Let's do Hawkeyes 'next' 2017 edition

TAMPA, Fla. — The pretty-darn-soon-but-not-quite-yet future of Iowa football spent more significant time this week with a bowling ball in his hands than a football.

OK, that's not exactly true. True freshman quarterback Nathan Stanley went through the final practices of what has to be considered a successful season. He started his first year in Iowa City as a Wing-T quarterback from Menomonie, Wis., and will end it as the No. 2 quarterback behind senior C.J. Beathard.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and offensive coordinator Greg Davis said the things coaches say about open positions when they want to keep everyone interested. In reality, this staff threw in with the 6-5, 220-pounder when they burned his redshirt in week 1, inserting him in the lineup before sophomore Tyler Wiegers and redshirt freshman Drew Cook.

Maybe Stanley's most public appearance during during Outback Bowl week was at Splitsville while bowling. Expect that to change very soon.

'He's a bright guy, he's got a big arm,' Davis said. 'He's got to really work on the little things that big-arm guys have to work on, and that's anticipation, trust in your feet. He hasn't seen a ton of blitz work yet, so those are things that we have to work on in the spring and summer.

'Nate has exceeded expectations for a freshman.'

Bowl week comes with a mix of energy. This current Iowa (8-4) team is set on snapping a bowl losing streak of four. Florida (8-4) has the firepower to embarrass the Hawkeyes, who still haven't quite washed the 41-14 defeat at Penn State in the beginning of November out of their uniforms, so it's high alert. Plus, nine is more wins than eight and Monday's result could tip the scales for some people on whether or not this was as successful season, which included a victory over then-No. 3 Michigan and a defeat to FCS North Dakota State.

But next season is right there, just a couple days away. It's human nature to want to take a peek around the corner and take a look at Iowa 2017, a team that will face Ohio State and Penn State at Kinnick Stadium and hit the road for games at Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan State, Northwestern and Iowa State.

Stanley will be one of the prominent new faces.

Stanley played in six games this year and completed 5 of 8 passes for 62 yards. The decision to play him in his first season wasn't a casual one, as you might imagine.

'When we signed (Stanley), I told him, 'Plan on redshirting but expect to play,'' Davis said. 'What I meant was, 'Don't take the summer off. Work hard, he'll probably redshirt.' He just kept doing things in camp that weren't freshman-like. He didn't repeat mistakes. All the pointing that we do, all of it has a reason. Mentally he was on top of it.

'So we had a long discussion in August. 'If C.J. stays healthy, is this the right thing? Is it not the right thing?' We decided, 'Hey, he'll be better in the spring, if he is the No. 2 guy. He's made great progress.'

There won't be a lot of room for new faces on Iowa's offense next season. Five offensive linemen who started games will return. There is a handful of tight ends with sophomore-to-be Noah Fant probably in the best position to take over as top receiving target.

Running back Akrum Wadley has made some noise on social media about leaving early for the NFL. The opportunity for him at Iowa next season as the featured back might include a shot at 2,000 all-purpose yards (rushing and receiving), a very Ronnie Harmon-like number. Wadley led the Hawkeyes and was eighth in the Big Ten this year with 1,260 all-purpose yards going into Monday's game. He needs 34 yards to reach 1,000 rushing yards this year.

'He has just continued to grow as a player (and) off the field as a student,' Davis said. 'I really expect him to have an outstanding year next year.'

Iowa's defense will have more opportunity for 'next.' (Not at linebacker, which likely will feature seniors-to-be Josey Jewell, Bo Bower and Ben Niemann.)

Defensive coordinator Phil Parker was asked this week who'll be tougher for him to replace, all-American cornerback Desmond King or all-Big Ten defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson?

'That's a good question. It depends if someone is running the ball or throwing the ball,' Parker said. 'We're going to miss them both. You always win with the defensive line and the guys up front, but the extra thing Desmond does with special teams in the return game is added value.'

Freshman Manny Rugamba isn't King and he won't play Monday because of a shoulder/collarbone injury, but he has starting experience, quality experience, winning Big Ten freshman of the week for his performance against Michigan. Joshua Jackson and Michael Ojemudia will compete for a corner spot.

It's harder to pick out the next Jaleel Johnson at defensive tackle. Johnson is a fully matured 6-4, 310-pound fifth-year senior. Iowa doesn't get those in recruiting, but it has developed big defensive tackles. Of course, that takes time.

Assuming senior-to-be Nathan Bazata is one defensive tackle, who else is ready? The two names Parker mentioned were true freshman Cedric Lattimore and redshirt freshman Brady Reiff.

At 6-5, 280, Lattimore is the body that's most Jaleel-like. Reiff moved to defensive tackle late this season and is in the 250-pound range. Parker said he definitely sees both in the rotation next season.

'Brady Reiff has really impressed me,' Parker said. 'His leverage and understanding, I'm not going to say he's like some of the other guys who've played here, but he has qualities like toughness and the way he takes on blocks that we're excited about.'

There is going to be a logjam at defensive end. Defensive line coach Reese Morgan said in December that, yes, there have been talks about moving a starter, either Matt Nelson or Parker Hesse, inside to tackle. Anthony Nelson has 5.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss as a redshirt freshman this year. Chauncey Golston, Romeo McKnight and Brandon Simon will be redshirt freshmen next fall. Incoming freshman A.J. Epenesa (6-5, 255) might have the size, strength and speed to challenge for some playing time anywhere on the D-line. He's son of former Hawkeye D-lineman Eppy Epenesa, a Rivals 4-star recruit and very much has the potential to play in 2017.

'We have great guys, all team-oriented guys, no matter where they put us, we're going to be working together,' Hesse said. 'There's no such thing as having too many good football players. That's never been a problem.'

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