Hawkeyes didn't get everything they wanted, but they can work with 2017 class

IOWA CITY — No, Iowa didn't get the wide receiver from down the block. And, oh goodness, does Iowa need wide receivers. And, yes, Iowa struck Texas recruiting gold last summer only to suffer through ... um ... a 'Texodus' in the fall.

Kirk Ferentz and staff lost some painful head-to-head recruiting battles with Michigan State (West Des Moines Dowling quarterback Rocky Lombardi) and Wisconsin (safety Scott Nelson and Council Bluffs defensive end Andrew Van Ginkel).

So, why does Iowa's 2017 class work? Well, time ultimately will tell on that. Here are some counters to some of the bigger questions you might have.

— Iowa City West wide receiver Oliver Martin picked Michigan this week. Iowa has a gaping need at wide receiver, even with senior Matt VandeBerg returning on a medical hardship waiver.

Martin, rated a 4-star by Rivals.com, probably walks into Kinnick Stadium and plays. He definitely would've walked into a mountain of expectations.

Here are the wide receivers Iowa did sign Wednesday — Max Cooper (6-0, 175 from Waukesha, Wis.), Henry Marchese (6-3, 190 from Vernon Hills, Ill.), Brandon Smith (6-3, 205 from Lake Cormorant, Miss.) and Ihmir Smith-Marsette (6-2, 175 from Newark, N.J.). Trey Creamer (6-0, 175 from Cartersville, Ga.) also could end up at wide receiver. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said his position has yet to be determined.

One thing that stands out is 6-3, 6-3 and 6-2. During an internet broadcast Wednesday, first-year offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz said Iowa wanted outside receivers with more size.

And so let's discuss Smith. He is more size.

Iowa assistant coach Kelvin Bell, recruiting coordinator and D-line assistant, took a break from recruiting in the south to visit his mom in Olive Branch, Miss. His mom went to work, so Bell decided to spend the day with some face time at local high schools. A coach and friend he graduated with told him there was a wide receiver at Lake Cormorant (Miss.) High School he needed to see. Bell made another stop. Another coach told him there was a wide receiver at Lake Cormorant he needed to see.

He drove the 25 miles from his mom's front door and visited Lake Cormorant. 'It's out in the middle of nowhere,' Bell said. 'It's in the middle of a cotton field, actually.'

Smith's only other Power 5 offer was Vanderbilt. He doesn't do social media and didn't do the camp circuit. Smith's academics were sterling. Bell offered a scholarship on the spot.

'Size is not a question with Brandon,' Brian Ferentz said. 'And you look at his ability to run and catch the football, but, more importantly, the ability to compete. When you watch him, he uses his size. A lot of guys are big, but they don't play with that size. This was never a question with him.'

Bell made a comparison to former Iowa wide receiver Mo Brown, a 215-pound receiver who averaged 18.0 yards on 84 catches as a Hawkeye.

Iowa won a heated recruiting battle with Minnesota — get used to that with new head coach P.J. Fleck taking charge and aim at Iowa — for Smith-Marsette.

'He's a tough kid, from Newark, N.J., same high school as (Iowa running back) Akrum Wadley (Weequahic),' Bell said. 'He's a tough-minded kid, loves the game of football, loves to compete. He's got some weight to put on, but you can't tell by the way he plays. He's fearless.'

— Let's talk 'Texodus.' Last summer, Iowa had commitments from a foursome of Texas skill players — running back Eno Benjamin, cornerback Chevin Calloway, wide receiver Beau Corrales and wide receiver Gavin Holmes. All eventually decommitted. Some brought up Iowa's policy of no visits after committing to Iowa. Kirk Ferentz acknowledged some miscommunications on Iowa's end.

Yes, Iowa took heat on the policy. It will be reviewed, Ferentz said, but he also seems steadfast.

'The word commitment, to us, means commitment,' Ferentz said. 'It means your decision has been made and you're straight ahead.

'... What we try to encourage all of our prospects to do, if you're thinking of committing, that's great. We're thrilled about that, but don't commit until you really mean it. If you do then we're going to take you at your word on that one. That's kind of where it is.

'If you choose to look somewhere else there is nothing we can do about that, that's not an issue, but then you have to understand that maybe we have to redefine your definition of commitment. Simple as that.'

How does Ferentz reconcile asking Iowa recruits to stick to their pledge while recruiting other schools' commitments? Six of the seven commitments Iowa signed this week were either committed to a school or had been committed.

'To me it's easy,' Ferentz said. 'If you talk to a player and he's not sure, same thing. He may have said he's committed to the school, but if he's not sure, he's not sure. We're going to keep recruiting him, just like people recruit our players, so you test those commitments. That's how it goes. If they say, 'Hey, coach, I'm committed to school B,' great. Just thought we would ask.'

Video: Ferentz on No-Visit Policy

It's hard to say if Iowa signed 'replacements' for the four decommits. We've been over the wide receivers. Iowa also landed Florida running back Kyshaun Bryan (5-10, 210) in the final days of recruiting — 'Just a good, violent, explosive runner,' Brian Ferentz said — and as many as six potential defensive backs, including Camron Harrell (5-10, 181 pounds from Bradley-Bourbonnais (Ill.) High School).

'Cam Harrell came out here in June, I think it was our first camp,' Bell said. 'He posted the fastest 40 (yard sprint) for the entire camp, a 4.49 and 4.51 (seconds). That jumps off the charts as a guy who can actually move. He went through (defensive coordinator/secondary coach) Phil Parker's drills, stayed after and went through more Phil Parker drills. He really drilled the mess out of him. He's like, 'OK, this is a guy we want.' He is a perfect fit for Iowa — low maintenance, blue collar, thankful for the opportunity.'

A few other factlets that might salve whatever recruiting freezer burn you're feeling:

— Highly heralded defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa weighed in at 272 pounds on his official visit last weekend. Kirk Ferentz said he'll have a chance to play on the D-line in 2017.

Where?

'Once he gets here and starts eating and lifting, he's going to bat an eye and weigh 300 pounds,' Bell said.

— At some point, new Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck and Brian Ferentz might fall into a volcano wrestling over a recruit.

Ferentz and Fleck went head-to-head on Smith-Marsette, Creamer and Kansas wide receiver Harry Van Dyne. Iowa finished 2-1, losing out on Van Dyne (also a 6-3 receiver). You get the feeling this is just the beginning of many recruiting battles between the two schools.

— In addition to the Smith-Marsette signing day commitment, Iowa also got defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon. Yes, Iowa picked up a 6-5, 290-pound defensive lineman from Kenosha, Wis., on signing day.

How?

'Talking about fit, he's the right kind of kid for us,' Bell said. 'A basketball player, runs track, came to camp this summer, he's also in a state where we have an archrival, so we laid low, kept the kid warm and kept the dialogue open and found the right opportunity to pounce.'

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com