Iowa hitting a groove
with recruits
That's not to say the Hawkeyes don't get big recruits. C.J. Fiedorowicz (6-7, 240) is considered one of the top tight end recruits in the country. Andrew Donnal (6-7, 280) is a highly sought-after offensive lineman.
Marcus Coker (6-0, 222) is a four-star running back out of Maryland. City High quarterback A.J. Derby (6-4, 218) is a four-star athlete who picked Iowa after offers from Alabama, Florida and Miami, among many others.
The Hawkeyes even had the attention of the top recruit in the country. Super huge lineman Seantrel Henderson ultimately went to Southern Cal.
Let's face it: When talking to teenagers outside the borders of this state, the Hawkeyes are always going to be a tough sell stacked against USC and Notre Dame. Having Ferentz helps a lot. Having a pretty darn good track record over the past three decades helps.
Knowing the type of kids to look for helps the most.
There may be coaching staffs across the country that are better at finding diamonds in the rough, but I don't know who they are. The success of the two-star recruits and walk-ons at Iowa is remarkable.
And in two months, another NFL team is going to take another Iowa lineman in the first round. That can't hurt future efforts to bring more of the best big bullies to Iowa City.
An Orange Bowl win and Top 10 ranking in their back pocket, the Hawkeyes can head into the spring with a good feeling about the future.
“We're just really thrilled about the way things turned out,” Ferentz said. "I think each and every one of the guys, from what we can tell and what we can project, is going to fit in beautifully with the way we like to operate."