AARON WHITE IS A KYLE MACY FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN. White is one of 16 freshmen basketball players named with the honor yesterday. The Strongsville, Ohio, native averaged 11.1 points and 5.7 rebounds his first season as a Hawkeye. He really came on strong after being inserted into the starting line-up midway through the season. The last five games of 2012 White averaged 16.2 points a game.
KIRK FERENTZ IS DOING A LOT OF TALKING THIS SPRING. Ferentz spoke with Big Ten Network's Tom Dienhart about staff changes and spring football. Something interesting, Ferentz said he believes a plus-one is coming to college football. By his remarks it appears KF is on board with a new wrinkle to the current BCS system.
ADAM GETTIS TALKED WITH ROB HOWE ABOUT DRAFT PREP. Adam Gettis certainly helped his draft stock at last month's NFL Combine. He turned in top five performances in almost every category. Gettis got NFL scouts to notice and tells Howe about the process and which teams have shown interest.
AHTLON SPORTS HAS A 2012 HAWKEYE FOOTBALL SPRING PREVIEW. On offense, Athlon lists James Vandenberg as Iowa's biggest returning strength. The rushing offense is the perceived biggest weakness. Defensively, Athlon says Iowa returns one of the best linebacking corps in the Big Ten (?). The defensive line is the glaring weakness. It's typical preview-y type stuff. Look for the departures and assume they'll stink. Look for returnees and label them a strength. Rinse, repeat.
FOR A BETTER PREVIEW, MOREHOUSE'S FOUR DOWNS SERIES ENDS WITH SPECIAL TEAMS. I'm too lazy to do the research but Iowa has to be in select company in terms of scholarship distribution to special teams players.
Iowa has Trent Mossbrucker, Jonny Mullings and Mike Meyer on scholarship. Add to that new edition Conner Kornbrath, who will join the team in the fall. John Wienke - a back-up quarterback turned punter - is another on scholarship. All of those free rides and you'd expect spectacular special teams play.
But it's not. Outside of departed Eric Guthrie's strong season punting (25th nationally net punting) the special teams have been mediocre at best. Iowa was 14/20 last year kicking field goals. The average make 33 yards, average miss 40 yards. And let us forget kickoffs. Hopefully new football rules will benefit Iowa and they can get a kickoff into the endzone resulting in a touchback.
IOWA WOMEN'S HOOPS ADDS A 2013 COMMIT. Ally Disterhoft, of Iowa City West, gave her verbal commitment to Iowa yesterday. Disterhoft is a 6-foot guard that had offers from Iowa State, Drake, Creighton and Wisconsin Green-Bay. She joins Alexa Kastanek as the second commit for Lisa Bluder's Hawkeyes.
WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT THE BAD. Here's some Hawkeye football players doing good. For three years football players have gone to Literature USA and the Grant Wood and Mark Twain elementary schools to discuss with students the importance of reading. Steve Batterson's blog post lists nine current players participating.
NOTRE DAME GETS TWO MORE VERBAL COMMITS THAT HELD IOWA OFFERS. Yesterday I mentioned a couple of offensive linemen recruits that gave the Irish their verbal commitment. Colin McGovern and Mike McGlinchey both hold Iowa offers but opted for Notre Dame. The Irish nabbed a couple more prospects with Iowa offers when Corey Robinson and Rashad Kinlaw verbally committed to the Irish. Robinson is a wide receiver and the son of former NBA all-star David Robinson. Kinlaw is a Rivals three-star prospect from Galloway, New Jersey.
HAWKEYE FOOTBALL EXTENDING MORE SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS TO 2013 PROSPECTS. As usual, more recruits are getting offers from Iowa. The Hawkeyes had close to 50 scholarship offers out already but zero commits thus far. Iowa offered Chikwe Obasih, a 6'4" 230 pound defensive end from Brookfield, Wisconsin. They also offered wide receiver prospect Kevin Gladney, of Akron, Ohio. According to Scout.com, Iowa offered safety prospect Solomon Warfield, of Lakwood, Ohio. And finally, Iowa offered quarterback Danny Etling. Etling is a pro-style QB from Terre Haute, Indiana.
HERE ARE THE YOUTUBES FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED FOOTBALL PROSPECTS:
- 2013 Solomon Warfield - St Edward - Jr yr
- 2013 Danny Etling
- 2013 Kevin Gladney - Akron Firestone - Jr yr - video 1, video 2, video 3
- Chikwe Obasih (Recruiting Video) 2011 Highlight
Other links:
- Top Iowa basketball moments of 2011-12: No. 4 vs. Minnesota
- The latest On Iowa Podcast
- 2011-2012 Season in Review: Eric May
- Sign your kids up for Iowa Hoops camps
- Volunteers needed for Fan Fest
- Diving coach Bob Rydze to retire
- Penn State challenges Iowa for the title of most patriotic school in the Big Ten
- Bo Pelini almost to Penn State?
- Legends of Iowa football camp to return to Q-C
- A college football Final Four?
- Marty McFly Iowa fan?
- Iowa counting on Davis to fill McNutt's role
- 3 Worst Hoosiers Moments of 2011-12