Ferentz says he has a balanced group

Iowa's receiving corps draft off one another like they're in an auto race.

Different receivers have led Iowa in receiving yards in five games this season. Tight end Tony Moeaki led with 83 yards on 10 catches in the opener against Northern Iowa. The last four weeks' leaders were Trey Stross (four catches, 69 yards vs. Iowa State), Colin Sandeman (five, 47 vs. Arizona), Derrell Johnson-Koulianos (three, 50 at Penn State), and Marvin McNutt (four, 121 vs. Arkansas State).

“I'm totally comfortable with that and that's how we are offensively; we tend to be a balanced group,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Typically, in the throwing game it changes week to week, how people defend you and who comes open.

“The way we do things, if things are working well, it's going to be spread around a little bit.”

Stross leads overall with 15 catches for 231 yards. McNutt is second with 12 catches for a team-high 242 yards and two scores. Six wide receivers have at least four catches and seven players have touchdown receptions.

“We definitely all bring something different to the table,” Stross said. “Years in the past we were inexperienced and young. This is the complete opposite.”

Stross and McNutt are listed as starters, with Johnson-Koulianos and Paul Chaney Jr. tabbed as backups. Sandeman and freshman Keenan Davis figure in the mix, based on the formation.

“Every day you have to have a perfect day at practice,” McNutt said. “Most of the time you never have that day but just to strive for that day because you know the guy next to you is trying to do the same thing. You know he's able to play just as much as you can. It's a healthy competition.”

Hoop dreams

McNutt, who stands 6-foot-4, was a three-sport star at Hazelwood Central (Mo.) High School in suburban St. Louis and was recruited to play basketball at several Division I colleges. He averaged 13.2 points a game and led his team in rebounding.

McNutt said he thought about playing basketball at Iowa during his freshman year. He said it's still tough for him to get the sport out of his system.

“Even now sometimes I think about going to the basketball court and do a few shots just to see if I still have it,” he said.

McNutt competed against Iowa's Jarryd Cole in AAU tournaments when Cole lived in North Kansas City. McNutt goes to Iowa basketball games and still itches to compete.

“You start to think, ‘We should go out there and play,'” he said.

Busy friends

Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer said he ignores the talking heads Saturday mornings when the team prepares for a night game. As for his friends?

“My friends are probably too busy at the time,” he said. “I don't really have enough friends that text me. They're either in the Army or in jail. They can't use their phones.”