Hawkeye Receiving

If this past 4-8 season wasn’t enough to inspire the receivers on the Iowa football team to get better, they should take notice of what’s happening with recruiting. The Hawkeyes are really hurting at the receiver position.  They have committed 4 receivers and are looking at four more.  Last year, the receiving core had 2200 yards and 7 touchdowns.  That’s it.  There are individual receivers who can do that.  It took all of Iowa’s receivers and running backs catching balls to add up to those stats.  Frankly, it is embarrassing. 

What has changed for the Iowa receiving core this year?  Coach Cambell left Iowa for other opportunities.  We do not have a replacement.  Cambell was an excellent coach and will be hard to replace.   As hard as it is to imagine, the Iowa receivers could have played a lot worse than they did.  Many people were frustrated because receivers ran short of the first down marker so many times on third down.  I would caution you to point the figure at Cambell.  Those routes were given to him by Davis, our “wonderful” Offensive Coordinator.  He believes on third down that receivers should catch the ball and make a play to get a first down.  This isn’t the Big Twelve, players wrap up receivers.  After all of those failed attempts on trying to reach the marker, you think Davis would have changed his scheme.  Oh well.  Kennan Davis also used up his last year of eligibility last year.  He was second on the team in receiving.  He was the big threat that we never used.  He had big hands and speed but Vandenberg never seemed to find him. 

As I look at the possible recruits coming in, one really opens my eyes.  His name is Brian Lemelle.  He is Pennsylvania’s all-time leader in receptions (269) and receiving yards (4,529) for a high school player.  There have been a lot of good receivers out of Pennsylvania.  To have the record in these categories means he was a ball magnet.  He consistently got open and was able to catch the ball.  Hopefully he is able to give the Hawkeyes a boost that is so very much needed.  Before he can catch the ball for the Hawkeyes, he has to commit.  Hurry up and commit to Iowa!  If he doesn't, Iowa receiving might be in for a really, really bad year.     

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