Hawkeye football: Looking ahead to 2010

Get to know Riley Reiff. Going into his sophomore season, he might be the most important Hawkeye.

Of the five offensive linemen who started in Tuesday's 24-14 Orange Bowl victory, the 6-foot-6, 290-pounder is one of just two returnees.

Center Rafael Eubanks and guard Kyle Calloway will graduate. Bryan Bulaga announced last night he'll forgo his senior year and enter the NFL draft. Part-time starter Dace Richardson passed on a possible sixth year and will try for the NFL.

Bulaga's departure leaves Reiff and guard Julian Vandervelde the last men standing. Reiff broke into the starting lineup when Bulaga was out with a thyroid condition this season.

Bulaga said in a university news release the illness played a factor in his decision to leave early.

“The illness I was faced with ... made me realize how important football is in my life and how quickly it can be taken away,” he said.

He said the decision wasn't easy and that his time at Iowa was “positive and rewarding.”

The line could be Reiff at left tackle, Vandervelde at left guard, senior Josh Koeppel or sophomore James Ferentz at center, junior Adam Gettis at right guard and junior Markus Zusevics, senior Kyle Haganman or junior Woody Orne (a South Dakota State transfer) at right tackle.

Or maybe freshman Nolan MacMillan breaks in somewhere.

“We've got a very strong junior class and some guys coming up the ladder,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said.

You'd have to say the O-line and linebackers will be challenges. Iowa loses smart, savvy linebackers in Pat Angerer and A.J. Edds. In the wings are Jeff Tarpinian, Tyler Nielsen and Troy Johnson.

Junior Amari Spievey might leave early for the NFL draft (signs point to this happening) and open a spot at a corner. Sophomore Micah Hyde and junior Jordan Bernstine would be candidates to fill that spot. Prater will return with safeties Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood. They combined for nine interceptions, including Sash's Big Ten-leading six picks.

The defensive line will be loaded. Ends Adrian Clayborn and Broderick Binns return with tackles Karl Klug and Christian Ballard. That's 27 sacks lining up for Iowa.

“We definitely have to be the leaders of the defense now,” said Clayborn, the Orange Bowl MVP. “With Pat and A.J. going out, we've got to be up to the challenge.”

The O-line is up in the air, but nearly every skill position is nailed down.

Job one for quarterback Ricky Stanzi will be curbing the interceptions that kept him from an all-Big Ten year. He finished with 17 TD passes to 15 interceptions, including four returned for TDs.

“It's all about investing,” Stanzi said. “If you don't put in the effort, you're not going to enjoy things like this.”

Coaches will have to figure out what to do with sophomore running backs Adam Robinson, Brandon Wegher, Jewel Hampton and Jeff Brinson. Robinson led Iowa with 834 yards. Wegher had 641 yards and a freshmen record eight TDs, including a 113 yards and a 32-yard TD that put away the Orange Bowl.

Wide receiver got a little more interesting Tuesday night. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos suffered knee and hip injuries in the first half. He was hopeful it wasn't serious, but there was no definitive word.

“The doctors looked at me in great detail and they think some things got strained and nothing major,” said Johnson-Koulianos, who needs 31 catches for 401 yards next season to become Iowa's career leader in receptions and receiving yards. “Luckily, we got the win and I've got all season to recover if it happens to be something.”

Marvin McNutt, who finished with eight TD grabs and a 19.8-yard average on 34 grabs, will start. Colin Sandeman had a career game in the Orange Bowl with four catches for 53 yards and a 21-yard TD. Sophomore Keenan Davis will likely see his role elevated.

Tight end Allen Reisner will get the chance to assume the mantle from Tony Moeaki.

Kicker Daniel Murray returns and will be pushed by sophomore Trent Mossbrucker, who red-shirted after kicking 13 field goals last season. Punter Ryan Donahue will be a senior and should be the best or one of the best punters in the Big Ten, just as he was this year and last.

“You flash back to after our first ballgame, coming off the field,” Ferentz said. “I don't think anybody envisioned us sitting here tonight with our 11th win. That's just a good reminder of how tough it is to win in college football.

“Nothing comes easy. Doesn't matter how many seniors are experienced players, we come back and we'll have to earn it all again next year.

“It's going to be fun trying.”