Josey Jewell and Akrum Wadley and the NFL

IOWA CITY — What avenue Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell checked out is unclear, but the junior has taken a look at entering the NFL draft, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said Thursday.

'Josey put in a line in the water and got a response back ... predictable,' Ferentz said. 'I don't think he was really looking, I don't think he dislikes us that much. I think he's on board for one more year. I think he was just curious. Who wouldn't be curious?'

Ferentz said Jewell, a two-time second-team all-Big Ten pick, has been the only Hawkeye underclassman to approach him about taking a look at the NFL draft. Junior running back Akrum Wadley, who has 966 yards and 13 TDs going into Iowa's Outback Bowl appearance against Florida (8-4), has mentioned the topic on social media. Iowa fans who follow him on Snapchat picked up on that.

There are some big-name running backs who have declared they are entering the draft, including LSU's Leonard Fournette, Stanford's Christian McCaffrey and Texas' De'Onta Foreman.

What would Ferentz tell Wadley if the topic came up?

'Put more weight on, I'd start right there,' Ferentz said. 'I'm kind of fixated on that. We just had that discussion again yesterday morning during finals week.'

Wadley has had an ongoing fight with keeping his weight near 190 pounds. He's played much of his Iowa career in the 180 to 185 range. Ferentz has explained that the Iowa staff sees Wadley being that much more effective at 190 pounds and — this is the bigger thing — his maintaining that weight would show that he's making responsible choices as far as diet goes and just being serious about the responsibility that lies with 'making weight.'

Wadley has talked about learning how to cook and not making weight during the season. It still seems to be an issue for the Iowa staff.

Ferentz spoke mostly to internet projections that had Wadley ranked for the draft.

'He's done a great job, a fantastic job,' Ferentz said. 'I don't mean this in a disrespectful way, but people make comments and throw stuff out there, they have no idea how tough and competitive it is to play in the NFL. If players would listen, I would be happy to tell them. I was in it for six years and witnessed it. It's an extremely competitive business. It's not real sensitive, go find yourself, 'hey, we're with you while you're developing' and all of that kind of stuff. They're not into that. It's like most jobs, where you've got to produce or they move you out, maybe more so than most jobs.'

Wadley is Iowa's second-leading rusher, just behind senior LeShun Daniels' 1,013 yards. Wadley produced almost 75 percent of Iowa's offense in its 14-13 upset of then-No. 3 Michigan on Nov. 12. Wadley went from catching six passes in 2015 to 32 this season.

'Akrum is a really talented guy and he's improved with every step of the way,' Ferentz said. 'I think a year from now he'll have a really good chance, but he's going to have to get bigger and stronger. There aren't any 185-pound backs that I'm aware of who are playing a lot (in the NFL).'

There was a question on the part of Wadley's skill set that is absolutely uncoachable. You saw it on his 75-yard run against Nebraska. You saw it in 2014, when he won Big Ten freshman of the week with 106 yards and a TD against Northwestern. You saw it when he broke loose for 204 yards and four TDs against the Wildcats last season.

That jump cut, that exquisite jump cut. That is NFL-ready.

'That's stuff I work with him on after practice,' Ferentz said, jokingly of course. 'You don't teach those things. He has a rare ability.'

Quick Slants

— On the medical front, not a lot has changed since the end of the season.

Fullback Drake Kulick (broken leg) and cornerback Greg Mabin (broken ankle) are out for the bowl. Freshman cornerback Manny Rugamba (shoulder) is a 'week-to-week' thing.

'He's made good progress, we'll just have to see where it is a week from now,' Ferentz said. 'We certainly can't count on him.'

Offensive tackle Cole Croston (ankle) will start practicing tomorrow, which will be the first practice of the week. The team was off for finals week.

— Iowa senior associate athletic director Matt Henderson said Thursday that Iowa has sold 6,800 tickets for the Outback Bowl. The Hawkeyes' allotment is 8,500.

'Sounds like we've had a positive response on ticket sales,' Ferentz said. 'We're very appreciative of our fans. The support has been great all season. On the road, they've been great traditionally at bowl games. The last two games at Kinnick (Michigan and Nebraska) were as good as I can remember.'

— Defensive line coach Reese Morgan also met with the media on Thursday. He mentioned that redshirt freshman Jake Newborg has moved from offensive line to defensive tackle. Also, redshirt freshman Brady Reiff (6-3, 225) has moved from defensive end to defensive tackle.

Morgan was extremely pleased with his trio of defensive ends — sophomores Parker Hesse and Matt Nelson and redshirt freshman Anthony Nelson. Could one of them shift inside to get the best four D-linemen on the field? Morgan was asked specifically about Matt Nelson, a 6-8, 280-pounder.

'It's been discussed,' Morgan said. 'You want your best four guys out there and maybe some of your guys have to change positions. Inside, you're looking for a certain kind of guy. Outside, you're looking for a little more speed on the edge. He's got the ability to do that. We've talked about it, but right now, he's an end.'

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