Iowa Hawkeyes football preview.

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Ok, so now that we are less than 7 days out, let's address the 2020 Hawkeyes season. I am fairly optimistic and definitely see the opportunity for a great year. I will break down who we have by position groups and then go over the schedule.

QB

Spencer Petras, a redshirt sophmore, is out starter. He has seen limited play at Iowa with only 25 passing yards in clean up duty behind Nate Stanley last year. He won the spring training battle for the starting spot and showed promise in high school. His senior year in high school he threw for over 4,000 yards and 50 TDs. Iowa has been a revolving door of good QBs recently and I don't see that changing.

RB

Tyler Goodson gets the 1 spot, but expect to see more RB by committee this year. Goodson leads the way coming off a 638 yard 2019 season with a healthy 4.8 YPC. He is joined by Mekhi Sargent and Ivory Kelly-Martin. Sargent is coming off a 563 yard year and also a healthy YPC at 4.7. Kelly-Martin only had 6 carries last year due to injury but has shown flashes of brilliance in previous seasons. Expect this 3 headed monster of a backfield to do big things this year.

TE

Ever since Brian Ferentz returned to join his father coaching Iowa has been producing at TE. This year we have Shaun Beyer and Sam LaPorta. LaPorta is a sophomore that saw some action last year pulling down 15 receptions for 188 yds. Beyer is a senior coming off a 7 reception, 117 yard season. They both looked good during limited play last year and we can expect TE to be a strength of this offense, both receiving and blocking.

WR

Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Brandon Smith, and Nico Ragaini are all back. Secondaries should be scared. Smith-Marsette had 44 catches for 722 yards and 5 TD last year. Smith and Ragaini combined for 478 yards and another 7 TD. All 3 came up with clutch catches throughout the season and performed well in a run first offense.

Offensive Line

Alaric Jackson will anchor a unit that has a history of beating up on defenders. The play hard, they play mean, and they don't give.

Defense

Chauncey Golston is a beast and will anchor the front four. He is coming off a 47 tackle season playing opposite AJ Espeneza. This is his year and he knows it. The linebacking core is anchored by Nick Niemann and last years breakout star, Jack Campbell. Both play smart football and are great at reading and blowing up plays. The secondary will be anchored by Jack Koerner at safety and Riley Moss at corner. This defense is dangerous.

Season Predictions

At Purdue: Win.

Gholston will be a nightmare for the offensive line and Petras will do enough to win.

Northwestern: Win.

This is always a bit of a trap game, but I feel the offense is too talented to be stopped by the Wildcats.

Michigan State: Win.

MSU is a dumpster fire. Coach left, recruiting violations. Iowa win.

At Minnesota: Win.

The Gophers couldn't win last year after an incredible season and they won't win this year. 

At Penn State: Loss

Penn State is scary this year and could take down Ohio State. If this was in Kinnick I might feel differently, but Iowa falls after a great showing in Happy Valley.

Nebraska: Win

It's the Huskers. Kirk owns them and that won't change this year.

At Illinois: Win

Lovie is doing good things in Illinois but it won't be enough.

Wisconsin: Win

Kinnick is where championship dreams come to die and Iowa does it again. Probably a 13-10 or 9-6 slugfest.

Summary

7-1 behind solid QB play, vicious running and stellar defense. Let's Go Hawks!!!!



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