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“Retention” has become an unpleasant word for Iowa football
Hawkeyes have lost 30 scholarship players in the past four years
The question has been asked a thousand times lately if it’s been asked once.
“What’s going on at Iowa?”
The reference isn’t to the state, or the University of Iowa, or the Hawkeyes’ softball program. Nay, the subject is Hawkeye football and the seemingly high attrition rate of scholarship players.
Marcus Coker - gone (Brian Ray/SourceMedia Group)
Things certainly snowballed this month with the announced departures of Mika’il McCall, Marcus Coker and A.J. Derby. They were names well-known to Iowa fans, either for their potential (McCall), their on-field performance (Coker), or their local ties and high-regard as a prep recruit who is the son of a former Hawkeye player (Derby).
But aren’t transfers and dismissals simply part of college football? Are things really any different at Iowa than at comparable programs?
The answer to the first question is yes. Just look at news from this week alone. New Kansas coach Charlie Weis has dismissed 10 players. Ohio State has dismissed two. Michigan dismissed wide receiver Darryl Stonum. Oklahoma and several of its players parted ways within the last month.
Jay Prosch, tabbed a first-team All-American fullback by Pro Football Weekly, is leaving Illinois to go to Auburn to be closer to his mother, who is receiving treatment for brain cancer in Alabama. Defensive back Josh Shaw is leaving Florida for USC.
But Iowa has had a lot of scholarship players leave over the last four years, more than most programs. At least that’s the indication I get from plowing through the rosters of six other comparable programs.
This could have gone on for days and days for me had I not limited it to a handful of programs. And if someone says “Hey, all that information is at thisandthat.com, I will reach for the nearest sharp knife. And then cut myself a slice of delicious delicatessan roast beef, suitable for French dip sandwiches. What did you think, that I’d go off the rails over something like this? Pshaw!
I’d love to know the numbers for SEC programs. I’d love to know the numbers for all Big Ten programs and all 120 FBS programs, for that matter. But believe me, too much time was spent just for me to get these sets of numbers, and by the time I plowed through another half-dozen rosters a whole new set of transfers would probably have been in motion.
The programs I chose to look at were: Oklahoma, since it was Iowa’s 2011 bowl opponent and Bob Stoops has been head coach at OU the same length of time as Kirk Ferentz at Iowa. Iowa State, because it’s in Iowa. Michigan State, since it was the 2011 winner of Iowa’s football division, the Legends. And three border-state Big Ten schools, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. I didn’t know the attrition rates for any of them, though I knew Oklahoma lost a lot of players recently.
I looked at the lists of the national letter-of-intent signees from 2008 through 2011. I’m not counting early-entrants to the NFL against teams. Iowa has had three of those in this four-year period. They are Shonn Greene, Amari Spievey and Riley Reiff. Just like I’m not counting center Peter Konz against Wisconsin, or running back Edwin Baker and defensive tackle Jerel Worthy against Michigan State.
Shonn Greene left early, but with good reason (AP photo)
While I know there’s a distinct chance I overlooked someone on one of the seven teams, I hope that isn’t the case. I checked every player who was recruited to these seven teams since 2008 and tried to make sure they were a) still on their team’s end-of-season roster in 2011 or b) had definitely transferred/quit/been dismissed.
Consider these things before you look at the following raw numbers:
1. Only a small percentage of the players who left these programs went to other FBS programs.
2. Each program has a small percentage of players who leave the sport altogether because of injuries. No one’s fault, that. Iowa, for instance, had one in 2010 recruit Austin Vier, a tight end who had a back operation and couldn’t resume his playing career although it sounds like he would have liked nothing better than to do so.
3. Nebraska, Iowa State and Minnesota have had coaching changes since the end of the 2007 season, and that often affects player-turnover.
OK, here are my findings (no need for a trumpet, the buildup to this has been way too long as it is):
Not counting the early departures to the NFL, by my count Iowa has had 30 players leave from the 94 that were signed from 2008 through 2011. That’s 31.9percent.
Oklahoma: 26 of 93, 28.0 percent
Minnesota: 28 of 104, 26.9 percent
Iowa State: 25 of 101, 24.8 percent
Nebraska: 16 of 90, 17.8 percent
Michigan State: 14 of 85, 16.5 percent
Wisconsin: 15 of 96, 15.6 percent
Here is Iowa’s breakdown by class:
2008 – 12 of 27 signees gone. (David Blackwell, Jeff Brinson, David Cato, J.D. Griggs, Nate Guillory, Jewel Hampton, William Lowe, DeMarco Paine, Shane Prater, Adam Robinson, Jason Semmes, Khalif Staten)
2009 – 8 of 19. (Josh Brown, Scott Covert, Tyler Harrell, Martin Hopkins, Matt Murphy, Stephane N’goumou, Anthony Schiavone, Brandon Wegher)
2010 – 6 of 22. (Marcus Coker, A.J. Derby, Anthony Ferguson, Austin Gray, Donavan Johnson, Austin Vier)
2011 - 4 of 26. (Rodney Coe, Marcus Grant, Dan Heiar, John Raymon)
Wisconsin has lost a total of just two signees from its 2010 and 2011 classes, while Michigan State and Wisconsin have lost but three. Oklahoma, meanwhile, has seen 13 players exit from the classes of ’10 and ’11.
Where did Iowa’s departures go? Well, some either went to another football program and then left the sport, or never joined another team.
- Stephen F. Austin’s David Cato (30) chases UNI quarterback Tirrell Rennie in a 2010 game (Brian Ray/SourceMedia Group)
Semmes is the only player who apparently prospered at another FBS school. He had 10.5 sacks over the last two seasons at Miami (Ohio), where his brother plays running back.
Hampton had a very nice junior season for Southern Illinois with 1,121 rushing yards, then made himself eligible for this year’s NFL draft. Brinson transferred to Central Florida, but injuries shut down his career. Cato finished his career at Stephen F. Austin.
Guillory, was a junior college transfer to Iowa. He went from Iowa to Northwestern Oklahoma State where he rushed for 2,858 yards in two seasons and was an NAIA All-American.
Blackwell, recruited to Iowa as a linebacker, transferred to Iowa Western Community College in 2009, then went to FCS Bethune-Cookman the following year. Late in the 2011 season, he was virtually a last-minute starter at quarterback in a late-season game against Savannah State. Blackwell rushed for 203 yards and three touchdowns, and completed 8 of 10 passes for 147 yards and a TD in a 59-3 victory. Savannah State went 1-10.
Academic issues kept highly touted running back recruit Coe from joining the Hawkeyes in 2011, so he went to Iowa Western, where he will return for his sophomore season this year. He may yet end up at Iowa.
Many of the other scholarship players who left Iowa … not a lot of football footprints. The same is true for most of the players who left the other six programs listed here.
So what does this mean for Iowa, 29 scholarship players in four seasons that haven’t been retained? The obvious short answer: It’s not great.
When three of them were running backs who showed they could get the job done for the Hawkeyes (Wegher, Hampton, Coker) and a fourth (McCall) appeared to have that potential, it’s really not great.
But for every scholarship player that leaves, a scholarship opens up. And the word sure sounds good about this Greg Garmon, a running back Iowa has scooped up from Erie, Pa.
He’ll play four seasons at Iowa for sure. OK, would you settle for three?
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1. We will never know the reasons about anything with most Iowa programs, this is big business and secrecy is key.
2. Athlete-students at Iowa are going to the pros in big numbers thanks to Mr. Ferentz, just what he was hired to do?
3. There seems to be issues that need to be addressed but NO ONE has the gonads to question Ferentz. Barta has shown he is nothing more then a yes man with a lack of leadership! Go HAWKEYES!!
Jim, KF was not hired to send guys to the pros. He was hired to coach football at Iowa and to produce winning seasons. He has been less successful at the latter than his salary justifies.
The “secrecy as key” is what bothers me, and while most of the players who left appear to have done so to escape being a career third-stringer at Iowa (who can blame them? Players want to play)there are still a number of suspended players whose suspensions do not smell right. Hiding behind FERPA in the selective way the University does smells funny, too. Some of the comments in the blogs make it sound as though the University ruthlessly purges these kids while Ferentz stands helplessly by, watching it all in horror. Sorry, but his influence is too great at the U of I for me to believe that.
Paul: For all seasons Ferentz is 96 W, 66L (59%), and if you exclude the first two seasons, he is 92W 47L (66%). Excluding the first two seasons, he has had only one losing season out of 11. His teams have finished ranked in the top 20 5 times, with 4 of those rankings in the top 10. Just three seasons ago his team finished ranked 7th. There are those among us that just won’t accept anything less than a BCS bowl every year. That’s just unrealistic and you will end up being sorely disappointed most of your life. Granted, it’s curious why there are so many kids transfering out of Iowa, and the Hawks can’t afford it like LSU or Alabama where there are three All-Americans behind them. There may be some unrealistic expectations on the part of the kids that are transfering. If it’s because the kids don’t want to follow Kirk’s rules, then so be it. I’d rather have kids who are going to play by the rules than an Ohio State or Auburn roster.
Paul, I do why Ferentz was hired was just being facetious. Every time there is a discussion about Iowa someone uses the “pro” thing to state their position.
Fair weather fans don’t help the program.
Paul;
I like your comment; “…there is nothing “fair-weather” about demanding accountability and fairness from your alma mater.” Now my question, are you talking about coaches only…..players only….or both. I see nothing wrong with a coach demanding accountability and fairness of his players. Is it my business or for that fact anyone elses business of how you raise your children, what you do in the workplace. Isn’t that for parents and managers (coaches) to decide.
It is becoming more apparent with each of your posts that you have a problem more with the personality that is coaching at Iowa as to how it is run. If that is a true statement, maybe you should look to “transfer” to another school.
Jim,
Message received. Sorry, I guess my sense of humor has taken a major hit during this whole business.
As for your comment, Eric, there is nothing “fair-weather” about demanding accountability and fairness from your alma mater. I think these things detract from our image and reputation.
Here’s a snapshot from around the country for just the upcoming season:
Air Force K Steve Valdez Xfer to UTEP 2012
Akron LB Brian Wagner xfer to Arizona 2012
Alabama FB Mike Marrow Xfer to Nebraska 2012
Alabama HB Corey Grant Xfer to Auburn 2012
Alabama WR Keiwone Malone Xfer to Memphis 2012
Arizona QB Tom Savage Xfer to ? 2013
Arizona QB Daxx Garman Xfer to Oklahoma St 2013
Arizona QB Matt Scott redshirted in 2011 will be rSr in 2012
Arizona St LB Taylor Walstad Xfer to UNLV 2012
Arkansas OL Cam Feldt Xfer to North Texas 2012
Arkansas QB Jacoby Walker Xfer to FCS 2013
Arkansas DE Lonnie Gosha Xfer to Troy 2013
Auburn HB Michael Dyer xfer to Arkansas St 2013
Auburn QB Barrett Trotter will not return for senior season
Ball St HB Eric Williams Xfer to ? 2012
Baylor WR Josh Gordon Xfer to Utah 2012
Boston Coll WR Shakim Phillips Xfer to UCONN 2012
Boston College HB Montel Harris granted extra yr of eligibility
Boston College DT Kaleb Ramsey granted extra yr of eligibilty
BYU QB Jake Heaps Xfer to Kansas 2013
BYU OT Tayo Fabuluje Xfer to TCU 2012
Cincinnati LB Ryan Paxson Xfer to Buffalo 2012
Clemson HB Demont Buice Xfer to ? 2013
Clemson WR Brandon Clear Xfer to Illinois 2012
Clemson WR Bryce McNeal Xfer to UCONN 2013
Colorado DE Forrest West Xfer to NC State 2012
Colorado St QB Pete Thomas xfer to ? 2013 (Rumored to Vandy)
FIU DE Kambriel Williams Xfer to FCS N/A
Florida HB Mike Blakely Xfer to Auburn 2012
Florida DB Jonathan Dowling Xfer to Western Ky 2012
Florida HB Jeff Demps quits football to concentrate on track
Florida TE Gerald Christian Xfer to Louisville 2013
Florida WR Robert Clark Xfer to Louisville 2013
Florida S Josh Shaw Xfer to USC 2013
Florida DE Lynden Trail Xfer to FCS 2013
Florida WR Chris Dunkley Xfer to USF 2012
Florida WR Javares McCoy Xfer to Texas Tech 2012
Florida TE Michael McFarland Xfer to USF 2012
Florida S Jordan Haden Xfer to Toledo 2012
Florida LB Dee Finley Xfer to FCS N/A
Florida St CB JaJuan Harley Xfer to Mid Tenn St 2012
Florida St OL Jordan Prestwood Xfer to Notre Dame 2012
Florida St CB Avis Commack xfer to JUCO N/A
Florida St LB Arrington Jenkins xfer to JUCO N/A
Georgia CB Derek Owens Xfer to Cincinnati 2012
Georgia OL Brent Benedict Xfer to Va Tech 2012
Georgia CB Jordan Love xfer to ? 2013
Georgia S Jakar Hamilton Xfer to FCS N/A
Georgia OL AJ Harmon Xfer to FCS N/A
Georgia Tech RT Phil Smith dismissed
Gonzaga DB Demetri Goodson Xfer to Baylor 2012
Houston QB Terrance Broadway Xfer to UL-Lafayette 2012
Illinois FB Jay Prosch xfer to Auburn 2012 (Will probably get hardship waiver)
Indiana HB Nick Turner Xfer to ? 2013
Indiana HB Antonio Banks Xfer to FCS 2013
Indiana DT Marlandez Harris Xfer to FCS 2013
Indiana QB Ed Wright-Baker xfer to ? 2013 (Rumors may follow former OC to Arz)
Indiana QB Dusty Kiel xfer to ? 2013
Iowa QB/TE/LB AJ Derby xfer to JUCO 2013
Iowa HB Mikail McCall xfer to FCS 2013
Iowa HB Marcus Coker transfer to ? 2013
Kansas QB Jordan Webb left team ? 2013
Kansas HB Darrian Miller dismissed
Kansas S Keeston Terry dismissed
Kansas QB Brock Berglund dismissed
Kansas DE JaQwaylin Arps dismissed
Kansas CB Dexter McDonald dismissed
Kansas DB Adonis Saunders dismissed
Kansas DE Tyrone Sellers left team
Kansas OL Tom Mabry left team
Kansas OL Travis Bodenstein xfer to ? 2013
LSU HB Drayton Calhoun Xfer to Mid Tenn St 2012
LSU OL Cameron Fordham Xfer to NC State 2012
LSU HB Jakhari Gore xfer to ? 2013
LSU LB Trevon Randle xfer to Houston 2013
Marshall QB Eddie Sullivan Xfer to ? 2013
Maryland OL Cody Blue Xfer to ? 2013
Maryland HB DJ Adams Xfer to FCS 2013
Maryland WR Tyrek Cheeseboro granted extra yr of eligibility
Maryland SS Matt Robinson granted extra yr of eligibility
Maryland LB Isaih Ross granted extra year of eligibility
Maryland LB/S Kenny Tate granted extra yr of eligibility
Maryland RT RJ Dill Xfer to Rutgers 2012
Maryland HB Rahsaan Moore Xfer to FCS 2013
Maryland HB Jeremiah Wilson Xfer to FCS 2013
Maryland DB Titus Till Xfer to FCS 2013
Maryland DL David Mackall Xfer to ? 2013
Maryland WR Adrian Coxson Xfer to ? 2013
Maryland HB Gary Douglas Xfer to FCS 2012
Maryland LB Ryan Donahue Xfer to UCONN 2012
Memphis QB Ryan Williams Xfer to Miami FL 2012
Miami HB Storm Johnson Xfer to UCF 2012
Miami OH HB Tracey Woods Xfer to ? 2012
Michigan CB Cullen Christian Xfer to Pitt 2012
Michigan WR Darryl Stonum dismissed
Michigan QB Tate Forcier Xfer to ? (SURPRISE!) 2012
Michigan WR DJ Williamson Xfer to ? 2013
Michigan S Ray Vinopal Xfer to Pitt 2012
Michigan S Vladimir Emilien Xfer to Toledo 2012
Michigan WR Je’Ron Stokes Xfer to Bowling Green 2012
Mid Tenn St QB Tim Byerly xfer to Ga Tech 2013 will walk-on
Minnesota HB DeLeon Eskridge Xfer to San Jose St 2012
Minnesota CB Troy Stoudamire granted additional year
Miss St QB Dylan Favre Xfer to FCS N/A
Miss St DB Dennis Thames Xfer to FCS N/A
Missouri QB Tyler Gabbert Xfer to UCF 2012
Missouri DT Gerrand Johnson Xfer to UL-Monroe 2012
Nebraska QB Cody Green Xfer to Tulsa 2012
New Mexico DT Calvin Smith Xfer to Purdue 2012
New Mexico QB Ricardo Young Xfer to ? 2013
New Mexico S Zach Dancel xfer to Maryland ?
New Mexico WR Emmanuel McPhearson Xfer to ? 2013
New Mexico DB Carmeiris Stewart Xfer to ? 2013
New Mexico DL Mark Hunter Xfer to ? 2013
North Carolina WR Brendon Felder Xfer to Pitt 2012
North Carolina LB Herman Davison Xfer to 2012
North Carolina HB Hunter Furr Xfer to ECU 2012
North Carolina K Casey Barth granted extra year
North Carolina QB Braden Hanson xfer to FCS N/A
North Carolina DT Brandon Willis Xfer to UCLA 2012
North Carolina FB Devon Ramsay granted additional year of eligibilty
North Carolina CB Josh Hunter Xfer to ? 2013
Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist Xfer to Kansas 2012
Ohio St QB Taylor Graham Xfer to Hawaii 2013
Ohio St WR James Louis Xfer to FIU 2012
Ohio St LB Jon Newsome Xfer to Ball St 2012
Ohio St LB Dorian Bell Xfer to FCS N/A
Ohio St DB Dominic Clarke xfer to ? 2013
Ohio St DB DerJuan Gambrell xfer to ? 2013
Oklahoma HB Jermie Calhoun Xfer to FCS 2013
Oklahoma TE Max Stevenson ? 2013
Oklahoma DT Josh Aladenoye xfer to ? 2013
Oklahoma DB James Haynes xfer to ? 2013
Oklahoma TE Austin Haywood Xfer to ? 2013
Oklahoma HB Jonathan Miller Xfer to FCS N/A
Oklahoma HB Brandon Williams Xfer to Texas A&M 2013
Oklahoma DB Marcus Trice Xfer to North Texas 2012
Oregon HB Lache Seastrunk Xfer to Baylor 2012
Oregon St LB Uani Unga Xfer to BYU 2012
Oregon St QB Ryan Katz Xfer to San Diego St 2012
Oregon St DL Taylor Henry Xfer to ? 2013
Penn St QB Kevin Newsome Xfer to ? 2012
Penn St OL Tom Ricketts Xfer to Pitt 2012
Penn St OL Alex Mateas Xfer to UCONN 2012
Pitt S Kolby Gray Baylor Xfer to ? 2012
Pitt HB Jeremiah Brinson Xfer to Mid Tenn St 2012
Pitt TE Brock DeCicco Xfer to Wisconsin 2012
Purdue QB Robert Marve granted 6th year
Purdue HB Reggie Pegram xfer to ? 2013
Rutgers LB Al-Ghaffar Lane Xfer to FCS N/A
South Carolina HB Jarvis Giles Xfer to Louisville 2012
South Carolina S Corey Addison Xfer to ? 2013
South Carolina CB Martay Maddox Xfer to ? 2013
Syracuse LB EJ Carter Xfer to NC State 2012
Tennessee HB David Oku Xfer to ? 2012
Tennessee HB Toney Williams Xfer to Ball St 2012
Tennessee WR Matt Milton xfer to Louisville 2013
Tennessee WR DeAnthony Arnett Xfer to Michigan State 2013 (Applying for 2012 waiver)
Texas DT Taylor Bible Xfer to ? 2013
Texas QB Garrett Gilbert Xfer to SMU 2013
Texas LB Dravannti Johnson Xfer to ? 2013
Texas HB Traylon Shead Xfer to JUCO 2013
Texas WR Chris Jones TCU Xfer to ? 2013
Texas QB Connor Wood Xfer to Colorado 2012
Texas WR Darius White Xfer to Missouri 2013
Texas WR Greg Timmons Xfer to ? 2012
Texas Tech QB Jacob Karam Xfer to Memphis 2013
Toledo LB Isaiah Ballard Xfer to FCS N/A
Tulane WR DJ Banks Xfer to La Tech 2012
Tulane WR Devin Figaro Xfer to Mid Tenn St 2012
UAB QB David Isabelle Xfer to FCS N/A
UCF QB Jeff Godfrey Xfer to ? 2013
UCF DL Demetris Anderson Xfer to ? 2012
UCF LB Leilon Willingham xfer to FCS N/A
UCLA TE Morrell Presley Xfer to ? 2012
UCLA DE Derrick Bryant Xfer to West Va 2012
UCLA CB Courtney Viney Xfer to New Mex State 2012
UCLA DB Josh Barut Xfer to FCS N/A
UCLA DB/WR Randall Carroll dismissed
UCLA DE Wesley Flowers dismissed
UCLA TE Raymond Nelson dismissed
UCONN WR Dwayne Difton Xfer to ? 2013
UNLV WR Nehemiah Mundy Xfer to Oklahoma St ?
USC WR Markeith Ambles Xfer to Juco ?
USC HB Dillon Baxter Xfer to San Diego St 2013
USC DT Armond Armstead xfer to ? 2012
USC HB Amir Carlisle xfer to Notre Dame 2013
USC WR Kyle Prater xfer to ? 2013
USC DB TJ Bryant xfer to ? 2013 (Will apply to play 2012)
USC DB Patrick Hall xfer to ? 2013
USC WR Brice Butler xfer to San Diego St 2012
Utah QB Tyler Shreve Xfer to 2013
Utah St QB Jeremy Higgins Xfer to Hawaii 2012
Va Tech WR Austin Fuller Xfer to SMU 2012
Va Tech LB Lyndell Gibson Xfer to FCS 2012
Va Tech LB Quillie Odom Xfer to ? 2012
VA Tech DT Isaiah Hamlette left team
Va Tech QB Ju-Ju Clayton left team
Va Tech DL Dwight Tucker left team
Va Tech OG Courtney Prince left team
Vanderbilt DB Jay Fullam Xfer to Air Force 2012
Virginia CB Devin Wallace Xfer to ? 2013
Washington QB Nick Montana xfer to JUCO 2013
Washington DE Brent Williams Xfer to Colorado St 2012
Washington TE Marlion Barnett Xfer to ? 2013
Washington LB Jordan Wallace Xfer to ? 2013
Washington St TE Mike Fennerty Xfer to ? 2012
Washington St HB Arthur Burns Xfer to ? 2012
West Va HB Daquan Hargrett Xfer to FIU 2012
West VA HB Trey Johnson xfer to FCS N/A
Western Ky DT Korentheus Bailey Xfer to FCS N/A
Western Ky HB Quartterrio Morgan xfer to FCS N/A
Wisconsin DE David Gilbert redshirted in 2011 will be rSr in 2012
Wyoming S Shamiel Gary Xfer to Oklahoma St 2012
Wyoming QB Austyn Carta-Samuels Xfer to Vanderbilt 2012
Wyoming DE Miraldo Michel Xfer to ? 2013
Wyoming QB Emory Miller Xfer to ? FCS N/A
Wyoming WR Josh Doctson xfer to TCU 2013
Thanks for that, James.
Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, USC, Texas, Oklahoma … all have quite the turnover this offseason.
This list is incredible! Where were you about to come across it. Please reply or shoot me an email at, tbscudder@gmail.com
Thanks,
Tyler
“Fair Weather Fans” These people are the problem? These are the people not helping the problem? I beg to differ.
Why would I do anything about the program if I sell out every game and people go to the bowls.My coach is happy with middle of the road seasons but puts together enough wins to still get us on TV here and there.
Want to make changes stop going to the games, Stop watching. Call it fair weather fan but we have fair weather althletic departments. If the money is coming in they dont care in what fashion its coming in.
The problem is obviously coaching. Does that mean to fire KF? Well if you have asked me after the gopher game i would have said yes. Kirk just seems to comfortable with losing. Does seem to have a fire about him.
I look a our basketball team I watch Fran turn badger red, he gets fired up and the kids get behind him look what he has done with that program in the last 2 years simply amazing
Obviously we have issues, with those issues we need to make changes. What changes do we need to make? Personally i dont think firing KF at this point is the answer (well at least not yet) but with the departure of Norm it may be time get rid on KO, well theres no maybe about he has to go.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!