5 observations from Iowa football Kids Day practice

IOWA CITY — Some penalties on both sides of the ball, a couple of fumbles, some bad center snaps.

But overall not too bad of a showing for Iowa’s football team during Kids Day practice Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. Typical fall camp type of stuff.

“Pretty predictable, the penalties, the exchange problems,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Four of those, three of them were shotgun snaps. That’s stuff we can’t have three weeks from now if we expect to win.

“Just part of the process. I think overall after nine days, these guys have been working hard and shown a lot of improvement. A lot of the younger guys especially, it’s fun to see them. They tend to improve more than some of the older guys. But I think we’re getting good leadership still. The work ethic’s good.”

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Mark Gronowski shows his stuff

OK, what’s virtually every Hawkeye fan want to know first? How did Mark Gronowski do?

The South Dakota State transfer and QB1 impressed with some throws, especially an over-the-top ball to Seth Anderson against Iowa’s number one defense. It went for about 40 yards or so.

He also ran in a touchdown from inside the 10 on a bootleg run-pass option play. Those who were at Kids Day last year saw then starter Cade McNamara struggle, which set the tone for overall quarterback play a season ago.

Looks like everyone can relax about this guy.

“He just needs work,” Ferentz said. “I’m on the train. Sold on him.

“Every day has been good. His judgment has been really impressive. You can tell he’s really on top of things. A couple of throws maybe that were really good, a couple that are just like that (indicates just missed with his fingers). Five days ago it was like that (indicates farther apart). He’s closing that gap, and, again, just really impressed with how he operates.”

There appears to be depth at QB

Iowa’s quarterback portal dive didn’t just produce Gronowski. Sophomore Hank Brown transferred in from Auburn and redshirt freshman Jeremy Hecklinski from Wake Forest.

Those three got the bulk of the snaps Saturday, with Brown and Hecklinski making some solid throws.

“Two years ago today was the day where things changed in our orbit with (McNamara’s) quad injury, right?” Ferentz said. “How do you predict that? Looked like everything was good and then, boom, he goes down.

“But we’re in better shape in a lot of ways two years later.”

Son of Flipper

The aforementioned Gronowski-to-Anderson play wasn’t the only reception the senior transfer from Charleston Southern had. Of all of Iowa’s wide receivers Saturday, the son of former longtime NFL pass catcher Flipper Anderson impressed the most.

Another good sign for a group that appears to have more talent and depth.

“Seth has really had a good spring and a good camp here,” Ferentz said. “All the seniors have done a really good job. It’s kind of weird, we’ve got (three) seniors and four or five other guys that aren’t. I think the whole group has improved and Seth is included in that. Doing a really good job right now.”

Running back depth, too

Kamari Moulton and Terrell Washington Jr. sat out Saturday’s practice scrimmage (nothing to worry about), which gave more opportunity to others. Everyone knows about junior Jaziun Patterson, but newbies Xavier Williams, Nathan McNeil, Brevin Doll and Braeden Jackson (son of former NFLer Fred) also got carries.

McNeil probably was best, showing off some wiggle and good feet. He’s a freshman from Tampa, Fla.

“How much you think he weighs, if you were guessing?” Ferentz asked. “He’s over 200 pounds. I would have said 180, looking at him in equipment. He’s done a really good job. He’s a really mature guy ... Really happy he’s here.”

Injury stuff

Offensive lineman Michael Myslinski limped off the field at one point with something wrong with his right leg but eventually returned. Wide receiver Sam Phillips, the Chattanooga transfer, also left after appearing to get poked in the eye.

Nothing serious with either.

Cornerback T.J. Hall is an anticipated starter but had a knee-on-knee collision with a teammate in practice earlier in the week. He didn’t practice Saturday and might be out a week or two.

“Definitely scared me at first,” Hall said. “But after getting it checked out, I was all good.”

“Not a major concern at all. I think he’ll be fine,” Ferentz said. “He’ll be back, and we’ll be better when he’s back on the field.”

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Hawk items

— Ferentz has announced multiple changes to the football coaching and support staff for this season.

Jason Manson, a former Iowa quarterback, will be a senior football analyst and assistant offensive coach. Manson, whose son, Julian, has committed to play for the Hawkeyes as a senior-to-be at Iowa City West, was director of player development the previous four years.

Former Iowa D-linemen Sam Brincks has assumed Manson’s old player development position. Another former Hawkeye defensive lineman, Noah Shannon, is an assistant director of player development this season after being a student assistant last season.

Ben Hansen has been elevated to assistant athletics director for football operations. Ireland Hostetler is in her first year as director of football administration.

Austin Showalter has been promoted to associate director of football operations and executive assistant.

— As of Friday, about 1,000 tickets remained for Iowa’s home games against Penn State (Oct. 18) and Oregon (Nov. 8). There are approximately 3,000 tickets available for the Hawkeyes home game against Michigan State (Nov. 22).

The other four Kinnick Stadium games are sellouts: Aug. 30 against Albany, Sept. 13 against Massachusetts (night game), Sept. 27 against Indiana on homecoming and Oct. 25 against Minnesota.

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