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A look at the Iowa Hawkeye football receivers
Marc Morehouse
Apr. 14, 2010 7:40 am
1. Concerns - At wide receiver, maybe consistency, but that might be a stretch. This should be a solid group. It's senior-heavy (Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Colin Sandeman, Paul Chaney Jr.), it has size (Marvin McNutt, Keenan Davis) and it is crazy with game experience.
The tight end position will split 45 to 50 catches. It'll be interesting to see how that goes. One major concern is can anyone block in the same league as Tony Moeaki? Probably not, at least not right now.
2. Additions/subtractions - Trey Stross and Moeaki graduated ... C.J. Fiedorowicz is the addition worth watching at tight end.
The 6-7, 250-pounder has a ton of experience with the ball, catching 183 passes for 3,121 yards and 42 TDs, all high school records and among the top 10 in Illinois history. He wasn't asked to do much blocking in high school, so that's going to be the measure for him in August.
3. Battles brewing - Wide receiver is pretty clear with DJK at 1A, McNutt is 1B and Sandeman/Davis/Chaney Jr. fighting it out for No. 3 touches. What are No. 3 touches? Stross fit the No. 3 role behind DJK and McNutt last fall and finished with 31 catches for 414 yards.
Freshman Jordan Cotton might kick the door down for regular reps, but he'll likely be groomed as the punt return replacement for Sandeman.
Allen Reisner has dibs on No. 1 tight end touches in the 30 to 40 range, but Fiedorowicz could take a bite. Also, junior Brad Herman might get his first real shot at being a factor in the offense.
4. 2010 prediction - Johnson-Koulianos should become Iowa's career leader in receiving yardage and receptions. He has 127 receptions for 1,871 yards and seven TDs, needing 31 receptions to pass Kevin Kasper as receptions leader and 401 yards to pass Tim Dwight's yardage record of 2,271.
The No. 3 receiver is an interesting battle. Iowa needs Davis to find his bearings and seize this spot.