EARLY BIRD 2009 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2008
IOWA HAWKEYES
OFFENSE - 7
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 8
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Andy Brodell-WR, Brandon Myers-TE, Rob Bruggeman-C, Seth Olsen-OG, Shonn Greene-RB (NFL), Jake Christensen-QB (transferring)
DEFENSE: Matt Kroul-DT, Mitch King-DT, Bradley Fletcher-CB
Defensive Back Seven

All three linebackers are worthy of earning All-Big Ten preseason status.

Defensive Tackle

Departee DTs King and Kroul were a huge part of the ‘08 squad's strong finish, which says much when filling their voids. Replacing them will be a measuring stick for overall team success.

WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos
 
LB Pat Angerer
 
* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2009 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
 
IOWA 2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Ricky Stanzi-Jr ..
FB Brett Morse-Jr Wade Leppert-So
RB Jewel Hampton-So ..
WR Colin Sandeman-Jr ..
WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos-Jr Trey Stross-Sr
TE Allen Reisner-Jr Tony Moeaki-Sr
OT Bryan Bulaga-Jr ..
OG Julian Vandervelde-Jr Rafael Eubanks-Sr
C .. ..
OG Andy Kuempel-Sr ..
OT Kyle Calloway-Sr ..
K Trent Mossbrucker-So Daniel Murray-Jr
 
IOWA 2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Adrian Clayborn-Jr Chad Geary-Sr
DT Karl Klug-Jr ..
DT .. ..
DE Christian Ballard-Jr Broderick Binns-So
OLB A.J. Edds-Sr Tyler Nielsen-So
MLB Pat Angerer-Sr Jacody Coleman-Jr
WLB Jeremiha Hunter-Jr Jeff Tarpinian-Jr
CB .. ..
CB Amari Spievey-Jr Jordan Bernstine-Jr
SS Tyler Sash-So David Cato-So
FS Brett Greenwood-Jr Diountae Morrow-Jr
P Ryan Donahue-Jr ..
QUICK ANALYSIS

12/9/08
Believe it or not, head coach Kirk Ferentz was sitting on a hot seat halfway into 2008; his Hawkeye squad had managed a meager 3-3 record. The direction of the program was under contention then, but now look at the Hawkeyes! They have a legitimate Heisman Candidate in RB Shonn Greene (after averaging 144 yards a game and ranking No. 2 nationally), the quarterback situation has been settled (maybe) with Ricky Stanzi taking over, the defense has become impossible to run against, and Iowa eventually closed the season winning five of their last six in royal fashion, including the big upset victory over then-No. 2 ranked Penn State. This team from Iowa City has enough star power to compete against anyone in the Big Ten. The biggest obstacle will be finding someone even remotely talented enough to fill the shoes of Mitch King and Matt Kroul on the DL interior. They were the biggest part of this team's success, which says much when two defensive tackles can influence the Hawkeye’s W-L destiny. The Hawkeyes depth chart is not going to blow anyone away on paper, but the chemistry seems to be working under the tutelage of Ferentz. Give the man his props...he knows how to win. The other key for bettering an eight win season rests with Stanzi being able to avoid those critical interceptions with another season under his belt. The linebackers are good enough to over come the void left in the middle of the DL. With three starters back in the nation's eighth-ranked pass efficiency defense, the overall prognosis looks promising. The Big Ten has become the land of great running backs, and Greene will continue to pave the way. If his astounding numbers continue to increase, expect the wins to do much the same as the Ferentz' critics are hopefully silenced. Moreover, for a team that was 12 points from going undefeated, the prognosis looks positive for ’09.

 

IOWA
2009 SCHEDULE

Sep. 5 Northern Iowa
Sep. 12 at Iowa State
Sep. 19 Arizona
Sep. 26 at Penn State
Oct. 3 Arkansas State
Oct. 10 Michigan
Oct. 17 at Wisconsin
Oct. 24 at Michigan State
Oct. 31 Indiana
Nov. 7 Northwestern
Nov. 14 at Ohio State
Nov. 21 Minnesota