The Hawkeyes’ second straight 6-6 regular season is thankfully over and it is time to look ahead to 2008. First off, who will be there? Iowa loses only twelve seniors, which is a very small graduating class, but among them are nine starters. Albert Young and Damien Sims leave a big hole at tailback and Tom Busch at fullback. Jevon Pugh looked ready to step in to the tailback spot, but with the rumors that he is involved in the recent sexual assault case, so I don’t know that we can count on him playing next season. Who’s left? It has been tough to recruit a tailback with Young and Sims playing so much the past three years, so the Hawks are thin at this position with names like Paki O’Meara, Brian Mungongo, Shonn Greene and Dana Brown. Out of that group, only Shonn Greene has any experience. This has to be the top recruiting target for Ferentz and unfortunately they just lost a decent recruit in Jason Ford who switched to Illinois. There aren’t any other pressing needs on offense other than shoring up the receiver corps and the line.
On defense the Hawkeyes are losing seven starters: LB Mike Humpal and Mike Klinkenborg, S Charles Godfrey and Devan Moylan, DE Kenny Iwebema and Bryan Mattison and CB Adam Shada. Linebacker is the biggest hole to fill due to the two Mikes being such huge performers. AJ Edds showed some promise starting this season and Jacody Coleman and Pat Angerer look to start. The losses at defensive back will be tougher to fill as the Hawks always seem to be thin at those positions and no one seems to stand out. At the ends Adrian Clayborne, who made some big plays off the bench, should start.
So far the 2008 recruiting class is underwhelming. When the coaches son is one of the best recruits, you know there is trouble. With the rise of Illinois and Zook’s skill at recruiting, it will be tougher to get the usual crop from the Land of Lincoln. Iowa needs to pull in good out of state recruits, otherwise they will only be picking up players from Bettendorf, City High and Dowling.
As it looks now, unless the coaches pull in some surprises in the 2008 class and find a way to revitalize their stale offensive attack, next season looks pretty bleak.
