Ferentz's recruiting approach will always be rooted in reality

IOWA CITY — Like it or not — and you probably don't, why would you? — the 2016 recruiting season will go down as the year of the Harbaugh.

For Michigan's signing day ceremony/party, coach Jim Harbaugh invited professional wrestler Ric Flair, Michigan alum and New England Patriots QB Tom Brady, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and former Notre Dame coach and ESPN commentator Lou Holtz. It was an extravaganza that included Holtz and Harbaugh doing the 'dab' dance, probably finally and officially killing that popular touchdown celebration.

In his first full recruiting cycle as Michigan's coach, Harbaugh attended a satellite camp and played pickup football shirtless, climbed a tree with a recruit and spent the night at a recruit's house.

He's gone off the beaten path, and you can count on copycats.

Meanwhile, in Iowa City . . . yeah, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz won't be down with any of these antics.

'If I have to stand on my head to get a guy or tell a funny story, we're in big trouble,' Ferentz said Wednesday. 'Ask any of our players on the team right now.'

Ferentz, who's beginning his 18th season as Iowa's head coach, has always kept the recruiting experience, whether it be the visit or the communications, tethered in reality. When a recruit becomes a student and player at Iowa, Ric Flair won't be there to provide whatever motivation professional wrestlers provide.

'We also let our prospects know it's going to be a lot of hard work, whether it's talking about earning your degree or playing college football,' Ferentz said. 'That's a lot of hard work. It takes a real commitment, takes a lot of effort, and takes dedication, kind of like working a real job or when you get older and you've got to pay your rent and take care of your family.

'It's the same thing. Not to be a fun killer, but that's really our message. That's what we're trying to sell. When we talk to parents, it's all about our players leaving here four years later, five years later, being people who are ready for adult life, and if entertainment is part of that, too, that's good. But to me, it's more about what you're going to do in your life ahead of you.'

Ott still in limbo

Defensive end Drew Ott still has a shot at gaining a fifth season of eligibility, Ferentz said Wednesday.

Ott suffered an elbow dislocation and a season-ending ACL knee injury during his senior season for the Hawkeyes in 2015. Before the season ended, Ott applied for a medical hardship waiver.

'It's still in the works, and I've learned a couple of things that make me a little bit more optimistic, but still, it's hard to say where it's going to go,' Ferentz said. 'I'm a little optimistic right now. I've learned some things that give me some hope, but we'll see where it goes.'

Ott suffered the elbow injury against Iowa State in Week 2. He needed Tommy John surgery. The ACL came against Illinois on Oct. 10.

More and more of the hardship waiver decisions are starting to be made. Ohio State wide receiver Corey Smith was granted a sixth year of eligibility, the school announced Wednesday.

Beathard expected to be good for spring

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard had sports hernia surgery on Jan. 21. After the season, Ferentz hinted that the second-team all-Big Ten QB might need surgery, so it wasn't a total surprise.

Ferentz expects Beathard to be ready and healthy for spring practice. Beathard's dad, Casey, said the surgery went well and the expected recovery time is six weeks.

'For obvious reasons we were hoping not to have to do surgery, and we knew it was a possibility,' Ferentz said. 'As the clock started ticking, it looked like the thing to do, the prudent thing to do, and we're confident he'll be ready to go when spring ball starts. We're all eager to see him full speed again.'

Search for new assistant

In January, Iowa announced that Seth Wallace would take over linebackers coach after Jim Reid left to become defensive coordinator at Boston College. Wallace will coach all three linebacker positions, but he won't retain the role of recruiting coordinator.

So, Ferentz is in search of a recruiting coordinator and likely a defensive assistant. Last year, Wallace also coached cornerbacks and nickel defensive backs (he also coached Iowa's punt units and will do that again this year).

'We have one opening, and that'll probably be the recruiting coordinator position, maybe somebody on our staff,' Ferentz said. 'We'll get our ninth coach hired here hopefully next week or the week after. . . . We'll try to do what's best for the program with that ninth hire, and we have some really nice candidates right now. I'm really enthused. I think that shuts down on Friday [the official posting] and then we'll start to move forward. Hopefully, in the next two weeks we'll start to make some progress.'

Pella safety remains a grayshirt

Pella safety Noah Clayberg committed to play football at Iowa as a 'grayshirt' during his official visit in January. The 'grayshirt' offer means Clayberg won't immediately be on scholarship nor will he be on the team next fall, but will go on full scholarship and participate in January 2017, with his scholarship counting toward the 2017 class.

The 5-11, 202-pounder told HawkeyeReport.com that he'll enter Iowa as a safety. Clayberg put up big numbers as Pella's QB last season, throwing for 1,695 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 1,846 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also finished with 44 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and an interception on defense.

During the past two years, Clayberg led Pella to a 28-0 record and back-to-back state championships in Class 3A.

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