McNutt set to etch name in Iowa record books

IOWA CITY - No one could have foreseen Marvin McNutt's switch from quarterback to wide receiver three years ago as a pivotal moment for Iowa.

Back then, it simply didn't make much sense to keep someone as talented as McNutt on the bench.

Now it's tough to imagine where the Hawkeyes (4-2, 1-1 Big Ten) would be without him.

McNutt, a 6-foot-4 senior from St. Louis, enters Saturday's home game against Indiana (1-6, 0-3) with a chance to put his name in the record books. In just 2 1/2 seasons at wideout, McNutt has tied the school's career record for TD receptions of 21, set by Danan Hughes and Tim Dwight, and is the most important weapon in Iowa's offense outside of quarterback James Vandenberg.

McNutt is on pace for his best season yet. He leads the Hawkeyes with 35 catches for 573 yards and five TDs, and he ranks third in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game.

"It's a proud moment that I could be part of Hawkeyes history," McNutt said. "If I get it, I'll definitely be excited. But there's still a lot of season left to be played. I'll be more excited if we get more wins."

It's easy to forget how promising McNutt's future once seemed at quarterback.

McNutt was a first-team all-state pick for Hazelwood Central High, throwing for 3,308 career yards and 31 touchdowns after being named the starter midway through his junior year. He was a standout in baseball and in basketball, where he drew interest from mid-major Division I programs.

McNutt redshirted at Iowa in 2007 and entered the next season as the third-string quarterback behind Ricky Stanzi and Jake Christensen. By the time Stanzi led the Hawkeyes to an upset of then-unbeaten Penn State that November, it was clear McNutt wasn't going to see much playing time if he stayed behind center.

"He wanted to get on the field and play," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "When you recruit good athletes that are good people and good football players in general, usually they find a place."

The Hawkeyes are always looking for more pop at wide receiver, typically not one of the program's strong suits.

McNutt's height, huge hands and athleticism - he's also 215 pounds - made him a prime candidate for a move to receiver. He became a major piece of the offense before he was close to being a finished product.

"Marvin really learned on the fly. That's a real credit to him," Ferentz said.

McNutt had 34 catches as a sophomore in 2009, opening eyes with a 92-yard TD reception off a short pass from Stanzi in the fourth quarter of a comeback win against Indiana. McNutt caught a pair of touchdowns in an overtime loss at Ohio State two weeks later, and he opened the scoring in Iowa's Orange Bowl win over Georgia Tech.

Last season, McNutt led the Hawkeyes with 53 catches for 861 yards, even though he was playing alongside Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, the program's leader in career receptions.

The Hawkeyes have a pair of wideouts to complement McNutt in Keenan Davis and Kevonte Martin-Manley, but opposing defenses know the player they need to focus on is McNutt. He is still averaging 16.4 yards per catch and his skills have become more important than ever as Iowa's defense and running game have been inconsistent.

McNutt had eight receptions for 112 yards in the Hawkeyes 31-27 comeback win over Pitt. His record-tying TD grab, a 35-yarder in the fourth quarter against Northwestern, closed the door on any realistic shot the Wildcats had for a rally.

McNutt is a long shot to catch Johnson-Koulianos for the career receptions mark since he is 50 catches behind. But McNutt could set the TD record as soon as Saturday, and he's on pace to break the record for career receiving yards as well.

"He's so coordinated as an athlete it gives him a chance to make plays in tough situations, using his hands when people are on him. And then you add in that he's big, physical and then can run - he's a really tough matchup," Vandenberg said. "He's been a threat for a couple years now. I think everybody's known that, and there's nobody I'd be more excited to (see) get this record than him."