10 rookies who'll matter in 2011

Every sport comes with a definition for "rookie."

In the NFL, it's a first-year player, no matter how old. In Major League Baseball, a rookie is defined by how many games he's played. The PGA awards a rookie of the year. I'm sure the NBA has such a an award.

There's no real definition for it in college football. So, let's make one up.

This is focused on the Iowa football team, which is kinda of the deal on this blog.

So, with that in mind, my definition is:

1) No starts (I'll make one exception as you'll find in the coming days)

2) No major contributions to date (a player without a real resume)

3) Perhaps counted on for some sort of contribution in 2010 (I know, that's pretty weak, but there isn't a huge amount of room for true rookies, true freshmen, on this team.)

I decided to come up with a list of 10 rookies. The scale goes from the rookie I believe who'll be counted on the least to the one Iowa will need to have come through. For example, today's entry, true freshman linebacker James Morris, could be counted on if there is an injury in the LB corps and for special teams or he could take his redshirt.

One of these will roll out for the next 10 days.

No. 10 -- James Morris

Morris led Solon High School to three straight Class 2A football titles. He begins the next chapter after committing to the Hawkeyes in 2007. His stepdad, Greg, is the Hawkeyes' equipment manager, so James is uniquely suited to know what he's in for the minute he steps into August camp.

Morris gave an indepth breakdown of the de facto negotiation in this post from February.

Bottomline, though, Morris said he'll do whatever is best for the team.

“I talked a lot on my official visit to my position coaches,” Morris said. “I was pretty specific in the scenarios I predicted and where they see me fit in on the roster. There are a couple different things that could happen and both are based on basically how well I perform in camp. That will dictate what they do.

“My goal is to play as early and often as I can. That's everybody's goal. Not everyone will say that. Also, my goal is to help the team. However I can do that and still see reasonable time, I'm going to do it.”

When it comes to the choice to redshirt or not, more often than not, it's the player's choice.

“Coaches said they're looking to play one if not two of the freshmen linebackers so, basically, they have someone who's been at game-speed for when the cupboard is proverbially bare, as outsiders would say,” Morris said. “That's not how I like to think of it and that's not how the coaches like to think of it, but I'm a realist too and they need we need to get some depth.”

Could go either way, but Morris would pick playing over redshirt, if it comes down to that.

Situation

Iowa has four linebacker to play three spots. Senior Jeff Tarpinian is in the middle and a first-year starter. Senior Jeremiha Hunter will be a three-year starter on the weakside. Junior Tyler Nielsen will be a first-year starter on the strong side. Senior Troy Johnson will be the first LB in.

After Johnson, it goes to redshirt freshman Shane DiBona. After that, good question. Senior Lance Tillison maybe?

Iowa has four linebackers in this 2010 class. One of them will likely play.

Outlook

Hard to put an odds on Morris' redshirt or no redshirt, but 60-40 in favor of playing sounds comfortable.

He could have a shot to be the fifth LB, which probably wouldn't get him a lot of live-game action. Iowa does use an extra LB in nickel packages, that could be Johnson, Tillison or Morris. A No. 5 LB is more than likely seeing time on kick and punt coverage. Would that be enough? Remember, Matt Roth basically spent one season as a special teamer.

That's probably where Morris stands, possible No. 5 with special teams. Of course, that could change with a great camp.