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Fresh two deeps, y’all
Marc Morehouse
Jul. 30, 2015 10:54 am, Updated: Jul. 31, 2015 12:03 am
CHICAGO - There were no huge upsets in the Iowa media guide Thursday morning from Big Ten media days.
This is when the public sees the first depth chart for the Hawkeyes for the upcoming season. Really, no big surprises here, but here are a few that might at least catch your attention.
- Junior running back LeShun Daniels is listed as a starter over senior Jordan Canzeri. Is that a big deal? Probably not. Head caoch Kirk Ferentz and running backs coach Chris White have said it's a 1a and 1b situation. But . . . Iowa's offense does seem to function better with a no-brainer No. 1 RB who hogs the majority of the carries.
This deal will sort out in camp.
- Redshirt freshman Jay Scheel leaped onto the depth chart, listing No. 2 behind junior wide receiver Matt VandeBerg. Scheel had a nice spring, contributing in Iowa's two public scrimmages after wide receiver coach Bobby Kennedy threw some caution out that he was still hampered by a knee surgery that shelved him until last November. Big move, a positive, let's see where it goes.
- Senior Eric Simmons took over at left guard when sophomore Sean Welsh, who started a half dozen games last season as a redshirt freshman, didn't participate in spring practice for undisclosed reasons.
Ferentz has said (and likely will update this later today) that Welsh has returned. According to the depth chart, Simmons has hung on to the No. 1. The 6-2, 295-pounder from Iowa Western Community College/Madrid High School had a nice spring and showed a physical edge to his game.
- At strong safety, it looks like sophomore Miles Taylor will enter fall camp as the leader over redshirt freshman Brandon Snyder. Certainly, nothing has been decided there and this job - and probably the backup free safety job with Anthony Gair - will be figured out this spring.
Solomon transferring
- The UI announced early Thursday morning that sophomore defensive back Solomon Warfield will transfer.
'Solomon has elected to complete his athletic and academic careers elsewhere, leaving the University of Iowa and our program” Ferentz said. 'We appreciate his contributions during his time with Iowa football and wish him the best with his decision.”
Warfield is a native of Lorain, Ohio, where he attended St. Edward High School. Warfield redshirted as a true freshman in 2013. Last season he saw action in one game, Iowa's win over Indiana, but had no statistics.
Official B1G players to watch - The conference released its 'players to watch” list Thursday morning and Iowa defensive end Drew Ott was on it.
UI senior defensive end led Hawkeyes in tackles last season
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa senior defensive end Drew Ott has been named to the 2015 football preseason Big Ten Players to Watch List. The announcement was made by the Big Ten Conference on Thursday. A select media panel voted for the top five players from both the East and West Divisions, with one additional honoree this year due to a tie.
Ott (6-foot-4, 272-pounds) started all 13 games in 2014, recording 57 total tackles, including 26 solo stops and 31 assists. The Trumbull, Neb., native tied for sixth in the Big Ten and led the Hawkeyes in sacks (8-41), while also leading the Iowa defense in tackles for loss (12-54) and QB pressures (seven).
A preseason second team All-Big Ten selection by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, Ott was named second team All-Big Ten by league media following the 2014 campaign. In addition, he garnered third team All-Big Ten honors by College Sports Madness and honorable mention All-Big Ten by league coaches. He also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the second-straight year. Ott was also named to this year's Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
In addition to Ott, the West Division is represented by Maliek Collins (Nebraska, DT), De'Mornay Pierson'El (Nebraska, WR), Justin Jackson (Northwestern, RB), Michael Caputo (Wisconsin, S), and Corey Clement (Wisconsin, RB).
The East Division includes Connor Cook (Michigan State, QB), Shilique Calhoun (Michigan State, DE), Joey Bosa (Ohio State, DE), Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State, RB), and Anthony Zettel (Penn State, DT)
l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com