Crootin’: Hawkeye Commit Performance Recap, Week 4

Things got kicked off for Iowa’s class of 2017 recruits on Thursday night as QB Peyton Mansell and the Belton Tigers took on the Round Rock Dragons. With Thursday night all to himself, Mansell did not disappoint. He completed 24 of 35 passes for 325 yards and a pair of TDs. As we’ve discussed before, Mansell has some serious escapability and that was on full display Thursday. He finished with 197 rushing yards and 4 TDs on the ground, including a 1-yard keeper to win the game.

Through four games, Mansell is 73 of 99 (74%) passing for 872 yards and 10 TDs to go with 460 rushing yards and 7 TDs on the ground.

After watching Mansell do his thing on Thursday night, Iowa’s newest commit, WR Beau Corrales, did his own thing on Friday night. He hauled in 12 grabs for 176 yards and a TD. And it was a sweet TD.

Oswego East RB Ivory Kelly-Martin got to play a full game for the first time this season on Friday. The Wolves took on Plainfield South and while they didn’t put the game away in the first half, they didn’t exactly struggle in the 40-19 victory. Kelly-martin did his part with 141 rushing yards on 20 carries and 3 touchdowns. That takes his season totals to 522 rushing yards and THIRTEEN touchdowns through 4 weeks.

Eno Benjamin apparently has gotten sick of me saying that anything he can do, Kelly-Martin can do and maybe better. Not so this week. Eno sported a new number this week and I am officially submitting a bid to make it permanent. Wearing a fresh #8, Mr. Benjamin dropped 8 total touchdowns. Here are the numbers: 24 carries, 314 yards on the ground, SIX rushing TDs, 8-15 through the air for 147 yards and another 2 TDs. Through 4 games, that brings Eno’s season totals to 808 rushing yards on 94 carries and 12 TDs as well as 318 passing yards and another 4 TDs. Seriously, this pair of running backs is legit.

Brandon Smith’s Lake Cormorant squad lost a close one on Friday night 14-9. Smith finished with 3 catches for 58 yards. That brings his season totals to 27 grabs for 431 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Some of Iowa’s defensive recruits have been getting some run on the offensive side of the ball as well. Defensive back Camron Harrell grabbed 3 catches for 92 yards and a TD. He also ran for 3 scores and had an 80 yard INT returned for a TD. Not too shabby. Texas 4-star CB Chevin Calloway came away with 61 receiving yards and a TD. Not much has been said about his defensive numbers, mostly because teams are flat out avoiding him.

Gavin Holmes was on a bye this week. That didn’t stop him from putting in some work.

Here in Iowa City, West High lost their second consecutive battle for the boot with Iowa City High. It was a pretty sloppy contest with lots of turnovers. Iowa target, WR Oliver Martin came away with one of his worst lines on the year with only 5 grabs for 41 yards. Maybe that’ll get the likes of Michigan and Notre Dame to back off enough for Iowa to finally reel him in. A guy can dream.

And finally, just because I need something to keep my mind off that travesty on Saturday, here’s some goodness floating around on the interwebz with regard to Iowa’s future: