Iowa football recruiting: Progress in O-line recruiting

Let's begin with a refresher on how many offensive linemen Iowa has on scholarship for 2016.

Seniors: T Cole Croston, G Mitch Keppy, G Ryan Ward

Juniors: T Ike Boettger, G Boone Myers, G Sean Welsh

Sophomores: G/C Lucas LeGrand, G Keagan Render, G Ross Reynolds, C James Daniels

Redshirt freshmen: G/C Jake Newborg, G/T Levi Paulsen, G/T Landan Paulsen, T Brett Waechter

True freshmen: G Spencer Williams, G Cole Banwart, T Alaric Jackson

That should add up to 17 with six tackle candidates, nine guard/centers and two pure centers.

If a walk-on OL receives a scholarship for 2016, my guess would be senior Steve Ferentz with sophomore Dalton Ferguson next. Ferentz spent a lot of 2015 on the depth chart, and stray scholarships tend to go to older walk-ons, or at least they have in recent years (see Croston and wide receiver Riley McCarron — roommate of QB C.J. Beathard and also in sports hernia recovery). On the January depth chart, Ferentz (6-2, 278) is listed as No. 2 center behind sophomore James Daniels, who will miss spring practice after surgery for an undisclosed injury. Ferguson (6-4, 307) also hung around the depth chart a lot last season. He's listed as No. 2 RT behind Boettger this spring.

At this point, let's refresh our memories on the January depth chart (head coach Kirk Ferentz said, yeah, it's a January depth chart, but also said it's where you start and I do believe it's as honest of an assessment we're going to get from the staff until we get spring updates, probably beginning at the end of March).

LT: Croston, Myers

LG: Myers, Ward

C: Daniels, Ferentz

RG: Welsh, Render

RT: Boettger, Ferguson

So, that's kind of a who's who. I'll save any further analysis (or whatever you want to call it) for the Four Downs OL post that will hopefully come out before spring practice.

On to the spectacle.

Cole Banwart

My favorite Cole Banwart factlet is that he's from Ottosen, Iowa. There's no knowing every town in Iowa, is there? I don't think so.

Banwart, a 6-4, 280-pounder, also had offers from Northern Iowa and South Dakota State. After moving from West Bend-Mallard and 8-man football in 2013 (when Banwart earned second-team all-state honors as a D-lineman), Banwart earned all-state honors in Class 3A last season at Algona, which finished 1-8 last season.

'He's a hard worker,' Algona coach Andy Jacobson said. 'He's got a nose for the ball. He has a high motor and he's going to do whatever it takes to be successful. We're really excited for him.'

Banwart was a camp commitment for the Hawkeyes, meaning he visited one of Iowa's camps last summer and showed what coaches needed to see to earn a scholarship offer.

'I think I did well, but there were times where I didn't move my feet or use my hands,' Banwart told HawkeyeReport.com. 'It was my first padded camp, so I was a little rusty.'

But still the offer.

'After the camp, [D-line coach and state of Iowa recruiter] Reese Morgan followed me and said to meet with Kirk Ferentz in the office,' Banwart told HawkeyeReport. 'That's when he told me he had an offer for me.'

More Recruiting: Expect one of the new running backs to play in 2016

Iowa State, Minnesota and Nebraska showed interest. Banwart also camped at Nebraska. Iowa recruited Banwart as an inside O-lineman.

'He does a lot of the little things really well, and I think that's what coaches look for,' Jacobson said. 'He hustles around. He's a kid you're going to like having in your program. He'll be successful.'

Rivals: 2 stars

Scout: 2 stars

247Sports: 3 stars

Composite: 2.33

Depth chart in 2016?: The answer for all three incoming freshmen is going to be no. But what about James Daniels last season? Well, James Daniels was a 4-star recruit who was wanted by Ohio State and Alabama. He was a huge get for Iowa. It begs the question, though, what if Banwart is on the level? My answer would be that he likely would've had more offers. And then the next question is how far does college football scouting reach? I think if anything else the recruitment of Cedar Falls OL Ross Pierschbacher showed us that it's pretty hard to hide if you're a top prospect.

Off-the-top-of-my-head Hawkeye comparison: Sean Welsh

If Reese Morgan decided to offer Banwart, you know he's tough. He'll be raw. Algona High School is a small Class 3A school in Iowa. Brian Ferentz loves these guys. I think he'd rather have a raw, hungry, coachable kid from out of nowhere than a gold-plated 4-star. Bottom line is you need both.

Iowa recruiting coordinator Seth Wallace: 'We'll see, but probably an inside guy as well, offensive line-wise. Cole has been here many, many times. Camp guy. Started in the summer (the relationship with the school). Very, very, very good player. Just somebody, again, there was a lot of size there.'

How do the big Iowa O-line kids differentiate?

'It's probably something that Brian and Reese saw in camp. Reese finds these guys and does a helluva job. He's very particular in the way he does things and they've worked for Iowa football, they've worked for him in the process. It's hard to pinpoint with any of these guys exactly what it was, but it could be the way someone was in the weight room, the way someone was in gym class. There are a lot of different things. Reese doesn't miss.'

Here I brought up an example of what I think Reese Morgan looks for, a kid who gets his thumb bent backward, he bends it back and goes back into the game. 'If Reese witnessed that, the kid would go to the top of his list,' Wallace said with a laugh.

ESPN scouting report: OG prospect with good height and bulk at this stage. Has the frame to add more good body mass. Demonstrates good playing strength. Has good body balance and well above average lower body flexibility.

My take: Iowa prep O-linemen are the lifeblood of Iowa football. I need to check this again, but a few years ago, I went over recent recruiting classes (I think it was around Brett Van Sloten's senior year). Eight of 10 Iowa linemen who went on scholarship during that stretch started at least two years for Iowa. That's huge. I'm sure you guys will prove me wrong, but the only other position that hits like that for Iowa is QBs from Florida (there have been three — pretty sure — and two ended up as starters).

Alaric Jackson

It probably doesn't hurt that Iowa's most decorated player since maybe quarterback Brad Banks is from Detroit and has a great personality and a wonderful connection to his community back home in Detroit.

Iowa cornerback Desmond King, the reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back, talked to a couple of defensive linemen from his alma mater East English Village Prep. That led to a little bit of a wave in the Detroit area for Iowa in 2016 recruiting. It pulled in a defensive back and it certainly didn't hurt with offensive tackle Alaric Jackson.

'They have a great class coming in with (Chauncey) Golston and (Cedrick) Lattimore. They had a great season. I went down there for my visit and I loved it. Great coaches, great people. I just loved it overall,' Jackson said on signing day.

Jackson was set to announce his commitment to Iowa a few days before signing day, but then Michigan offered and gave the Detroit native a little something to think about. The offer may or may not have evaporated, but Jackson hung with Iowa and announced on the morning of Feb. 3, which was national signing day.

Iowa's honesty and a bond with Golston and Lattimore ended up paying off the Iowa, which will get a protypical tackle body in Jackson, who's played only two years of football.

'They were pretty straightforward with me, honest, they've been around for a long time and they're very loyal,' Jackson said in a video interview with Rivals.com. 'I have two friends committed there — Chauncey Golston and Cedrick Lattimore — friends since I was 5 years old. I love those guys.'

Rivals: 3 stars

Scout: 3 stars

247Sports: 3 stars

Composite: 3.00

Depth chart in 2016?: No. There's the requisite building and maturity that needs to happen for an offensive lineman (well, excluding James Daniels, I guess). Jackson is 6-7, 285 and will need to add strength and get comfortable with technique. There's also that part of just two years of football. Now, a lot can translate. Jackson is a basketball player and there's obviously a certain amount of footwork that's going to go along with that (if you're interested in being good at basketball, which might be Jackson's first love). Anyway, there's a certain amount of development that is going to have to happen before Jackson is ready. He did have 18 offers, by the way, including Michigan (maybe?), Michigan State, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Off-the-top-of-my-head Hawkeye comparison: Andrew Donnal

There is a symmetry here. Iowa scored Donnal's commitment out of Ohio. Donnal came in at 6-7, 285. Donnal and Jackson had a ton of offers. Donnal was a U.S. Army All-American. I make this comparison to show the developmental curve that's ahead. Donnal came into Iowa with the U.S. Army billing, which is a nice honor but far from a perfect guide for how a player might develop. Donnal tore everything but the ACL in a knee during the 2012 season, when it looked as if his career was about to take off. In 2013, he played a lot, but he didn't hit the starting lineup again until 2014, when he started all 13 games at right tackle. So, it took four years to get to a place where Donnal could start and impress for one season (yes, the injury was a definite setback and for sure threw off his clock). Donnal is a St. Louis Ram and is now listed at 6-6, 315. The development continues. Maybe Jackson hits sooner.

Iowa recruiting coordinator Seth Wallace: 'You talk about just being not real sure where somebody could go from a potential standpoint. Hasn't played a lot of football. Just two years. Outstanding basketball player. You see him in person, he's a giant. His recruiting process really didn't pick up in terms of getting away from Detroit and seeing what was out there until he came to visit us. It was fortunate that he's very good friends with Golston and Lattimore. We've got him projected at tackle and he has potential to be a really good one just based on his athleticism and some of the characteristics that he has.'

Interactive Map: Iowa's 2016 football recruits, with insight from Seth Wallace

HawkeyeReport.com's Tom Kakert: The big news of signing day was Jackson picking the Hawkeyes over a late offer from Michigan. The Detroit native is raw, having only played two years of football at the high school level, but the size (6-foot-7) and athletic ability (plays basketball), you can see why Kirk Ferentz wanted him. There won't be a huge rush to get Jackson on the field, so he can develop. His upside is really high and given the way Iowa develops offensive tackles, he has the potential to be a very good player.

ESPN scouting report: Comes off the ball with above average initial quickness and good pop while he can continue to refine his hand placement. Has active feet and good leg drive, but his base can get narrow at times. His narrow base can effect his change of direction ability. Aggressive attacks defenders on the 2nd level or in space and displays the ability to run through the defender ... Demonstrates good physicality and is a high effort guy. Has a finisher's attitude and works to stay with blocks.

My take: Jackson has arms like telephone poles. If the development drops in along with strength gains, opposing D-ends are going to have to call Uber for a ride around him. In the preseason, I asked Kirk Ferentz why 4-star offensive tackles don't run into the Hansen Center and yell, 'I'm here, show me the way!' He laughed and said, you know, if you do your homework, you're right. And he didn't know, either. But hey, here's Jackson, who's close to a 4-star. It's going to take time, but I think there's a big payoff here.

Spencer Williams

I don't know how football is going to turn out for Spencer Williams. I don't know how football is going to turn out for any of these guys. I think I like where Williams' headed in life.

The commitments swoosh by and leave me in the dust, so I'm sure many of you have seen this Jim Sullivan column in the Waterloo Courier. It's about being a good community member and using your platform for positive things.

He is an all-stater with a bright future on the gridiron.

But there's something else going on here, something that says a good deal about Williams, his love for his hometown and a desire to help.

To find it, go on the Internet and find the Twitter account called 'CFFBGridironGiveback.' That's Spencer Williams, his friends and teammates.

Since last winter, they've done work for the Salvation Army, ringing bells outside of businesses like the Cedar Falls Hy-Vee. They've also helped build houses as part of the Habitat for Humanity program. That was where Williams took a shot at a staircase.

Building homes is not necessarily anyone's idea of an ideal leisure time activity. Among most teenagers and adults, it might rank a few spots behind ... almost anything. Williams and company, though, seized the moment.

Why? As the Twitter account suggests, it's all about giving back.

'That's what makes this so great,' said Williams. 'It doesn't feel like hard work when you want to give back to the community. Obviously, it's not easy work. Construction work is not that easy. But we had a fun time.'

Had an amazing time workin on a house today for Habitat! July 11, 2015

Had an amazing time workin on a house today for Habitat! pic.twitter.com/NeAknBcWpN

— Spencer Williams (@SpencerW_73)

That's good stuff. There's good football stuff, too.

Williams initially committed to Western Michigan, but then Iowa came through with the 'dream offer.' Williams had 11 offers, ranging from Harvard and Yale to Minnesota.

Rivals: 3 stars

Scout: 3 stars

247Sports: 3 stars

Composite: 3.00

Depth chart in 2016?: No. I'm going to play the 'O-linemen development' card once again. Also, Williams probably plays on the inside and maybe he plays center. Center almost requires an apprenticeship at Iowa. It's an important, valued position. The center works with the QB on calling out protections at the line of scrimmage. so, along with physical building, there also would have to be a learning curve. Williams got offers from Harvard and Yale, I think he'll be OK with this.

Off-the-top-of-my-head Hawkeye comparison: Mike Elgin

Mike Elgin just kind of popped in my head. Elgin was a linebacker-TE type body from Western Dubuque. He had to build up to the OL and then ended up a pretty good center/guard. Another name I would've thrown in but would've probably had to answer for at some point (a lot of this job anymore is not creating headaches for myself) is Brian Ferentz. I won't go there. Elgin came into Iowa a 2-star at 6-4, 215 pounds. He ended up being a three-year starter. Wrote it above. Iowa linemen are Iowa's best bet.

Iowa recruiting coordinator Seth Wallace: 'Spencer's recruiting started with a commitment to Western Michigan. We convinced Spencer to come down here and camp. We kind of knew what the outcome was going to be, but we wanted to see him in person. He did an outstanding job. From that point forward, we put our foot on the pedal. Spencer has been great in terms of recruiting the rest of this class. He was kind of the nucleus behind it, on the social media outlet for this class. He did an outstanding job. He certainly projects to be on the inside (on the O-line). We feel like we've got a good one there.'

February 3, 2016

@Alaricj_32 Welcome to the family bro!!! So jacked for you beast!

— Spencer Williams (@SpencerW_73)

ESPN scouting report: Has the initial quickness to gain an advantage. Plays with good pad level and delivers a strong punch. Has hip roll and can generate a strong surge off the line of scrimmage. Plays with a good base and leg drive. Does an excellent job as a puller. Runs through defenders and can make adjustments in space ... Very physical player. Finisher that can be nasty. High effort player that plays to the whistle. Gets second effort downfield blocks.

My take: If Williams can follow a Mike Elgin or, ahem, Brian Ferentz career path, he might turn out to be one of the pillars of the class. Between Elgin and Ferentz, that's five years worth of starting OL. That's Western Dubuque and Iowa City High, too.

Don't focus on the star count for the Iowa OLs. I've referred to this quote before and probably will again, but I think it's telling.

OK, it's a couple of quotes from a post I did on Levi and Landan Paulsen when they signed with Iowa in 2015.

'When we went on our official visit last weekend, we sat down with Brian Ferentz [Iowa's O-line coach, who'll be the Paulsens position coach] and he said, 'We didn't recruit you because you're amazing athletes right now,' Levi said. ''We recruited you because you have the mentality to go and be one of those athletes.' You've got to have the mind-set that I'm going to go out and be the best.'

'I know when Levi and I go down there, we're going to have a lot of work to do, that's something I look forward to,' Landan said. 'We didn't have a structured program in our high school. We know we're going in and we're totally raw. That's what the coaches tell us. 'We know you're really raw and undersized for your frames.' We're undersized physically and we have a lot to learn mentally. They'll tell us that straight up. That's one of the things I like about Iowa, they're not going to tell you you're a good player. We know we're decent players and we can develop into good players.'

And so the work begins for these three.

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