Ten in catches with 36, but the following season he suffered a series of setbacks that cost him his entire season. He also wasn’t fully healthy at Iowa’s Pro Day either which didn’t help his draft prospects, but all scouts need to do is look at his 2014 tape to see a guy with great potential that has been cast to the wayside by the NFL.

Krieger-Coble has had a chance in the NFL spending time with the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, and Los Angeles Rams over the past three seasons, but his career appears to be sputtering now as he didn’t sign with a team for the 2019 training camp period.

Both of these guys may not be good enough for the NFL, but they’re good enough to play in the XFL and unlike many tight ends that aren’t on teams right now, they are strong blockers and good pass catchers with the familiarity in a pro-style offense.

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