Not turning the page, but taking a peek

James Vandenberg maybe has had the longest preview in the history of college football.

There was that glimpse last season at Ohio State. The fresh-faced freshman walked into the Horseshoe and pushed the Buckeyes into overtime before the Iowa Hawkeyes were overcome in what amounted to a Big Ten championship game.

Then, the 6-foot-3, 212-pounder from Keokuk sort of survived/managed an ugly 12-0 victory over Minnesota the following week. Then, Ricky Stanzi returned from ankle surgery and it was back to the clipboard for Vandenberg.

Actually, it's not so much clipboard duty for Iowa backup quarterbacks, it's more signaling in plays.

“There's a great guy in front of me and I know that. I accept it,” said Vandenberg, who completed 42 of 87 for 470 yards, two TDs and five interceptions last season as a redshirt freshman. “He's a great quality player. He's won a lot of games and he does a great job leading our offense, which makes it easier to stand there and give him the signals.”

Including today's matchup between the No. 24 Hawkeyes (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten) and Minnesota (2-9, 1-6) and Iowa's bowl game, Vandenberg is two games from becoming signaler to signal-caller as a junior for the 2011 Hawkeyes.

Stanzi, who normally crushes Vandenberg in interviews like a big bro would to a little bro, believes Vandenberg is ready to run with it.

"I think he'll be fine, he's a good quarterback," Stanzi said. "He's had a couple games where everyone got to see what he could do. He was very young when he played, so he's gotten better this year. I'm sure he'll continue to get better leading up to next year.

"He's a guy who's very dedicated and he watches a lot of film. He does a lot of good work with his feet and throwing motion, all those things you need to work on every single day in the offseason. I think he'll be just fine going into next year."

Quarterback might be the most sound spot on Iowa's depth chart going into 2011, which is, yes, two games away but still worth a peek.

With three returning starters, offensive line might be next on that list followed by wide receiver Marvin McNutt, corners Shaun Prater and Micah Hyde and . . . and then some hammers and nails might be needed.

Don't think head coach Kirk Ferentz hasn't thought about building a running back.

Offensive line

 Iowa returns arguably the three most difficult positions to replace with center James Ferentz and tackles Riley Reiff and Markus Zusevics. Guard Julian Vandervelde is the only real loss here. Senior Josh Koeppel has started at right guard the last three weeks, but he's in there for junior Adam Gettis and freshman Nolan MacMillan.

Vandervelde threw out a few names to keep in mind, including redshirt freshman tackle Brett Van Sloten and true freshman Brandon Scherff.

"Casey McMillan [sophomore guard], he's been looking great," Vandervelde said. "He's been scout team player of the week every week. I'm really not concerned with the holes."

Defensive line

This likely will be considered the "uh oh" spot for the 2011 Hawkeyes.

Adrian Clayborn, Karl Klug and Christian Ballard will depart. Clayborn and Ballard will be in the NFL, and Klug might get a shot to prove himself in an NFL camp.

Coach Rick Kaczenski does have some sturdy raw material in tackle Mike Daniels, who punched his way into the starting lineup with team-highs of 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. Also, end Broderick Binns will attempt to regain the promise he showed as a sophomore.

Lebron Daniel will get first crack at the other end. The other tackle will be completely up for grabs.

"I think Mike, myself, Lebron Daniel and Tom Nardo [6-3, 277 junior] or Steve Bigach [6-3, 272-pound sophomore]," Binns said. "Those guys have been working hard and we still have a young group of guys coming up."

Running back

It's probably not even worth talking running back until the morning of Sept. 3, 2011, when Iowa hosts Tennessee Tech.

Adam Robinson and Marcus Coker will be on the list. Jewel Hampton should be there as he rehabs from his second torn ACL in as many seasons. Brandon Wegher is nothing more than a maybe with an answer possibly coming on his status when the winter semester starts in January.

"Right now, I'm just worried about [today]," coach Ferentz said when asked about future disaster scenarios at running back. "I'm trying to think about all the disaster scenarios for this Saturday and see what we've got to go with, so that's kind of where I'm at right now.

"But, disaster scenarios are part of coaching. You've got to have one of those for everything."

Wide receiver/tight end

McNutt, a 6-4, 215-pounder who leads Iowa with 48 receptions, has said he plans to be in Iowa City next season.

He's a good start. Sophomore Keenan Davis (6-3, 215) should be a bookend. After that, it's newbies, with no other returning wide receiver with a career reception.

Senior Allen Reisner sees a logical succession at tight end, with junior Brad Herman stepping into a No. 1 role and with C.J. Fiedorowicz and Zach Derby in No. 2 roles.

Linebacker

Iowa is going to be busy building depth here.

Bruce Davis (ACL) and Tyler Nielsen (broken vertebrae) will return from injury. James Morris likely will keep the No. 1 spot at middle linebacker. Shane DiBona might factor in. Christian Kirksey also could play a role.

Secondary

Iowa might be in the market for new safeties. Senior Brett Greenwood will depart with 11 career interceptions (with two games left). Junior Tyler Sash wouldn't give a definitive answer on a return for 2011. He'll turn 23 in May.

Tanner Miller and maybe Anthony Hitchens could be Iowa's safeties in 2011.

Corner should be well taken care of with Shaun Prater and Micah Hyde, who've combined for seven interceptions this season. Hyde is second on the team with 70 tackles.

Punter/kicker

Punter Ryan Donahue will leave a hole. He's a Ray Guy Award finalist and probable NFL draft pick. Eric Guthrie has been his understudy for three years and likely has first shot, with freshman Jonny Mullings providing competition.

Freshman Mike Meyer has handled every field goal for the Hawkeyes, hitting 11 of 14 going into this weekend. He's positioned himself for a four-year run.

_________

Here are some players talking on the subject of 2011.

_________

Let me know what you think. No idea too crazy. It's early, crazy is OK right now.