Four downs with the wide receivers (and TEs)

QUICK LOOK BACK: Iowa enjoyed dual weapons at wide receiver last season, with Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt combining for 99 receptions for 1,606 yards and 18 TDs. Iowa's passing game was central to what it tried to do last season (hit big plays) and it worked, to a point, because of DJK, McNutt and QB Ricky Stanzi.

The "to a point" refers to the troubles in the two-minute drill, but don't hold that too sharply against the Hawkeyes. The probabilities are against you in a two-minute situation (check these graphs out on Advanced NFL stats). Iowa looked at 40 percent or less. (I guessed last year 50-50. I was wrong.)

The last two seasons, a bona fide strength in Iowa's offense was playmakers in the passing game, especially with all the flux at running back. If you go back the last five seasons, the 2010 leading receivers' numbers most closely resemble 2006 (Dominique Douglas 49, Scott Chandler 46 and Andy Brodell 39).

Going into 2011, Iowa is again inexperienced (relatively) at running back. For Iowa's passing game to get respect, just going off roster and recent history, another Dominique Douglas (without the headaches) is going to need to emerge. Or another 40-plus reception tight end. Or another running back with 20-plus receptions (Adam Robinson finished 2010 with 24, most for an Iowa RB since Albert Young's 30 in 2006).

DJK is in the record books, with career records in receptions (173) and receiving yards (2,616). He isn't in the hearts of the coaching staff, still looking for a spot in a pro day to give NFL scouts some physical numbers to ponder. (There is a rule that a player can only participate in a pro day within 150 miles of his high school or college.)

We'll cover the tight ends at the bottom of this post.

FOURTH DOWN -- CONCERNS: On paper, Iowa has no proven depth here.

After McNutt (53 catches, 861 yards, 8 TDs in '10), who has 88 career receptions, Keenan Davis is next with 15 receptions during his freshman and sophomore seasons. After those two, Iowa has no other wide receiver with a career catch.

That's not awful sits somewhere in the middle of the Big Ten for returning receivers, but it does show how important McNutt, a 6-4, 215-pounder with a 42-inch vertical and a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, is to Iowa's 2011 passing game. So, yes, that's why McNutt had thumb and shoulder surgery done in February and why he'll likely be on a stationary bike for all of spring.

So, it's a big spring for everyone else. Who else is here (in order of possible playing time)?

Keenan Davis -- The 6-3, 215-pound receiver grew up some last season, increasing his output (going from four receptions to 11) and responsibilities. As a true freshman, Davis got one shot at a punt return and bobbled it. Last year, he lined up with DJK on kickoffs and returned nine (19.4 average).

McNutt tweaked a leg during one stretch of the Ball State game and gave Davis a shot to matter. He came through with a career-high four catches for 50 yards and an 8-yard TD in Iowa's 45-0 win over Ball State. Three of those receptions came on the drive after McNutt's injury.

If nothing else, Davis showed it's there. He had two talented receivers ahead of him the last two seasons. This season is his chance to put up No. 2 numbers, which has ranged from 46 receptions to 34 the last five seasons.

Don Shumpert -- The 6-3, 185-pound sophomore was recruited as a safety, but eventually was brought in as a wide receiver. He played 2010 as a special teamer, most on kick coverage. He suffered a turf toe injury, but fought through it and was credited with six special teams tackles.

Shumpert is tall and lean and from the St. Louis area. He caught 45 passes as a senior at Hazelwood East.

Kevonte Martin-Manley -- The 6-0, 190-pounder will be a redshirt freshman this fall. He's the receiver Johnson-Koulianos has predicted big things for on his Twitter feed. As a senior at Brother Rice (Pontiac, Mich.), he had 43 receptions for 745 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior, along with 14 KO returns for 314 yards and 12 punt returns for 199 yards.

The closest he came to the field this year was when he made the trip to Arizona, just to get a taste of a road trip.

Could KMM be No. 3 in 2011? The No. 3 receiver has ranged from 42 (TE Allen Reisner in 2010) to 23 in the last five seasons. The No. 3 wide receiver has general been in the lower end of double digits. With Iowa's reliance on TEs (fully stocked there, by the way), Iowa's No. 3 WR is probably looking at 11 to 14 touches, not out of the realm for a redshirt freshman.

Jordan Cotton -- The 6-1, 185-pound sophomore suffered a broken ankle early in bowl prep. He didn't catch a pass in his first season of eligibility. He also didn't make the list of 70 players who are allowed to stay in Cedar Rapids the night before home games at least a few times.

Last season, I thought he might nudge in on some return duties. Still could maybe on punt return. He probably wants to make his presence felt going into his third season.

Marcus Grant -- Judging by his Twitter feed, Grant, a 6-3, 195-pounder, wants to get his Iowa career started yesterday. That's probably a good thing. You want players who want to get on with it.

The opportunity is there for a freshman wide receiver. Grant has a frame that could probably play in the Big Ten right now.

Jacob Hillyer -- At 6-4, 195, Hillyer has the body type that could see time as a true freshman. He put up monster numbers in a pass-happy offense (his prep coach was Sonny Detmer), with 180 receptions for 2,879 yards and 27 TDs in his career.

He could project to tight end, but Iowa needs bodies at receiver and Hillyer should begin his career there this fall.

Those are the scholarships, here are the walk-ons:

Blake Haluska -- A 6-4, 195-pounder from Carroll and Adam Haluska's brother.

James Hurt -- Hurt (6-1, 200) was Iowa QB James Vandenberg's No. 1 target at Keokuk with school season records in receptions (73), receiving yards (1,269) and receiving touchdowns (19).

Steven Staggs -- The 6-3, 195-pounder will be a junior this season. Didn't see game action in his first two seasons.

John Chelf -- The 5-11, 170-pounder is a walk-on from Iowa City High. He was Iowa QB A.J. Derby's main target as a senior, catching 44 for 1,054 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Don Nordmann and Kennon Christian are the patron saints of Iowa's walk-on receivers. This might be the toughest road to a scholarship on Iowa's team. Nordmann's two receptions for 58 yards last season is about as good as it gets for a walk-on wideout at Iowa.

[EDIT: Yes, Kevin Kasper started his career as a walk-on at Iowa. He held the receptions record until DJK passed him this year and is the last Iowa WR to top 1,000 yards in a season (1,010 in 2000). When I covered Kasper, he was fully scholarshipped (1999-00). I regret leaving him out of the above conversation. I didn't know him as a walk-on. Obviously, in recent years, walk-on WRs have had less success.]

This might be the thinnest position on Iowa's roster.

THIRD DOWN -- ADDITIONS/SUBTRACTIONS: Johnson-Koulianos left Iowa as its leading receiver. Since his drug-related arrest in December (ultimately pleading guilty to marijuana possession), he wasn't allowed to wear an Iowa helmet in the NFLPA all-star game and has been denied a spot in Iowa's pro day. Without an NFL combine invite, DJK is down to few options for a timing exhibition to show league scouts. Northern Iowa's pro day might be his last chance. The clock is ticking. The NFL draft begins April 28.

Colin Sandeman graduated along with a steady hand on punt return. He finished among Big Ten leaders in punt return (fourth this year with 8.3 yards a return) in each of the last two seasons.

Paul Chaney Jr. had an injury riddled career. Iowa tried to take advantage of his speed, but his contributions were limited in 2010. Nordmann also graduated.

Martin-Manley comes online this year, along with Hillyer and Grant. Just going off pure numbers, Iowa probably will be in the market for three to four wide receivers in the 2012 recruiting class with West Des Moines Dowling's Amara Darboh at or near the top of that shopping list.

Dorial Green-Beckham, 6-5, 220-pounder from Springfield, Mo., also is high on that list.

Iowa has offered both.

SECOND DOWN: BATTLES BREWING: McNutt wears the belt when it comes to Iowa receivers. He'll be rated among the top returnees at the position in the Big Ten and maybe the country.

I think he made the right decision by staying at Iowa. If he puts up numbers -- I'll say 1,000 yards and 10 TDs -- he could be a second-round pick or higher. Let's see, he's 6-3 (listed 6-4 at Iowa, but shoes come off at the combine), will probably run in the 4.5s and has a 42-inch vertical. His hands are ridiculously large. I held mine up to his once. Comically large hands. Like shaking hands with someone wearing a baseball glove.

He has the body to beat you on the slant and can beat you on the jump-ball. He might not beat the faster corners, but he can get a step on them in press coverage.

Davis holds down No. 2. You can look at the former Cedar Rapids Washington prep in two ways going into his junior season. No, he hasn't emerged. He's played behind two terrific receivers and sort of shared the No. 3 with Sandeman last season.

Davis might be an inch shorter than McNutt. Not sure about speed, but he's fast enough. He has all the tools and he will have the opportunity this fall. The door is open. The ball is in his court.

The battle is No. 3 and beyond.

Here's what the No. 3 wide receiver (not tight end, but wide receiver) has done in recent years at Iowa:

2010

Colin Sandeman 21-227 2 TDs

2009

Trey Stross 31-414 1 TD

2008

Stross 13-109 1 TD

2007

Paul Chaney Jr. 19-210 1 TD

2006

Herb Grigsby 27-282 0 TD

2005

Grigsby 25-335 3 TD

It shifts. When Iowa can run the ball, the No. 3 WR might catch 13 passes. When Iowa is stronger through the air, it's mid-20s or as high as Trey Stross' 31 in 2009.

Or these touches could go to a couple receivers, as it did last season with Sandeman (21) and Davis (11).

Everyone not named McNutt or Davis is in that race. Cotton, Shumpert and Martin-Manley have been in the system,

so they have that over Grant and Hillyer. The door is certainly open for a freshman to come in and matter, but No. 3 probably comes out of Shumpert and Martin-Manley.

Spring practice matters at this position.

FIRST DOWN -- "On Iowa" prediction for 2011: Yeah, this is going to be worth the bandwidth it's printed on.

Big year for McNutt. Yes, he's had some repairs, but he'll be ready to roll this summer and will be playing with supreme confidence. Can Iowa's running game and the fact that James Vandenberg is a newbie starter affect his numbers? Sure, but what I think could affect McNutt's numbers more is lack of a second WR threat. A complementary receiver will have to emerge during the season.

Until then, McNutt will be the scouting report for Iowa receivers.

So, putting a number to his numbers is difficult. Throw out McNutt's first season as a wideout (one reception) and his two-year average is 43.5 receptions and 767 yards. This year, there's no sharing. He's No. 1.

So, let's go with 65, 900 and 10.

Let's go with 35, 500 and five for Davis. I'm going to guess Martin-Manley emerges as a No. 3 and snags 28 for 350 and three.

Like I said, not worth the bandwidth it's written on.

Catching up with the Big Ten

The focus here will be on the No. 1 receiver for each school.

Illinois -- A.J. Jenkins emerged as QB Nathan Scheelhaase's top target last season with 56 catches for  for 746 yards and seven TDs. Rating -- Potential all-Big Ten. Freshmen Ryan Lankford, Spencer Harris and Darius Millines got their feet wet last season and will see more opportunities. Will Illinois run the ball as well as it did last season? Probably not.

Indiana -- DeMarlo Belcher was extremely productive with 78 receptions (that would be No. 2 in Iowa history) for 832 yards and four TDs. Of course, his drop cost IU the Iowa game. Rating -- Second-team all-Big Ten. Belcher has talent. Duwyce Wilson is proven (32-488-3). TE Ted Bolser was terrific last season (27-407-5). But that was with a three-year starter at QB in Ben Chappell.

Iowa -- Barring anything unforeseen, Marvin McNutt will be the No. 1 and should see opportunity. Rating -- Second-team all-Big Ten. No proven complementary receiver and a new QB give pause.

Michigan -- The Wolverines return every wide receiver who mattered from 2010, but Roy Roundtree put up numbers (72-935-7) that separated him from Darryl Stonum (49-633-4), Junior Hemingway (32-593-4). Rating -- Conference MVP. That is contingent on what Michigan does on offense. Denard Robinson will QB and that likely means an emphasis on running the ball.

Michigan State -- B.J. Cunningham (50-611-9) is in the same situation that Iowa's McNutt is in. He has the keys to the car. Rating -- First-team. I rate the Spartans high because of Keshawn Martin, who left his mark on a few Big Ten games last season as a receiver and in return games.

Minnesota -- Da'Jon McKnight (48-750-10) is the Gophers' top returning receiver and should be the No. 1. Rating -- Honorable mention. The Gophers return TE Eric Lair (39-526-2), but QB is a question mark. The installation of Jerry Kill's offense won't help, either.

Nebraska -- Brandon Kinnie (44-494-5) led the Huskers in receptions last season and built a pretty good rapport with QB Taylor Martinez. He's the likely No. 1 for 2011. Rating -- Third team. Only one other returning receiver caught a pass last season. Tight end Kyler Reed might be one of the better pass-catching TEs in the Big Ten. He had 22 catches for 395 yards and eight TDs.

Northwestern -- Jeremy Ebert led the Big Ten in receiving yards per game last season with 73.3 yards a game. He moves chains. Rating -- Potential first-team. The Wildcats return a host of receivers, and quarterback Dan Persa knows how to find them. Drake Dunsmore (40-381-5) has a chance to the Big Ten's top tight end.

Ohio State -- Devier Posey (53-848-7) is the Buckeyes' top receiver. He's suspended for the first five games of 2011. Rating -- Second-team. With Posey on the bench for the first five games, the Buckeyes' wide receivers have just 11 receptions going into the season. Tight ends Jake Stoneburner and Reid Fragel will help.

Penn State -- Even with cloudiness at QB, Derek Moye was fantastically productive in 2010 with 53-885-8. Rating -- First-team potential. Justin Brown (33-452-1), Devon Smith (27-363-1) are proven wideouts. Quarterback is iffy, but the Nittany Lions will throw the ball.

Purdue -- Junior Antavian Edison (32-316-4) is the top stats guy back, but he might not be the go-to with Justin Siller in the conversation. Rating -- Honorable mention. If Robert Marve stays healthy at QB, the Boilers' profile rises. Tight ends are new, with Gabe Holmes perhaps emerging from that group.

Wisconsin -- If Nick Toon (36-459-3) avoids injury, he could be one of the conference's best wide receivers. He has everything a WR needs except maybe top-end speed. Rating -- Third-team. Lots of newness in the passing game, with a new QB and new TE. Plus, the Badgers will run the ball. They rushed 68 percent of the time last season and will likely be around that mark again this year.

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Tight Ends

QUICK LOOK BACK: Allen Reisner made the most of his one and only season as Iowa's No. 1 TE, catching 42 passes for 460 yards and two TDs. It was the first time an Iowa TE hit 40 receptions since Scott Chandler grabbed 46 passes in 2006. Reisner participated in the NFL combine and has a shot in the draft based on his senior production.

The good news for '11 is Brad Herman put himself in position for a Reisner-type season. Herman (6-5, 247) will be a senior with one season to show what he can do. He went into '10 with one career catch and caught nine for 154 yards. The stats came in spurts, topping out at three catches for 80 yards in Iowa's upset over Michigan State. Herman was the blocking tight end, but showed enough athletic ability to fill the "move" spot in '11.

FOURTH DOWN -- CONCERNS: The backups don't have a lot of experience, but this is how Iowa has done it at TE and so that's probably not a huge worry.

Zach Derby made a move last season, going from unheralded walk-on to a shared No. 3 with true freshman C.J. Fiedorowicz.  Derby (6-3, 235) caught one pass for 17 yards. Fiedorowicz (6-7, 250) worked mostly on special teams, kick return and field goal. He did pop off the page a few times last fall with some big hits on kick coverage and as a blocking TE.

Asked at the combine, Reisner said he thought Derby and Fiedorowicz will fight it out for No. 2. He also said Herman was a much faster and more athletic player than he was. He might've just been being nice, but last fall both agreed that Herman was the better basketball player.

Right now, it probably goes 1) Herman, 2) Derby and 3) Fiedorowicz. Iowa's No. 2 TE has generally broken into double-digit receptions the last five seasons, with 14 from Reisner in '09 being the high and nine from Herman last season being the low.

THIRD DOWN -- ADDITIONS/SUBRACTIONS: Reisner leaves with a chance to add to Iowa's stretch of eight TEs making into the NFL during the Kirk Ferentz era. Also, Zach Furlong, a fifth-year senior, isn't on Iowa's roster. Jonathan Gimm, according to the online roster, has moved to fullback.

Austin Vier (6-7, 228) will be a redshirt freshman this year. The 2010 recruit from Ballard High School was initially coming in as a QB, but made the switch before fall camp. He's in the "building the body" mode.

Iowa signed three tight ends in February -- Henry Krieger-Coble (Mount Pleasant), Ray Hamilton and Jake Duzey. Hamilton (6-5, 225) and Duzey (6-4, 225) picked Iowa over a combined 33 offers from other schools. Oregon offered both.

There's a chance for a freshman to make a push for No. 3, which comes with one or maybe no touches.

SECOND DOWN -- BATTLES BREWING: Herman is the No. 1, but all slots after that are open.

The battle for No. 2 will be hot between Derby and Fiedorowicz. Fiedorowicz was one of the most heralded recruits in the 2010 class and played as a true freshman. It's similar to the career path a lot of top freshman have at Iowa (Bulaga, Moeaki) and could pay dividends. Derby more than has his foot in the door and won't make this an easy decision.

One more TE might see the field, but would it be worth it for Hamilton, Krieger-Coble or Duzey to drop a redshirt if Herman, Fiedorowicz and Derby stay healthy and hungry? Probably not. There's your three.

FIRST DOWN -- "On Iowa" prediction for TE 2011: Did the math and Iowa's No. 1 TE the last five years has averaged 34.6 receptions, 417.4 yards and 4.2 TDs. That sounds reasonable for Herman, depending on where the strength of Iowa's offense shifts.

On paper, the Hawkeyes have the guts for what should be a solid rush offense next season, so that will dent Herman's numbers. Let's go 35 catches, 386 yards and four TDs.

The more interesting race No. 2 because that is a race and it should be competitive. Can anyone challenge Herman? It's possible, but he's got so much goodwill built up with coaches. He jumped in as a practice body after Moeaki was hurt as a true frehsman in 2008. He's built his body. He's been a program contributor. You know how far that stuff goes with coaches. He has dibs.