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IOWA FOOTBALL<br />
2016 MEDIA GUIDE<br />
has improved dramatically since a year ago August. We have to<br />
make sure he continues to move forward.<br />
Drew Cook continues to make progress as well, he grows with<br />
each phase.<br />
As we start fall camp, our plan is to have Ryan Boyle work<br />
extensively as a receiver. This gives him a window to find a way<br />
to help at receiver and on special teams. Wide receiver is one<br />
of our least experienced positions, so the timing is good for his<br />
move. Based on what we saw in the spring, we think he has the<br />
opportunity to help us win games playing that position.”<br />
RUNNING BACK<br />
The Hawkeyes graduated their leading rusher from a year<br />
ago in Canzeri, who ran for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns,<br />
despite missing two games and parts of others due to injuries. A<br />
dependable performer throughout his career, Canzeri ranks 13th<br />
in career rushing yards (2,073).<br />
The rushing attack will feature Daniels (6-0, 225) as the<br />
returning starter. Daniels, who also missed two games last season,<br />
rushed 145 times for 646 yards and eight touchdowns. His best<br />
performance came in a win over Minnesota when he rushed 26<br />
times for 195 yards and three touchdowns, all career bests.<br />
Junior Akrum Wadley (5-11, 191) was able to step in and<br />
perform well as Canzeri and Daniels battled injuries. Wadley<br />
ended the season with 496 yards and seven touchdowns. He tied<br />
a single-game record with four rushing touchdowns in the win<br />
at Northwestern. Forced into action due to Canzeri and Daniels<br />
injuries, Wadley rushed for 204 yards on 26 carries in the key<br />
victory in Evanston.<br />
Junior Derrick Mitchell, Jr. (6-1, 220) improved throughout the<br />
2015 campaign after moving from wide receiver. Mitchell added<br />
25 rushing attempts for 162 yards and two scores, while grabbing<br />
15 receptions for 141 yards as Iowa’s third-down back.<br />
Sophomore Marcel Joly (5-11, 195) saw limited action a year<br />
ago after moving from defensive back. Toks Akinribade (6-0, 205)<br />
and Toren Young (5-11, 220) are first-year freshmen.<br />
KIRK COMMENTS:<br />
“LeShun and Akrum give us a good combination; hopefully<br />
both have their best years as Hawkeyes. They are both working<br />
toward that end.<br />
LeShun played as well last season as he has played since he<br />
has been here. Yet, it is always good to have two guys.<br />
Akrum took a big step forward a year ago, and he can get<br />
a lot better as well. Hopefully with experience and physical<br />
maturity he will be a better player this season than he has<br />
been to this point.<br />
Derrick is our third guy. He missed the spring due to<br />
injury and he could have used that time on the field, a more<br />
prolonged period of time. We kind of know what he can do, but<br />
his best football is in front of him, hopefully we can move in<br />
that direction.<br />
Marcel is steadily improving. Our two freshmen will have<br />
every opportunity to show they can help us next year. If they<br />
can, we have an open mind toward that.”<br />
FULLBACK<br />
Iowa will have to replace two effective players with the<br />
graduation of Adam Cox and Macon Plewa. Their contributions<br />
don’t show up in rushing and receiving yards, but both played a<br />
key role in Iowa’s rushing game success during their careers, and<br />
both played key roles on special teams.<br />
2016 SEASON PREVIEW<br />
Junior Drake Kulick (6-1, 236) is listed ahead of redshirt freshman<br />
Brady Ross (6-1, 240) on the depth chart, but none of the players<br />
at this position have much experience. Kulick had three rushing<br />
attempts for eight yards and a 22-yard pass reception in the win<br />
at Northwestern last season.<br />
Ross joined the <strong>program</strong> as a walk-on and moved from defense<br />
in the spring. Sophomore Austin Kelly (5-11, 245) and junior Steve<br />
Manders (6-1, 235) will also be in the mix in August.<br />
KIRK COMMENTS:<br />
“Drake and Brady received most of the work in the spring; we<br />
will let it sort itself out in August. Austin Kelly is a good prospect,<br />
with several guys having a chance to be in that mix. We lost two<br />
really good seniors in Macon and Adam; not only good players<br />
but strong leaders.”<br />
TIGHT END<br />
Senior George Kittle is the lone returning tight end who<br />
possesses considerable game experience. The losses include<br />
Henry Krieger Coble, who was second on the team in receptions<br />
(35-405, one TD) last season, and Jake Duzey, who never fully<br />
recovered from a major injury during 2015 spring practice.<br />
The veteran is Kittle (6-4, 246). He hauled in 20 receptions for<br />
290 yards and a team-high six touchdowns last season.<br />
Juniors Peter Pekar (6-4, 250), and Jon Wisnieski (6-5, 250) have<br />
seen limited action and share the second line on the depth chart<br />
heading into fall camp. Redshirt freshmen Nate Vejvoda (6-5, 238)<br />
and Nate Wieting (6-4, 245) are candidates who will have the<br />
opportunity to earn playing time in the rotation.<br />
KIRK COMMENTS:<br />
“I can’t say enough about the season Henry Krieger Coble<br />
had; to me he is representative of the entire group of seniors.<br />
They were good players who had productive careers and played<br />
their best football as seniors.<br />
George played well last year; he took a major step forward.<br />
The good news is we think he has another step or two to take, he<br />
has the ability to have a great senior year. He is working hard<br />
toward that.<br />
We will use the month of August to watch Peter and Jon<br />
compete and see how they sort themselves out. Both Nate<br />
Wieting and Nate Vejvoda could enter into the rotations this<br />
year at some point.”<br />
As a group, George has more deep-threat potential as a<br />
receiver, and he has worked hard and improved as a blocker.<br />
He has the ability to run as well as any of the tight ends we have<br />
had recently, yet, is not one dimensional. The others are more<br />
like Henry, not off the charts fast, but fast enough and they can<br />
be well-rounded. It will be interesting to see how that group<br />
separates themselves during August.”<br />
WIDE RECEIVER<br />
While Iowa returns its leading receiver in VandeBerg, the<br />
Hawkeyes must replace Smith and Jacob Hillyer, two seniors in<br />
2015 who saw a lot of playing time throughout their careers.<br />
Smith ranks 19th in career receiving yards (1,500).<br />
VandeBerg came on strong a year ago, recording 65 receptions<br />
for 703 yards and four touchdowns. Those totals more than<br />
doubled his production from the previous two seasons.<br />
Junior Jonathan Parker (5-8, 188) is listed behind VandeBerg at<br />
one of the receiver positions, while sophomores Jerminic Smith (6-<br />
1, 185), and Jay Scheel (6-1, 195) share the top line at another spot.<br />
40<br />
Iowa Hawkeye Football
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