Four Downs — The Links

Last year, I didn't even do the Four Downs posts. You remember the general feeling toward Iowa football from January to spring. It ranged from disinterested to hostile.

It didn't seem as if a lot of you would read it. So, for once in my life, I kept my keyboard shut.

And now, as we look back, that was kind of dumb. I won't make that mistake again. No matter what the temperature is, the roster analysis thingie has to happen. There are more people who are interested in the offensive line and the nuance of who's who and who's done what than there are people who have their fingers in their ears.

Iowa is about a week into its 15 spring practices. Iowa still is practicing in the mornings, a switch that was made from afternoons last fall.

Tomorrow will be a bit of a first look, with 15 minutes of practice open for video. Next Friday night (April 8) will be the first extended look at Iowa's spring with the Hawkeyes' annual spring trek to Valley Stadium in West Des Moines (no, not the IMG place in Florida like Michigan, but more like where Iowa has to be). Kirk Ferentz said that will start 6 or 6:30 and there will be some interaction activities with the team. (Flashback: By the end of the Des Moines practice last year, it was a warm Saturday, there were less than 1,000 people left in the stands.)

Iowa has its spring finale April 23 at Kinnick Stadium. That begins 1 p.m. It will be on the Big Ten Network. Going off history, I think it'll be BTN2Go (Iowa in the past has done more practice than game and that's been deemed not great TV, but Iowa recently has done all game in the spring, so we'll see, but guess BTN2Go).

I don't think jobs are won in the spring, but I do believe a previously unheralded player can work his way onto the radar.

Here are five candidates for spring risers:

1. Cornerback Michael Ojemudia — I liked him in recruiting. I like his size for a corner (at 6-2, 190, he has Greg Mabin potential). Now, we'll see more of what he can do on the field. With Mabin out this spring, Ojemudia is the backup at both corner spots. There are probably three true freshmen corners coming this fall, so this is a great chance for Ojemudia to be on the field and claim his territory.

2. OL Sean Welsh — Wait a minute? Didn't you write about him last week? Yes, I did. I thought this Kirk Ferentz quote was extremely interesting, 'If you look at grades, he probably graded out as well as anybody last year on the football team, not just the offensive line ... He's not 6-6, and 330 pounds or any of that stuff, but he's just a really good football player, really productive on the field. We make a living off players like that, really that type of guy.'

The reason why I bring Welsh up here is could he play center in 2016? Right now, sophomore James Daniels is ticketed for that spot, but he's out this spring after January surgery for an undisclosed injury.

Iowa is in the market for Austin Blythe's replacement at center. Does Daniels' absence open the door for Welsh to get a real look there?

3. Random wide receiver — Asked what position needs to come out of spring with a skeleton of an identity, Ferentz mentioned wide receiver. Three names: sophomore Jay Scheel, junior Jonathan Parker and sophomore Adrian Falconer.

I get a lot of questions about Scheel, I think probably because he's a local. Let's pump the brakes. He's a third-year sophomore who's fought injuries (knee specifically) since he walked on campus. The runway feels as clear as its been for him. Let's see where it leads.

Let's see if Parker can graduate from jet sweep guy/decoy to full-on WR. He's a junior. It's time.

I think it's an important spring for Falconer. He dropped the redshirt last year and was targeted once (that I can remember). Can he make that leap from true freshman to experienced sophomore?

Riley McCarron is listed as a starter. He had sports hernia surgery in the offseason. I'm not sure how much he'll be able to play this spring.

4. K/P Miguel Recinos — It feels as if the walk-on from Mason City is in line for the kicker job. He backed up Marshall Koehn all last season. Iowa kicker and punter is a sea of walk-ons right now, a chunk of which will arrive in the fall. Trust is going to be a huge factor here. Recinos probably leads that category, maybe at both spots.

5. Weakside linebacker Aaron Mends — Mends fits in this category of spring character 'new starter who needs to establish himself.' Mends is a weightroom locomotive. He also showed splashes of athleticism (blocked punt vs. Maryland) and moments of trust (inserted as pass rusher late in the year on third downs). Now, can he make the transition to totally trusted, extremely athletic and disruptive full-time starter? Spring is the first step.

Wide receivers/tight ends

The Link — Short on experience, depth, but Iowa WR always seems to start here

The Cliff's Note — The receiving group needs explosion. That's a bottom line every year for Iowa and that leads us to Jerminic Smith, who, yes, caught only six passes but also, yes, averaged 23.5 yards a catch. That's pretty good. That's something you can build on.

Beyond Jerminic Smith, there's redshirt freshman Emmanuel Ogwo. 'He's fast, he has national speed. In terms of track, there's some stuff he did nationally last summer. We were nervous some bigger schools track-wise would come after him. He's fast. There's an upside there that we're excited about,' Iowa assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Seth Wallace said last winter.

Running backs/fullbacks

The Link — The Hawkeyes are probably looking at a collective effort again this season

The Cliff's Note — So, instead of asking if Iowa needs a 20-carry RB, let's just go ahead and answer that question. No, it doesn't. With four backs of very different skill sets and bodies, the Hawkeyes rushed for 2,544 yards (second most in Kirk Ferentz era) and 35 TDs (a Ferentz-era high).

Now, a lot of that was the offensive line and that's another post. But as far as running backs go, think of the Hawkeyes' backfield as a toolbox with a hammer, a Swiss Army knife and whatever tool you want to associate with Akrum Wadley (I really don't know, maybe if mercury met Play-Doh, but who carries that around in a toolbox?).

Quarterbacks

The Link — Plan on Beathard being healthy, ready for what sets up to be an interesting senior season

The Cliff's Note — Ryan Boyle and Drew Cook are undeniably different body shapes. Boyle is 6-1, 215 (208 now). He ran a read-option game at West Des Moines Dowling at an expert level and that's something he could see himself doing at Iowa (he couched this by saying that if it's something the coaches call or want to see).

Hold off on the 'Cook to TE' talk. I asked him during the Rose Bowl week and he's fully engaged as a QB. He's listed at 6-5, 220. He's getting pretty big, but that can work at QB, too. Iowa stands to get a pretty big boost at the TE spot with this signing class (three on the hook going into next week, and I think the timing is right for a reload), so I'm not sure how much Iowa needs Cook to be a TE, at least right now.

Offensive line

The Link — Former walk-ons came through in '15, now for the next step

The Cliff's Note — I usually throw the ubiquitous term 'depth' in here. That's always the fallback. You can always argue that there's not enough. With Iowa's O-line, I honestly can't do that. There's one senior in the bunch and a host of up-and-comers, including Brett Waechter, a probable future tackle at 6-5, 275. Waechter worked his way to the second unit at one point last season.

Defensive line

The Link — Provisional Ott is all over the place here

The Cliff's Note — Where's the pass rush going to come from? We've been over Drew Ott's status. We could hear later this week but more likely next on his bid for a medical hardship waiver and a fifth year of eligibility. His return will help. Of course, here's your reminder that he's also recovering from Tommy John surgery on his elbow and ACL surgery on his knee. Where he'll be physically is up in the air. Where he'll be physically (Iowa or elsewhere) also is up in the air.

Linebackers

The Link — Great group in a great situation

The Cliff's Note — Mends almost made the switch to fullback as a true freshman. I think he's a defensive player, the kind of player who stops things from happening, one with strike and punch. I can't say I know a ton about Hockaday's game. He hasn't played as much, but he is listed as the backup at both inside linebacker spots this spring. He's solidly on the radar.

Secondary

The Link — Embarrassment of riches for what has to be considered Iowa's top position group

The Cliff's Note — How does Iowa's secondary match up with returning wide receivers in the West? We talked a little about Big Ten West QBs, so let's check who's coming back at wide receiver in the West.

Nebraska has the top duo in seniors Jordan Westerkamp and Brandon Reilly. They combined for 105 catches for 1,672 yards and 11 TDs. Purdue's DeAngelo Yancey had a career day against the Hawkeyes with nine catches for 117 yards. Those three are the only returning WRs in the B1G West who finished in the Big Ten's top 15 in 2015.

Special teams

The Link — Not quite starting from scratch, but pretty much

The Cliff's Note — Kickers here this fall: Recinos, Ellis, Duncan, Shudak (yes, that name sounds familiar because his dad, Jeff, was an all-Big Eight kicker for Iowa State) and, maybe, Colluzi. (I think Recinos because of a high degree of familiarity likely will translate to trust with the staff.) Punters here this fall: Rastetter, Recinos, Terry and Colluzi.

Since I wrote this post, someone sent me Keith Duncan's resume (I wouldn't put this out there if it didn't get my attention and this definitely got my attention):

Keith Duncan – 2016 (K)

Weddington High School (N.C.) and Private Training

Senior Year (2015)

• NCHSAA State Record Holder - Most Career FGs at 51 (former 38)

• NCHSAA State Record Holder – Most FGs in a Season at 22 (former 20, set by NFL's Connor Barth)

• NCHSAA State Record Holder – Most Consecutive PATs at 104 (former 77)

• NCHSAA State Record Holder – Most field goals beyond 50 yards in a season at 5

• Ranked No. 1 in the nation for field goal stats and kick scoring this year on MaxPreps

• 2015 MaxPreps All-America Football Team (K)

• 2015 Associated Press All-State Prep Football Team for North Carolina (K)

• 2015 NCPreps All State Football Team (K)

• 2015 S.C.C. Special Teams Player of the Year (UCHSF) Union Co. High School Football

• 2015 All-Observer High School Football Team (Charlotte Observer) (PK)

• 2015 Special Teams Player of Year (Union County Weekly)

• 2015 All-UCHSF (Union Co. High School Football) First-Team Offense (K)

• A top 3 national semifinalist for the 2015 Chris Sailer Award

• Student-Athlete of the Year Recipient by Charlotte Touchdown Club, awarded Dec. 7, 2015 at national collegiate Bronko Nagurski Awards

• Starting Varsity K 4th consecutive year – team reached quarterfinals in post-season

• Broke his own record for most FGs in regular season (22) for Union County

• 22/26 FGs, five of which were from 50 yards or longer (3 Blocked)

• 17/19 FGs from 49 yards and in (both misses were because of blocks)

• Average KO distance 65 yards

• 2015 Kicker of the Year, presented by Greater Charlotte Football Awards at 5th Annual Banquet on Dec. 6. Recipient of same award in 2014 as well.

• NC/SC Shrine Bowl finalist (K/P)

• Carolina Gridiron Pre-Season All-Gridiron Team (K)

• 2015 NCPreps Pre-Season 3A All-State Team (Special Teams/K)

• Only (K) named to Charlotte Observer-Area Football Players to Watch List (10 players)

• First listed in South Charlotte Sports Report's pre-season 25 Gridiron Greats for 2015

• One of only 4 players mentioned as a pre-season Top Player in Union County News

• Raised $1,459 for Kick-It to raise funds/awareness for pediatric cancer (beat goal of $1,000) ($3/FG; $1/PAT)

• O-D All-American Game Invite

• 53-yard FG vs. Forest Hills Aug. 28, 2015, Game 2 of the season

• 48-yard FG vs. Country Day 10/1/15 to tie N.C. High School career state record

• 54-yard FG vs. Anson Oct. 29, 2015, to beat N.C. High School career state record

• 50-yard FG vs. Crest Nov. 17, 2015 to tie NCHSAA most FGs in a season record, then beat it same game

• Top Performer as named by the Charlotte Observer Oct. 1, 2015

• Week 3 Fan Vote Winner For MVP – South Charlotte Sports Report

• 4.08/3.4 GPA weighted/unweighted (4.0 scale) as of Oct. 1, 2015 ACT: 25

• Straight A's this entire senior year; Honors/AP classes. GPA will definitely advance further at semester end

• Mentored and provided instruction to up and coming kickers – middle schoolers and other varsity/JV kickers

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com