Hawkeye Football | Is Donavan Johnson Leaving the Team?

That's the rumor according to this post on HawkeyeReport.com.

Johnson is a 6'3" 265 pound redshirt freshman defensive lineman from Arlington, Texas. Donavan, part of the 2010 recruiting class, was a three star recruit at Rivals recruiting sites. One star over at Scout.com. Johnson would join fellow 2010 recruit Anthony Ferguson as the second defensive line recruit to leave the team.

Johnson had yet to crack the Hawkeye two-deeps. Last Summer, when I had the chance to see the Hawkeye open practice, he didn't see the field much. Of the 2010 class, Carl Davis and Mike Hardy were getting a lot of the practice reps.

Marc Morehouse, of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, wrote of Johnson in his yearly Four Downs with the Dline, "If his winter goes well, Johnson, a redshirt freshman, could be a surprise inside. Might be closer to 6-1 than 6-3. He’s sort of a Mike Daniels starter kit."

The impact for 2011 seems minimal, by all accounts Johnson was still a year, at least, from seeing the field. Nothing official has been released from Iowa, no exact reason as to why the decision to leave but his academics have been rumored to be an issue. One Tweet did give a little indication, if true. According to @jrlinder22, "Johnson REALLY liked to party."


***Update: 7/28/11***

Today, at Big Ten media day, Kirk Ferentz confirmed that Johnson has left Iowa.

Rob Howe has the tweet:

RT @HawkeyeInsider: Donovan Johnson has left the team. KF said probably going to JC. "connect the dots on that one".

Hawkeye Blogger Round Table Talks OSU, NW, DJK, and Recruiting

Another week, another round table. We had so much fun the first time we decided to do it again! Okay, you can read the full discussion at the Hawkeye Network (you have to scroll below the blog roll on the front page). Participants this week include Eric from www.fightforiowa.com, Mike from www.thehawkeyestate.net, Ed from http://hawkeyekoolaid.com, and myself. Read the entire thing, it's good stuff.


Any-who, here are the discussion topics and my answers:

Question 1: Tre$$elgate. What should happen to Jim Tressel?

Rick (PSD) - Fired, no question.

What will happen?

Rick (PSD) - There is a rumor (on Bucknuts.com) about a Sports Illustrated article that will hit the news stands next Tuesday (5/31). If the rumors are true and the article includes stories of money, cars, and hookers, maybe it will be the end of the vest.

Hypothetically, if Tressel isn’t fired, is it safe to say that he has a lifetime pass to do anything at tOSU?

Rick (PSD) - Scary, yeah.

Question 2: There’s the usual amount of press surrounding Michigan football despite the team going 7-6 and getting embarrassed by Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl. Do you think incoming coach Brady Hoke can turn the program around or is this just another year of hype for a powerhouse that’s past its prime?


Rick (PSD) - I’m not sure the press is unusual. If college football were a retail store Michigan would be top selling merchandise. I understand why the coverage exists, it’s supply and demand. If people didn’t tune in to the ESPN shows or buy the magazines that constantly cover the Michigan story (and I think the winningest program in CFB history having down years is a story) the coverage would move elsewhere.  

Do you see Hoke returning Michigan to its glory days anytime soon? If so, how long will it take?


Rick (PSD) - I do. Last year I was kinda hoping that the Wolverines could lure Harbaugh to the Big Ten. Hoke may be Harbaugh lite? A good Michigan team is good for the Big Ten. It may take a year, especially since they are trying to plug a square peg into a round hole (moving Denard from a spread option to an I-form QB). They also are still seeing deflections from the Rich Rod era too. The addition of Mattison as the D coordinator will help and he seems to already be paying dividends on the recruiting trail.

Question 3: The primetime game against Northwestern was just announced. It’s early, but could this finally be the year that we take down those asshats?

Rick (PSD) - Man, do I hope so. I don’t hate on NW as much as some fellow Hawk fans. Don’t get me wrong, I hate that they have Iowa’s number, but my father-in-law is a former fullback at NW so the purple cats aren’t at the top of my most hated list.

We are planning a pretty big party in Iowa City for this one. My brother-in-laws are travelling from Chicago and haven’t been to a real tailgating scene like in Iowa City. So yeah, my wife and I were pretty excited when they announced this was a night game. I just hope that when the fourth quarter ends that Iowa 1.) Iowa’s best player hasn’t suffered a serious injury and 2.) Iowa is ahead on the scoreboard.


Question 4: Aside from Purdue and Indiana, every team in the Big 10 has at least two football commitments. Iowa only has one. Is this is a cause for concern? What could explain the slow start in recruiting? Is Rhabdogate to blame? Dennis Dodd? Is there negative recruiting going on in the Big Ten? All of that “drug related” stuff?

Rick (PSD) - I think there will be coaches that use Rhabdo to do a little negative recruiting. Overall, I’m not concerned. On this same date last year Iowa had a total of two commits, per Rivals. They were Marcus Grant, a WR from Massachusetts, and Austin Blythe, an in-state recruit from Williamsburg.

If you look at the link provided from Rivals Iowa went on to add nine more recruits before the end of summer for a total of eleven. High School kids are finishing up the school year and starting to make the trips for Summer camps and visits. Iowa’s camp is June 12th-14th. I suspect that Iowa, much like last season, will get a commitment or two out of their camp and finish the summer with eight or more commits.


Question 5: Speaking of drug related stuff, do you see DJK ending up on an NFL roster (NOT a practice squad)? Of course, that’s assuming that we even have an NFL season.

Rick (PSD) - Here are Derrell’s Pro Day stats: 4.5 40 yard dash, 6.92 cone drill, and 21 bench press reps. If he were invited to the NFL combine those numbers would have him in the middle for 40 time, slightly less than the middle of the pack in the cone drill, and third most bench reps for a wide receiver. AJ Green was the number four pick in the draft by the Bengals. He put up a 4.48 40 yard dash, 6.91 cone drill, and 18 bench reps. But of course Green is almost 6’4” and 210 pounds.

I don’t have any doubts he signs a free agent contract and makes a team roster, assuming there is an NFL season. Where? I’m not sure. He’s worked out for the Lions but they drafted Titus Young to be their slot receiver, the position where I imagine DJK will break into the league.

I think the knock on DJK, in addition to the off the field stuff, is his height. He stands just short of six feet. His Pro Day numbers aren’t too far off of Green’s, of course Green is 6’4”. Usually shorter slot guys have world class speed, DJK is fast but not world class fast. DJK can get separation off the ball and will run the route across the middle.

He’s a tough wide receiver and fits into a possession type role for the league. His toughness and willingness to run whatever route the play calls for will get him a spot somewhere.

With the lockout and zero free agent movement it’s impossible to even analyze NFL rosters and guess what teams need wide receiver help, at least for me. Maybe he’ll get lucky and get to stay in Chicago and play for the Bears.

Question 6: Ron Guenther, the Illinois athletic director and arguably Ron Zook’s greatest supporter recently announced his retirement. How long before NAME REDACTED gets canned?


Rick (PSD) - I wanted to say that Zook wouldn’t make it to the end of the season but that was before I took a look at the Illini’s schedule. Arkansas State, South Dakota State, Arizona State, and Western Michigan gets them through September. They play NW and Indiana in their first two Big Ten games, they could be 4-2 or better. It’s the rest of the schedule were they will begin to fall apart, starting with Ohio State. Zooker loses his team again and this time loses his job after a loss to Minnesota to end the season.

Hawkeye Football | Rodney Coe Heading to Iowa Western Community College

BlairRivals, contributor to Rival's Hawkeye Report, tweeted that incoming running back recruit Rodney Coe will not qualify at Iowa this year and will instead enroll at Iowa Western Community College. The tweet includes a link to Hawkeye Report and the article published for those with subscriptions to their services. The snippet tells us all we non-subscribers need to know, Coe failed to qualify.

Coe was a Rival's four star recruit and was chosen and participated in the US Army All-American Bowl. He was considered one of Iowa's prized recruiting catches of the class of 2011. The 6'3" 230 pound running back was thought to be a true freshman that could contribute right away at Iowa.

The Hawks could certainly benefit from the addition of Coe in the backfield but it's hard to speculate on the impact this really has on the team for 2011. The depth is always nice, considering Iowa's history of injuries and deflections at the running back position. Perhaps this is why Iowa recruited four players to play running back in the class of 2011.

Hawkeye Football | Wayback Machine | 2002 Iowa at #12 Penn State

Once again, I'm using the term wayback loosely. The latest upload from one of our favorite YouTuber's The Hawkeye Historian, takes us back to 2002. The '02 Hawkeyes set a high bar in which nearly every team since has been compared.

The Hawks went to Happy Valley for only their second road trip of the early 2002 season. Iowa entered the match-up with a 3-1 record, the loss coming to in-state rival Iowa State. It's safe to say that at the point Iowa ventured to Happy Valley none of us really knew what kind of team Iowa was going to be.

There was the comeback in the second half by ISU that led to Iowa's lone regular season blemish. There also was a close win on the road against Miami of Ohio. The Hawks jumped all over Joe Pa's Lions and then it almost became that same ol' story.

Hawkeye Basketball | Iowa Recruiting Prospects for 2012

There is a pretty nice list put together on Scout.com's Hawkeye Insider by a message board member named herbyhawk. Because Scout requires a log-in to read the post I thought I would use what herby started and expand the list a little bit. If coach McCaffery banks the scholarship from 2011 he will end up with five open spots to fill. One has already been taken by 6'10" forward Kyle Meyer. Here is a list and info about the hoops prospects Iowa has offered:

Offers at point guard:

Mike Gesell - 6'2" 180 lb - Rivals 3 Star -  #127 on Rivals Top 150 - Scout 3 Star - MaxPreps 4 Star




Ka'Daryl Bell -6'1" 170 lbs - Rivals 3 Star -

Bell very interested in Iowa (Rivals pay site)
You Don't Know 'Em, But You Better Start To: Part 2

Offers at shooting guard:

Jelon Hornbeak - 6'3" 175 lbs - Rivals 4 Star - Scout 4 Star - #63 in Rivals Top 150 -




Texas has shown some mild interest in Hornbeak

Javontae Hawkins -6'5" 170 lbs - Rivals 4 Star - #92 in Rivals Top 150 -

Scouting & Video: JaVontae Hawkins vs. AA Gabriel Richard
Video: JaVontae Hawkins at Great Lakes Summer Championships

Kenny Gaines -6'4" 190 lbs - Rivals 4 Star - #98 on Rivals Top 150 -



'12 GA SG Kenny Gaines


RJ Hunter -6'5" 165 lbs -





RJ Hunter Denies Ron Hunter's Georgia State Commitment Claim; Awkward!
Iowa in Hunter's top four (sub required)

Justin Lomomba -6'4" - Rivals 3 Star -

"Every game you play you've got to give it your all"
'12 WI SG Junior Lomomba

Offers at forward:
Cinmeon Bowers -6'7" 230 lbs - Rivals 3 Star-

ive heard hes got baggage, hes draymond green 2.0

Perry Ellis - Iowa offered but out of the picture - Perry Ellis taking time with recruiting process

Danuel House -6'7" 195 lbs- -Rivals 4 Star - #49 on Rivals Top 150 -

Danuel House 2012 Recruit
Baylor recruit Danuel House Highlights 

Deontae Hawkins -6'7"200 lbs-Rivals 3 Star - #137 on Rivals Top 150 -

2012 6'6'' PF Deontae Hawkins (Dayton, OH) - OHIO Offer
'12 OH PF Deontae Hawkins

Offers at center:

Adam Woodbury 7'0" 230 lb - Rivals 4 Star - #99 on Rivals Top 150 - Scout 4 Star -

Iowa Attack is golden again
7-foot-1, 6-foot-11 high school basketball players


Prince Ibeh  -6'11" 220 lbs-Rivals 4 Star -  #103 in Rivals Top 150 -

Prospect Watch: Prince Ibeh looks to be the heir apparent.
2012 Target- Prince Ibeh 6'10 Center   

Players with Iowa interest according to Scout (linked to Scout profile):

• Semaj Christon
• Abdel Nader
• Arroyo Edwards
• Nick Osborne
• Jalen Robinson
• Skylar Spencer
• Jaccoby Bledsoe
• Jared Drew
• Geovonnie McKnight
• Darrell Bowie

Hawkeye Links | Random News and Notes About Incoming Frosh

Most of the news about incoming recruits has been about incoming freshman Rodney Coe's ACT/SAT score but there's some other news regarding incoming recruits too.

 If you have a Scout.com (HawkeyeInsider.com) you can read about Mik'ail McCall running a 10.88 100 meter at the Illinois state track sectionals.

McCall isn't the only incoming running back recruit to blaze up a sectional track meet. On Hawkeye Report there is a discussion of Jordan Canzeri and his 10.6 100 meter time at his HS sectionals.

A little bit dated but still another blazing fast track time, Torrey Campbell won the state title in Florida in the 110 meter hurdles. Campbell's 13.96 earned him Naples News prep athlete of the week.

Sticking with incoming freshman, Rival's Iowa site, HawkeyeReport.com, offered several articles in which they interviewed the newest editions to the football team. Hawkeye Report is a subscription based site and you have to pay to read most of the articles but they did offer free-to-all these:

• Law is already a fan favorite
• Hamilton fired up to get started
• Cooper working hard
• Full list including pay-to-read

You may have already forgotten the name Austin Vincent. Vincent was a wide receiver recruit from DeSoto, Texas that committed to Iowa but failed to qualify by signing day. Vincent has since qualified and committed to play for Colorado.

And finally,

From an article in the Big Red Today the Hawks may be getting another walk-on this fall. The story was written about a Cornhusker recruit (Ryan Klachko) and mentioned his best friend Josh Hupp as interested in walking-on at Iowa. Hupp is a 6'2" 205 pound linebacker from Sacred Heart-Griffen in Illinois. Here is a video of the workout warrior in action from Hudl.com.