Iowa football recruiting: Wide receivers and tight ends

Iowa's passing offense crashed at the Outback Bowl. Quarterback C.J. Beathard was limited to 7 of 23 for 55 yards and three interceptions during a 30-3 defeat to Florida. His pass efficiency of 23.4 was the lowest of his career and the lowest of all quarterbacks in bowl games.

A lot went wrong with Iowa's offense for that number to happen, yes, but the trend for Iowa's passing offense slid down in other numbers: The Hawkeyes finished 12th in the Big Ten in total offense this season, 13th in passing offense and 10th in scoring.

The Hawkeyes finished 114th in the nation in completions per game (13.5) and 108th in yards per completion (11.1).

Lots of eyes will be on first-year offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz and his (and the staff's thoughts, it'll be a collective endeavor) ideas on making the passing game go.

The X-and-O part will be different, but how that will look on the field depends on the personnel. The players are a huge part of this equation.

When looking at the differences in the 2015 and 2016 passing games, head coach Kirk Ferentz pointed to personnel.

'You look at it just right now, I still think C.J. Beathard is a heckuva player,' Ferentz said in late November. 'A year ago, he had an NFL center snapping to him (Austin Blythe). He had an NFL tight end who made a lot of big plays week in and week out (Henry Krieger-Coble). He had George (Kittle) as our second tight end. We had (Matt) VandeBerg (lost for most of 2016 with a broken foot) and Tevaun (Smith, who made the Colts roster). Now compared to what he's working with, you wonder why the numbers aren't the same?'

Wide receiver clearly was a position of need for Iowa's 2017 class. Here's what they came up with.

Max Cooper

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has never been shy about his admiration for some of the star players who've come from the Mid-American Conference.

In fact, in 2011 when asked about former wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley, Ferentz said, 'I'm not so sure there aren't times we shouldn't wait till December, try to raid the MAC commitments, get the all-stars. I'm serious. There are a lot of good players in that league.'

It's an interesting concept. It might work, but then it might not.

Either way, you've seen Iowa pick off a player or two every recruiting season who has committed or has been recruited heavily by MAC schools. That's Max Cooper.

Waukesha (Wis.) Catholic Memorial wide receiver Max Cooper decommitted from Central Michigan and accepted a scholarship offer from Iowa.

'After an exciting past few days, I have decided to decommit from CMU and accept a full-ride scholarship to play for coach Ferentz at Iowa,' Cooper posted on Twitter. 'Thank you to all of the coaches from CMU who have been recruiting me in this process. But playing in the Big Ten has been a dream of mine and I cannot be more excited to say it has come true.'

Cooper told HawkeyeReport.com that his parents are Central Michigan graduates.

Cooper, 6-0, 175, helped Waukesha Catholic Memorial to the Wisconsin Division 3 state championship. As a senior, he caught 50 passes for 1,024 and 17 touchdowns.

Most interesting thing from hawkeyesports.com bio

: 'Lettered in basketball (3), baseball (1), lacrosse (1), and track (4). Member of 400-meter relay team that won 2016 state title. State qualifier in long jump.'

Noteworthy offer

: Central Michigan

Depth chart in 2016?

: I'll write exactly what I wrote for senior WR Matt VandeBerg. Oh, I didn't write anything about senior Matt VandeBerg. At this point in 2013, VandeBerg was still a grayshirt and not officially a member of the 2013 class. Then VandeBerg arrived and actually played as a true freshman. He didn't put up huge numbers (eight receptions, 58 yards), but he played as a true freshman. And that's why I'm not counting Cooper out for 2017. Yes, he's 175 pounds, but they're not asking him to play left tackle. We'll see.

Off-the-top-of-my-head Hawkeye comparison

: Matt VandeBerg

It just feels right, doesn't it? The link? VandeBerg was on track for back-to-back seasons of 60 receptions. The only other receiver in Iowa history to do that is Kevin Kasper (60 in 1999 and 82 in 2000). VandeBerg, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in September last season, has been productive. Cooper had a supremely productive career at Catholic Memorial. He holds school records for receptions, yards and receiving touchdowns in a season and career.

Iowa recruiting coordinator Kelvin Bell (this is more the conversation I had with coach Bell on the prospect) — Me

: This really feels like a 'fit' guy. I'm sure his production checked a ton of boxes for you on whether or not he has the skills to contribute at Iowa.

KB

: That's the word I was going to use, 'productive.' Coach talks about it all of the time. Making the makeables, and that's Max Cooper. He'll get open and when you throw it to him, he'll catch it. That's how you create big plays. It's nothing special. Consistent plays made over time create big plays, and that's what Max Cooper is. Sure-handed. He's going to run all of the routes you want him to run. You throw it to him, he's going to catch it. He's also tougher than you think he is, too. He'll help out in the run game as far as blocking. Has some special teams value as well.

ESPN scouting report excerpt: Not sure he's capable of making as many big plays at the next level as he does here. Very good when contested and competes for the ball one-on-one. Does not appear to have an explosive second gear and sudden change-of-direction to be a dynamic weapon after the catch. Serviceable and elusive enough to extend plays. Red zone upside might give him more big-play ability at the next level with time in the weight room. He is very competitive. Smith is a great looking kid and as mentioned while he doesn't time well, he plays fast on a straight line. He needs work and polish as a route runner, but he can improve here with work ethic. Quality player who flashes power five conference ability.

My take

: Let's talk about the myth of separation. How often do you see a wide receiver completely blow past a defensive back, one-on-one with no play fake tugging at the DB's eyes? Not often. Smith's speed appears adequate, but what filled his 11-minute Hudl video was catches he made either going and getting the ball or catches he made because of the way he used his body.

Smith will take a hit to make a play. He's a load to bring down. He's strong enough to keep defensive backs off his body. Lots of catches where Smith used his body to box out and surround the ball. Smith ran a ton of routes, including short WR screens, which probably make it into Brian Ferentz's playbook.

Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Iowa will be recruiting against first-year Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck for the foreseeable future. The race was tight this year, with Fleck not jumping in as Minnesota's coach until the school fired Tracy Claeys and hired the former Western Michigan coach in January.

Iowa was in on New Jersey wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Smith-Marsette visited Iowa and then Minnesota. He picked the Gophers. It wasn't over. Georgia athlete Trey Creamer had been a Minnesota commit. He visited Iowa. He eventually picked the Hawkeyes. Smith-Marsette reconsidered and also picked Iowa.

So, the final score this recruiting cycle was Iowa 2, Minnesota 1 (Fleck tore Kansas WR Harry Van Dyne from Iowa).

You know this is never going away. Fleck is a relentless recruiter. This will be fun for everyone, right?

'When I first arrived on campus at Iowa, I got a different feeling,' Smith-Marsette said on signing day. 'They were great over there and it felt like they were brothers. I loved the feeling that I got there; it was like a welcome-home feeling. That is what ultimately separated Iowa from Rutgers and Minnesota.'

Smith-Marsette committed to Rutgers on Dec. 11 and then decommitted on Jan. 23. He then committed to Minnesota via Twitter on Jan. 29, only to pull back his decision and delete the tweets shortly thereafter.

He finally found what he was looking for.

'It feels so amazing to relieve the stress that comes with recruiting,' said Smith-Marsette. 'Every place had something nice about it and going to each and every place gave me a different feeling. Ultimately though, Iowa gave me the best feeling and not just a different feeling. I believe in the Iowa system and that's what it came down to.

'I feel so much happier now that it's out of the way and I'm committed to the school that I was the most comfortable with.

Smith-Marsette earned a first team All-Group 1 nod this fall after posting 38 catches for 773 yards and 13 touchdowns alongside 43 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries on defense. He also notched three TDs on special teams — two on punt returns and one on a kickoff return for Weequahic, which went 12-0 in 2016.

Most interesting thing from hawkeyesports.com bio

: 'Helped prep team claim 2016 state championship with 12-0 record.'

Noteworthy offer

: Minnesota

Depth chart in 2016?

: Ball is in Smith-Marsette's court. 6-2, 175 isn't big for a Big Ten wide receiver. Iowa does want bigger wideouts, but Brian Ferentz probably isn't talking only about height. Still, no one is going to say Iowa doesn't need help at WR, and so that gives Smith-Marsette as good of a chance as anyone to carve into the rotation this fall.

Off-the-top-of-my-head Hawkeye comparison

: Kahlil Hill

Hill had a super-underrated career as a Hawkeye. He's top 10 in career receiving yards (1,892). He's fifth all-time with 152 receptions. Right off the top of Smith-Marsette's Hudl video are a couple of success kick returns for TDs. Hill also was one of the best return specialists of the Ferentz era. Smith-Marsette has a similar long stride.

Iowa recruiting coordinator Kelvin Bell (this is more the conversation I had with coach Bell on the prospect) — Me

: I saw that Brian (Ferentz, offensive coordinator) met with him twice. Obviously, a need guy, right?

KB

: He brings position flexibility. If you look at his high school tape, he plays defensive back. He also plays wide receiver. Both are positions of needs, so you kind of kill two birds with one stone. He'll get in where he fits in when he gets to campus. I can't say if we're going to start him at receiver or start him at DB, it's going to be a situation when we end spring practice, we look at the depth chart, where is this kid going to best help Iowa? He gives us that flexibility. He very well could've been one of Phil's guys, a defensive back or he very well could play offense.

Me

: What makes him a player?

KB

: He's a tough kid. He's from Newark, N.J., same high school as Akrum Wadley. He's just a tough, tough-minded kid. He loves the game of football, loves to compete. He's got some weight to put on, but you can't tell because of the way he plays. He's fearless and selfless out there.

ESPN scouting report excerpt

: There wasn't one. So, this probably makes Marchese the signee with the biggest chip on his shoulder.

My take

: Marchese is a decent route runner. He doesn't round things off and makes sharp cuts that help get him open. He's not a blazer, but detailed route running created separation for him. He knows what to do with the ball after he catches it. He made cuts against the grain and attacked space (took what the defense gave him). The only thing keep me from thinking Marchese will play next year is the low offers. Illinois came after him late, though, so maybe Bell is right. Maybe Marchese is a sleeper.

Jacob Coons

In a HawkeyeReport.com interview, Solon head coach Kevin Miller said Coons weighed 225. Coons already is inching toward the TE body. You don't see Iowa TEs get much above 250.

'Because of his versatility, I think they (colleges) see him as a tight end, but he could play defense at defensive end or linebacker because he moves so well,' Miller told HR. 'He is an athletic basketball type of player who is a big-framed kid. He is long and athletic with the versatility to play a number of positions. He brings a number of physical skills and abilities to the table. He is a very physical player who likes contact. I think another thing he brings is that toughness to the program.'

Maybe you check another box with the toughness. You can't just waltz into the Iowa program and be a TE with questionable blocking skills. You could argue that's why redshirt freshman walk-on Nate Wieting played nearly as many snaps last season (118) as true freshman Noah Fant (129). Wieting weighed 245; Fant weighed 220. When it was a running down or formation, Wieting was on the field. For passing downs, it was Fant.

Coons might be able to offer the full three downs.

Most interesting thing from hawkeyesports.com bio

: 'Three-year football letterman as tight end, wide receiver, defensive end and linebacker.'

Noteworthy offer

: Iowa State

Depth chart in 2016?

: Probably not. Iowa has six tight ends on the roster going into spring. It probably could use another pass catcher at the position, but Fant and redshirt freshman T.J. Hockenson likely will get first cracks at that.

Off-the-top-of-my-head Hawkeye comparison

: Brandon Myers

Coons' numbers took a hit his senior season because of a high-ankle sprain that lingered. Still, he had 29 receptions for 485 yards and five touchdowns. Check what Miller said about Coons' basketball ability. Myers was a terrific basketball player coming out of Prairie City-Monroe. As far as starting points go, Coons tracks Myers. Of course, Myers became a premier pass catcher and still is in the NFL. Coons will work on that.

Iowa recruiting coordinator Kelvin Bell (this is more the conversation I had with coach Bell on the prospect) — Me

: Jacob Coons, he was another guy who committed and that was that.

KB

: We offered Jacob before the 2015 season. It was that summer. He came out here and really had a standout camp.

Again, I go back to camp. Obviously, the kids from farther away, we couldn't get to camp. Trey (Creamer) we saw in a camp. Camp is a huge evaluation piece for us. The kids who aren't willing to come to our camp, I'm sorry, we have to move on. There are kids willing to come to Iowa City. It's not like Iowa is an Indiana, and I recruit Indiana.

In Indiana, you're driving west to go to Chicago or you're driving east to go to Ohio or out there. You come to Iowa, you're coming here for a reason. So, the kids who come here to go to camp, that goes a long way in our book. Jacob came to camp. He competed. We said, 'Hey, this kid is going to be one of better players in his class, in 2017, let's get in on this right now.'

Me

: Tight end? Does that stick?

KB

: Tight end, but also plays some defensive end. Position flexibility in this class. I think we'll start him at tight end and see where it goes. But we're always looking for good D-linemen.