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Our next Hawkeyes are a pair of freshmen who likely need some seasoning before they see the field.
In researching the number 83, I stumbled upon this highlight video of Brandon Myers set to Linkin Park Evanescence.
Gotta say: it feels on brand for 2008!
Alec Kritta - RS Freshman
St. Charles, IL (St. Charles North)
5’11”, 192 lbs
2020 Projection: Reserve wide receiver
Kritta joined the Iowa Hawkeyes as a preferred walk-on in 2019. He told Rivals, “Ever since I started playing high school football, I’ve wanted to play for the Hawkeyes.”
He chose Iowa over scholarships from FCS schools Dayton, Valparaiso, & Morehead State after his senior year where he caught 47 passes for 900 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He lines up all over the field and makes his hay with straightline speed as he blows by many defenders on vertical routes. He also shows flashes in the middle of the field, reminiscent of classic slot receiver routes, as well as a willingness to block.
Iowa has shown they’re not afraid to play former walk-ons at receiver but the depth chart is just too stacked ahead of Kritta to expect him to get any playing time in 2020.
Jameson Witte - Freshman
O’Fallon, MO (St. Dominic)
6’5”, 265 lbs
2020 Projection: Reserve defensive lineman
Witte accepted a preferred walk-on opportunity for Iowa this past winter after playing just two seasons of football throughout his high school career. He accepted the offer over similar opportunities at Oklahoma State and Missouri as well as scholarships at lower levels, according to Rivals.
Many of Witte’s highlights come in stopping the run and shows an ability to shed blocks while maintaining gap integrity. He also displays a quick twitch ability in getting off the line as well as quick hands in defending passes.
As he mentioned in his interview with Rivals, with just two seasons under his belt, he probably has a higher ceiling than many walk-ons.
It’s tough to project where he might find himself along Iowa’s line. After a couple years of strength and conditioning, his frame probably grants him some ability to line up inside as a defensive tackle.