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Feb. 10, 2010
By Don Lund
NORTH LIBERTY LEADER
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| Don Lund |
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One of my favorite days of the year is National Signing Day for college football.
Last week, the Hawkeyes picked up 21 new recruits with scholarships and will add around 10 more walk-ons.
Five of the new recruits are from the Hawkeye state and two of them, A. J. Derby and James Morris, are from Iowa City and Solon.
A. J. is probably the best of the best as Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Michigan were just some of the top programs in the nation that wanted the 6-4, 218-pound City High athlete, and yes, he will play quarterback for the Hawkeyes.
I've seen him play a couple of times and I believe he has a chance to lead the Hawkeyes to the promised land.
When I sat down to talk to offensive line coach Reece Morgan, he agreed with me.
"A.J. is a very competitive young man," said coach Morgan, who just finished his 10th year as offensive line coach. "He likes being in pressure situations. I think he'll be a great fit. He really impressed us in camp last summer with his quarterback ability"
A. J. also punted for the Little Hawks and had the option of going for it on fourth down.
City High was 12-13 on fourth downs with A. J. calling the shots, including a big conversion in the state championship game.
City High beat Marshalltown 42-14 with A.J. playing offense and defense.
James Morris (6-2, 215) might make the biggest impact early on as he is in the Tim Dwight-Chad Greenway mold. Coach Morgan said he has a chance to make an impact on special teams next fall.
James, a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Iowa, just dominated in high school and helped lead the Solon Spartans to 41 straight wins and three state championships.
James could be a great running back, but the Hawks have good depth there so he will get a shot at linebacker.
"When he first came to our football camp," said coach Morgan, "I think he was an eighth-grader or freshman? We put him with the seniors and you couldn't tell the difference. He's matured beyond his years. He's got a bright future"
You might have to go back to Eddie Donavan, who played for the Hawkeyes when I was a football manager in the 1970s, to find another Solon Spartan that has a chance to play and make a difference for the Hawkeyes.
Brandon Scherff (6-5, 310) is an interesting prospect from Denison, Iowa.
Brandon actually played quarterback as a sophomore. He played on the offensive and defensive lines his junior and senior season. Brandon was a first-team all-state pick as an offensive lineman his senior season.
"This guy is really a good athlete," said coach Morgan. "Brandon is a four-sport athlete that will get stronger with weight training and get better when he concentrates on football"
Austin Vier (6-7, 228) is another good athlete that grew up in Huxley, Iowa. He played quarterback and end in high school.
He will have a shot at quarterback but will probably end up at tight end.
"He's a guy that was on the radar and then he came to football camp and just caught everybody's attention," said the coach.
Tanner Miller (6-2, 200) was the last recruit to commit. He grew up right down the road in Kalona and went to Mid-Prairie.
Tanner is a two-time first-team all-state selection. He racked up 2,050 yards rushing as a junior and 1,846 yards as a senior.
He is projected to play safety for the Hawks.
"Tanner is a very good athlete and he had a great meeting with Phil Parker (defensive back coach)," said Reece. "He felt really good about him after his meeting and said, 'this is the guy I want.'"
Iowa picked up Andrew Donnal (6-7, 285) who was a first-team all-state selection from Monclova, Ohio.
Andrew played in the Army All American bowl and will get a shot on the offensive line.
One of the big catches of this class is Illinois tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz (6-7, 250).
C.J. originally was committed to Illinois but then came to his senses and picked the Hawks.
With Tony Moeaki graduating, C.J. has a chance to play right away.
"C.J. is a Division One basketball prospect," said Coach Morgan. "He's really a special athlete. He has to get stronger and work on his blocking but is great from the skills aspect"
Iowa picked up two running backs with Marcus Cooker (6-0, 230) and De'Andre Johnson (5-8, 210) coming on board.
Marcus is a Shonn Greene-type runner who was attracted to the Hawks because of Shonn.
Talk about big numbers: Marcus set a school record with 392 yards rushing... in one game!
The Hawks also picked up a wide receiver from Michigan, Kevonte Martin-Manley (6-0, 190).
Kevonte was a first-team all-state selection as a senior from Brother Rice High School, the same school that B. J. Armstrong attended.
On the defensive side, the Hawks picked up five defensive lineman, four linebackers and four defensive backs.
Iowa loses three starters on the d-line next year so help is on the way.
Carl Davis (6-5, 300), Anthony Ferguson (6-3, 280), Mike Hardy (6-5, 270), Donavan Johnson (6-3, 265) and Louis Trinca-Pasat (6-3, 250) will probably redshirt and compete for starting positions in 2011.
"A lot of those guys play both ways in high school," said coach Morgan. "When you recruit a defensive guy, that's where they'll start out. If there happens to be a point and time where the defense doesn't like them, then we inherent them"
I'm guessing one or two could move over to offense before it's over.
Along with James Morris, the Hawkeyes brought in Austin Gray (6-2, 210), Christian Kirksey (6-2, 195) and Jim Poggi (6-2, 212) to play linebacker.
All have good speed, and all can hit the weight room with Chris Doyle, Iowa's strength coach, and get bigger.
Iowa signed four players expected to play in the defensive backfield with Tanner Miller, Anthony Hutchins (6-1, 200), Don Shumpert (6-3, 185) and B. J. Lowery (5-11, 180).
B.J. will play cornerback and the other three will play strong or free safety.
This class will not be rated in the top 10 in the nation. It will barely crack the top 30, but then again only one time did the Hawks have a top-20 class (in 2005).
Yet Iowa has tied for the Big Ten Championship twice in the last 10 years (2002 and 2004) and won 10 or more games four times (2002, 2003, 2004 and 2009).
The coaching staff does a great job of finding the right fit and developing them into really good players.
I don't see that changing.
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