A stream of consciousness from a few less-than-stellar modern philosophers
College football is back! The gang is also here to choose their new Man™️ for the Iowa Hawkeyes 2023-24 football season. We then go game-by-game to detail some thoughts on each of Iowa's opponents in the upcoming season, with plenty of additional insights/debates on some hot-button topics in the Iowa fan base right now.
In preparation of the upcoming college football season, I want to make sure I get some predictions in writing. In the past, I've relentlessly preemptively sung the praises of players that turned into both Iowa legends (Jack Campbell) and...not Iowa legends (Tyrone Tracy).
In these next couple posts, I'll be breaking down the available high school film from Iowa's incoming recruiting class (this year's true freshmen) with my unfiltered opinions written as I watched the film as well as putting together some predictions for what I think their careers at Iowa might project to be.
There's no fun in being right (or hilariously wrong) without having receipts to prove it, right?
Disclaimer: These predictions were written before this season's fall camp began, so my opinions are based solely off of their high school film and not at all affected by their performance since these players arrived at Iowa.
Chase Brackney
-Designated as a DE, but is huge for that position (6’4”, 285 lbs.) as a high-schooler
-Good movement skills for his size, especially at his age
-Very strong at the point of attack as a run defender. Not flashy, but extremely effective. The offensive line stops moving when Brackney is in their way
-Flashes DE/DT versatility in the tape. Clearly has the frame to slide inside full-time or just on passing downs (like Van Ness, for example)
-Bull rush from the EDGE is impressive on passing downs
-Always looking for work despite being at a position that doesn’t get a ton of action statistically
Main Takeaway: Straight out of central casting for an Iowa defensive lineman. Strong, smart, and always working hard for his team. He’s huge for a high-school DE, but he moves very well. I would definitely group in with more of a run-stuffing DE/DT prototype, but his bull-rush is going to allow him to get to the QB. Played at the highest levels in Colorado and was unspectacularly dominant. I’m curious if Iowa has him really bulk up and slides him inside to DT permanently, or if they keep him a bit leaner and follow the Van Ness route. He has a lot of physical and stylistic similarities to LVN, Epenesa, and Anthony Nelson from prior years, just with less of a pass-rushing arsenal. I personally think he’ll slot in as an excellent DT, but he’s got the movement skills to play on the edge if Iowa likes him there the most. He’s a really nice get for Iowa’s recruiting class, and I could see him rotating as part of a DEEP D-line room as soon as Year 2.
Maddux Borcherding-Johnson
-Big, big-appearing boy at DE/DT (6’3, 277 lbs.)
-Has some slick moves at his size, you can definitely see the wrestling background
-Stuffs the run, but not as definitively as you’d expect someone like him to do at his level
-Seems a bit less powerful than you’d expect given his size and the level of competition (middle-level Iowa high school football)
Main Takeaway: Pretty simple here. Has the build for a future DT that has some athleticism to work with given his wrestling background. Not close to being a regular contributor from a play-strength/technique standpoint, but he’ll be a worthwhile project. He’s actually a bit smaller than Brackney, and his body looks like it’s carrying more bad weight that needs to be reformed over time. He’s on the Yahya Black track, but might be a year behind where Yahya was. He might be in the mix in year 3-4 on campus.
Kade Pieper
-Good pursuit and speed from DE position
-Length stands out relative to competition
-Overall athleticism with his frame is appealing
Main Takeaway: Also simple here. Upside, weight-room project for a player with an appealing frame (6’4”) that is clearly undersized for what Iowa is going to try to get out of him. If he puts on 40+ pounds, he can be a contributor. Also wouldn’t be surprised to see him flip to OL if he gets crowded out by what is already a super-deep room. Probably won’t see the field until Year 4 at the earliest, if he’s still at Iowa by then. I see him as an impact FCS player if he seeks earlier playing time.
Kenneth Merrieweather
-Minimal film
-Long, lean, and athletic on the EDGE (6’3, 235)
Main Takeaway: Merrieweather is a prototype for the modern NFL pass rusher, and his limited film shows a rangy DE who utilizes his wingspan very well in run defense. I imagine he will be used as a situational pass-rusher or potentially as an off-ball LB given his frame and how Iowa’s defense is generally constructed. However, this is a guy that I also believe will look much different after a couple seasons in the weight room. He has big-time physical measurables, so I think the patience required for him to see the field (2-3 years, in my opinion) will pay off with a player that the NFL ultimately takes a pretty strong interest in despite minimal fanfare in the short-term.
Ben Kueter
-Outstanding awareness and instincts at the LB position
-Incredible strength at the point of attack, both against ball carriers and taking on larger blockers
-Elite twitch off the snap when lined up on the line/over center. Lower level of competition than other parts of the country, but that quickness and explosiveness translates anywhere
-Plays HARD even when not in the main action of a play; found multiple opportunities across the field away from his first location that he capitalized on
-Has upside to line up at EDGE due to flexibility and explosiveness from a two-point and three-point stance
-Has an uncanny sense for how to leverage blockers out of the way while still occupying space in the run game
Main Takeaway: Jack Campbell had the most impressive film I’ve ever watched from a defensive recruit for Iowa (and maybe any team, for that matter). Kueter’s is a CLOSE second. Playing in the highest level of Iowa high school football isn’t the stiffest competition, but he looks like an NFL linebacker dropped in a high school game. He has unbelievable strength and power with somewhat of a flair for the dramatic as he discards blockers and slams ball-carriers into the ground. He’s clearly a student of the game, as his film is littered with plays that show incredible anticipation and instincts that have him in the backfield seemingly before the play even starts. Even when he guesses incorrectly, his speed and quickness combined with elite spatial awareness allows him to quickly correct his course and slam the door shut. He is an elite linebacker prospect, but he has the tools to slide down and be a game-wrecker as an EDGE. Long story short: The only thing preventing Kueter from being an All-American LB in Iowa’s defense is the fact that he’s the best wrestler Iowa’s had on campus in over a decade not named Spencer Lee. He’s that dude. I do not say this lightly, but Iowa has their Jack Campbell 2.0.
Kahlil Tate
-Flashes some good ball skills, but clearly was not targeted much and therefore difficult to evaluate
-Very strong run defender, especially for a DB. Hits hard and able to make plays in difficult spaces
-Very fluid movement and excellent change of direction when required
-Does not have many reps in tight man-to-man, though he won’t be asked to do that much in Iowa’s defense
Main Takeaway: Tough, active player even in the run game from the cornerback position on his team. I anticipate he will be a CB at Iowa as well. Clearly the best athlete on the field, which I what you want to see, and he played at the highest levels in Illinois. Wish I could have seen more from him in strict pass coverage, but his fluidity on the other reps suggests his athleticism and coverage skills should be more than adequate to be a legit playmaker in Iowa’s defense. I could see him getting regular action as soon as Year 2 on campus. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why, but I just really like Tate’s upside, and I think the staff seems to agree. He’ll be a good one.
John Nestor
-Hits like a freight train from the Safety position
-Spent time at CB and was extremely comfortable in tight man AND zone coverage
-Terrific anticipation in both run and pass defense
-Closing speed stands out. He closes 20-yard gaps in no time
Main Takeaway: He’s going to be a stud safety for the Hawks. Smart, tackles well, and excels in zone coverage (with the ability to play man as well). He’s an athletic upgrade over some of the safeties they’ve had in the past (Gervase, Koerner, Schulte) that had tremendous success. Don’t overthink this one. Phil Parker just stocks the pipeline with dudes.
Zach Lutmer
-Dominant athlete at lower level in Iowa (DeJean-esque)
-Strong upside at Safety, and his experience on offense will make him a versatile piece due to diversity in athletic demands
-Hits hard and pursues well
Main Takeaway: Iowa is aiming to strike oil again with the super-dominant athlete from small-town Iowa at a defensive back position. He’s not the level of prospect that Cooper DeJean was, but he bears a lot of resemblance in terms of skillset and diverse athletic profile (multi-sport star). He’ll need some time to add muscle to fill the FS position, and he’s likely going to be slotted behind Nestor in terms of the playing time pecking order, but he’s a worthwhile add to a team that gives Iowa supreme confidence that they will get at least one stud Safety from this class, and more likely (in my mind) two. I think Lutmer can fill the FS spot, with Nestor sliding into the CASH position. Whatever Phil “Rizz Lord” Parker decides, though.
Aidan Hall
-Recruited as a safety/linebacker prospect
-Versatile athlete. Plays RB, FB, and WR at the 3A level in Iowa. Also dynamic in the return game
-Good instincts in zone coverage. Makes smart reads and doesn't waste much movement when reading the QB's eyes
-His spatial intelligence stands out on film in all three phases
-Does not have apparent D1 skill-position speed in my estimation, so would bet he settles into a LB role at Iowa
-Has a slight frame for a Big Ten LB, but has room to fill out
-Strong hands at the point of attack. Assuming he sticks as a LB, he would be an asset in pass coverage
Main Takeaway: Strong, very productive player in a higher level (though not the highest) level of Iowa high school football. Flashes strong instincts and intangible skills that will help him overcome being a bit of a tweener athletically. His change of direction is noticeable and his strength at the point of attack as a tackler will suit him well in what I assume will be a linebacker role. I'd slot him into the role that the Niemann brothers filled at Iowa as the LEO or coverage-oriented linebacker that is still obviously able to stay strong in run defense. He needs a year or two in the weight room to fill out enough to stay in that role regularly, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him finding the field in a limited capacity in his first year on campus (primarily in special teams). He's a bit of a projection, but I can see him being another middle or late-round pick at LB after his fourth year at Iowa with All-B1G upside. If he adds 20+ pounds of muscle at Iowa, though, watch out.
In preparation of the upcoming college football season, I want to make sure I get some predictions in writing. In the past, I've relentlessly preemptively sung the praises of players that turned into both Iowa legends (Jack Campbell) and...not Iowa legends (Tyrone Tracy).
In these next couple posts, I'll be breaking down the available high school film from Iowa's incoming recruiting class (this year's true freshmen) with my unfiltered opinions written as I watched the film as well as putting together some predictions for what I think their careers at Iowa might project to be.
There's no fun in being right (or hilariously wrong) without having receipts to prove it, right?
Disclaimer: These predictions were written before this season's fall camp began, so my opinions are based solely off of their high school film and not at all affected by their performance since these players arrived at Iowa.
Marco Lainez
-Solid size for the QB position
-Good mobility. Has shiftiness in the open field and accelerates past high school defenders. Not necessarily going to gash a P5 defense for huge runs, but has the athleticism to extend plays and make a defender miss in a scramble
-Good improvisation skills (helped by the athleticism) and ability to deliver intermediate throws into tight windows while on the run
-Maneuvers the pocket well and doesn’t waste movement. Decisive in terms of committing quickly to evading the pocket and running or scrambling to extend the play with the intent of throwing downfield
-Average to below-average deep ball strength. Has numerous instances where his receivers are running wide open deep and have to decelerate to catch the ball. They’re often open enough to where they still end up scoring (his team is WAY better than every other team they play), but hard to feel great about his ability to hit the deep ball. Not that he’ll be throwing any at Iowa
-Throws a hefty amount of YOLO balls (passes just thrown up with the hope that his receiver can make a play) and gets bailed out by his receivers (who are quite good compared to the competition). Not something that’ll fly at Iowa
-Because his team dominates the competition so much, they can probably pick and choose when they pass, which would inflate his completion percentage due to not having to press much
Main Takeaway: Impressed relative to his junior tape. Wasn’t super high on him after watching that. Has good mobility and can be a legitimate 1 1/2 threat QB (not quite dual-threat, but almost). Not super impressed by his arm, and I’m skeptical that his completion percentage in high school (~80%) is a bit fraudulent. I think he’s a better fit for what Iowa’s offense needs than what they’ve had, but we’ll see if they make changes to make it more offense-friendly at any point. He’s basically a rich man’s Alex Padilla, which might be all Iowa needs going forward. Should strongly contend for the job once Cade moves on.
Trevor Lauck
-Good size, with a frame to put more weight on
-Good mobility
-Looks like not that high of a competition level
-Has a couple plays where I’m pretty sure he got called for penalties on his highlight tape, which is interesting😂
Main Takeway: Looks like a high three-star/low four-star OL prospect. Good to very good upside ultimately, not extremely dominant now. Not expecting him to play particularly early, but maybe gets on the field in year two on campus. Could be a higher-end tackle prospect if it all clicks, but not likely going to flash right away (like Wirfs, James Daniels, etc.)
Cannon Leonard
-Plays guard at a lower level in Illinois, projects as a tackle at Iowa
-Very long and moves well. Has a basketball center build with a bit of extra weight
-Dominates smaller and less athletic players regularly. Clearly utilizes his length advantage, but has good leverage to make the plays
-Not many pass-blocking reps to judge
-Flashes tremendous upside as a pulling OL or getting to reach blocks. A very impressive player on film in terms of blocking in open spaces
Main Takeaway: Not as much of a project as a player as I thought I’d be seeing, but still needs a year or two in the weight room to fill out his frame to withstand facing P5 D-lineman. Dominates lower competition, but that’s more of a prerequisite than a feather in the cap (especially for linemen). Has a more put-together frame as of now than I expected, and still has room to add much more. If he adds 40+ pounds of good weight without sacrificing his lateral quickness in run-blocking, he has measurables to be a coveted NFL prospect at OT. Expect him to challenge for a two-deep spot his third year on campus, but if he’s in the mix by year two, I’d expect him to be a Day 1-2 draft pick, as that signifies he’s put in the work physically and technically to elevate his profile immensely. Overall a good player to bet on upside with
Leighton Jones
-Legitimately a nasty blocker. He doesn’t exaggerate or look for the “highlight block”, but has plenty that come naturally throughout the flow of the play
-Plays in the same class as Lauck (Indiana’s highest class-6A). Looks WAY more dominant
-Played Left Tackle for his high school team, but projects to OG/C. 6’4”, 275 lb. frame that could add some strength
-Moves really well. Linderbaum is kind of the standard here, but I can see some resemblance
-Plays like he’s WAY stronger than his opponents. Basically looks like you dropped a solid D1 lineman into a high school game
Main Takeaway: This could be the next fixture at C for Iowa. Has an already sturdy frame that add some more functional bulk, but moves very well for a guy that projects to IOL. His high school team had him moving in space quite a bit (screens, etc.) and he looked really smooth. Looks much more ready-made than Lauck IMO, but hard to tell if he’s game-ready from day one. If he was enrolling early, I’d consider him in the mix for our line next year, but I assume he’ll be too far behind when he gets there in the summer. Honestly pretty impressed by him, especially if they plan to play him at C. Hard to imagine him being worse than our current guy tbh😂
Terrell Washington Jr.
-Very quick and smooth with lateral movements
-Plays WR, RB, and a bit of running QB. Projects as a FLEX in the mold of Tyrone Tracy/Arland Bruce
-Makes some strong catches with his hands and seems to track the ball well in the air on deep balls
-Smart runner, reads his blocks well and hits the hole quickly
-Meets the baseline requirements for D1 skill position speed, but not a burner
-Plays at the highest level in Texas
Main takeway: If he bulked up (which I have skepticism about), I could see him being a really solid receiving back with ability to flex out to the slot. I think Iowa is planning to use him more as a WR, which I believe he will be fine, but needs to flash way more speed to be a difference-maker in. He fits the mold of a really solid player that could get lots of intermediate receptions due to scheming him open (which Iowa is known for being SO good at), but I think he’s probably going to resemble Arland Bruce as a fine playmaker who seems a little rough around the edges as a WR. Hard to know when he’ll see the field given Iowa’s general ineptitude at WR, but I wouldn’t expect him to be a feature player for 2-3 years unless the offense is in a DIRE position. I could see him having some upside on special teams early
Alex Mota
-Good speed. Not game-breaking speed at the D1 level. Faster than the competition, but the competition level was LOW
-Solid versatility in high school. Projects as a WR at the college level
-Doesn’t get to showcase a tremendous amount of WR skills on tape due to his team using him more as an RB. Has some smooth agility, but hard to gauge how that projects to his route-running capabilities
-Slight frame, but not very tall. Will need at least a year or two to fill out enough to be effective as anything more than a gadget sub
Main Takeaway: Solid athlete overall. A good depth piece with some developmental upside. Tough evaluation long-term because he didn’t get a ton of snaps at his future position but looks comfortable with the ball in his hands as a runner, which could bode well if Iowa ever figured out to use hybrid WR/RBs well. Not expecting him to see the field in the first couple years unless Iowa adds NO transfers and has more attrition
Dayton Howard
-Great height (6’5”) and appears to have a pretty impressive wingspan on tape; projects at WR
-Strong improvisation skills when the play breaks down. Good at finding the soft spot in the zone
-Not a BURNER, but has speed that allows him to breakaway or find an opening for extra YAC. He pulls away from high school DBs pretty easily in the open field
-Very fluid mover both in route-running and after the catch. Really appears on a much different level athletically compared to his competition in high school
-Excellent body control. Makes several contorting/off-balance catches in his senior film
-Willing and able blocker. Gives consistent effort and has leverage to bully small DBs
-Plays at the highest level in Missouri
Main Takeaway: Really impressed by this one. Maybe the most impressive film I’ve seen for an Iowa WR recruit from a total package perspective. He has elite size, tremendous coordination, strong hands, fluid route running, and seems to have high football IQ at his position. He has the makeup of a Tyler Boyd prototype with great size coupled with fluidity in other parts of his game. Though he might not crack the top of the depth chart right away with some of the new offseason additions, my bet would be he gets snaps in games THIS YEAR and challenges for starting as soon as next season. I don’t really trust Iowa’s development of WRs, but I think Howard has the best chance to be the next Iowa high school commit to be drafted into the NFL of anyone in the past few cycles. If Iowa’ offense improves significantly over the next couple years, you’ll become very familiar with Dayton Howard
Jarriett Buie
-Solid size and frame for a WR
-Requisite speed, but not a burner
-Solid hands, but doesn’t have a lot of evidence of being strong at the catch point with the types of routes he ran at the high school level
-Has some general flexibility on jet sweeps
-A little bit stiff as a mover at the high school level
Main Takeaway: Not expecting Buie to be seeing the field on offense early, as I think he has some time and work to develop strength, explosiveness, and fluidity as an athlete. With some work, he can be an option as an X receiver, but I’m pretty confident it’ll take a few years before he’s ready for offense in the B1G in a healthy Iowa WR room
Kamari Moulton
-Tough RB with a low center of gravity
-Well -built, with solid overall size
-Good lateral jump-cuts
-Needs to improve explosiveness and speed both out of the initial break and in straight-line breakaway situations
-Plays in middle-class division in Florida
Main Takeaway: Projects as depth for the RB position. Doesn’t have the top-end speed to make up for his unspectacular overall size as a runner. Deals with contact well in the open field, but doesn’t have the power (yet) to project as a bell-cow back for a Big Ten team. With hard work, nothing is off the table, but he has a relatively low ceiling based off of his film, and I imagine he’ll struggle to get many carries with the depth at RB in front of him and the possibility of Terrell Washington stealing further carries. Would anticipate him being a potential candidate for a strong career in a G5 or FCS setting after a transfer, but the opportunity is all in front of him to prove me wrong
Zach Ortwerth
-Projects at TE
-Solid size, with a frame that could add some solid weight. Doesn’t have a full senior season highlight tape, but look like he bulked up a good amount just from his junior year
-As alluded to above, most of this is coming from his junior film
-Honestly not that physical of a TE for a TE/EDGE player in high school. Has a couple fine finishes on a couple blocks, but I’d expect that from any D1 TE in high school
-Decent mobility, solid route runner for a TE
-Plays at the highest level in Missouri
Main Takeaway: Not in the same class as Laporta or Lachey on tape. Has some solid moments, but doesn’t necessarily stand out on the field. Obviously limited information as he doesn’t have senior film, but he doesn’t clearly project as either a blocking or pass-catching TE, so I assume he’ll have to develop significantly from a physical perspective to find his lane. Probably going to be a few years before he sees the field unless he has developed a TON physically in time since his film came out. Could maybe see the field as a RS So or Jr, but that’s the soonest I’d project without massive attrition in front of him
Grant Leeper
-Good size, with a frame that could absolutely add considerable weight
-Slick route runner, feasting mainly on strong out and corner routes in addition to simple releases
-Strong hands, impressed with his strength at the catch point
-Moves well after that catch. Breaks away from defenders enough to get 10-15 extra yards. Has some Laporta-like moves to shake defenders
-Projects as more of a “Move” TE that excels as a receiver
-Works hard positionally as a blocker, and has the requisite athleticism to make up for a relative lack of power
-Plays at highest level in Indiana
Main Takeaway: More impressed with his film that Ortwerth, both in the short and long-term. Has only played football for one year (his senior season), and flashes lots of athleticism and upside as a pass-catcher. Strong hands, appears very coordinated and smooth for a TE at the high school level. The TE room is stacked as of now, but if Lachey moves on after this year (which I expect), he could be right in the mix with Addison Ostrenga and/or a transfer for playing time. I’d expect him to be on the two-deeps in 2023-24. Overall quite impressed, and I think he has a lot of upside beyond what he showed in his tape. Not as high on him as I was on Lachey/Laporta’s tapes, but he’s clearly the more enticing prospect in this class, and I expect he’ll be an NFL TE with upside as a true impact TE
Thanks so much for your interest in Cogito Ergo Cogito! If you have comments, suggestions for us to write about a topic, or any questions about the blog, feel free to fill out this form and we'll be in touch with you as soon as possible!
