Riley McMinn is not only the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 10th commitment, but a budding YouTube star as well. Here’s a picture for reference. Now, watch the video.

Don’t tell me that’s not him! It gets better. He’s no “one hit wonder.”

So, there’s good news and bad news with this video. I’ll just stick to the good. Riley will be playing defense and there will be no second attempt at dodging dudes in gorilla suits.

It’s all in good fun, Riley. Nice moves. Look forward to seeing you in black and gold.

Iowa Prep Sports — Iowa Hawkeyes OL recruit Austin Blythe (Williamsburg H.S.) and Christian French (Cedar Rapids Kennedy) have been nominated to participate in next year’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

For the full story, click here.

Rivals — “A closer look at the spring roster”

Most importantly, this more in-depth breakdown of the Hawkeyes’ depth chart looks at who has gained weight. Notable names of those packing on weight include offensive linemen Riley Reiff, Markus Zusevics, and James Ferentz. Reiff reached the 300-pound mark and Zusevics wasn’t far behind at 295 pounds.

I discussed the importance of weight gain on the offensive line in an earlier post. The bigger the uglies, the more I’ll have confidence in them opening the season. All I know is that in the Big Ten, small offensive lines usually don’t fare well.

I do think this group has the chance to be just as good as the one they’re replacing.

As always, I’ll be on the lookout for more recruiting news. I hope to have something to post on that front soon.

If the Iowa Hawkeyes are to live up to the increasing expectations for 2010, the offensive line needs to mature quickly.

Iowa features only sophomore left tackle Riley Reiff and senior right guard Julian Vandervelde returning with experience.

Reiff started in 11 of the Hawkeyes’ 13 games and Vandervelde started in nine, saw action in 12, but suffered with consistency issues all season because of missing the summer with an injury.

Reiff was named to CollegeFootballNews.com’s third team Freshman all-America and Sporting News’ first team Big Ten all-Freshman. Vandervelde impressed in 2008 before last summer’s injury.

So, we know both are capable, it’s the other slots in the trenches that need to be filled by the right guys for Iowa to be successful again this fall.

Junior Adam Gettis saw some action at left guard and sophomore James Ferentz will likely see plenty of time this season after off-field troubles kept him from playing last year.

Gettis improved as the season went on after struggling in a start against Northern Iowa. But who didn’t struggle in that game for the Hawks? If he continues to make progress in spring and summer practice the spot should be his.

Plenty of pressure is on the coach’s son, as center is heavily relied upon in the Iowa offense. Ferentz may have seen playing time last year had he not suffered from a lapse in judgement.

From there, however, it’s anybody’s guess as to who will get the nod in the leftover gaps.

What Seems Like a Long, Long, Time Ago

The last time the Hawkeyes’ offensive line looked this young was 2007—not a good year for the Hawks, who went 6-6 and rightfully missed out on a seventh-straight bowl berth after losing to a Western Michigan team that was 3-7 at the time.

Iowa’s offensive line for 2007 featured two returning starters in Seth Olsen at right guard and Rafael Eubanks at center. Both would later be named as all-Big Ten honorable mentions as consolation, I guess.

As for the rest of the offensive line, the Hawkeyes featured widely young and inexperienced players in the trenches after Iowa lost Mike Jones, Mike Elgin and Marshal Yanda to graduation in 2006.

The result was 46 sacks allowed by the end of the year. That stat was good for 114th in the nation. Iowa had only given up 22 sacks the previous season.

Iowa did a lot of shuffling with the 2007 offensive line due to injuries and lacks of cohesion and experience. They were the doormat of offensive lines in the Big Ten before finding themselves in 2008.

That inexperienced squad included a young Bryan Bulaga, Kyle Calloway, and Rafael Eubanks. Dace Richardson sat out much of 2007 due to injury.

Back to the Future

Last season, Iowa gave up 29 sacks, which tied for 82nd in the country. That’s by no means a pretty number.

With a younger offensive line this season, it’s reasonable to expect that number to increase.

What does that mean for the Hawkeyes? Everybody else has to step it up.

Quarterback Ricky Stanzi has to lead the team and make better decisions all around.

Receivers have to get open and catch the ball to take the pressure off the running game.

Luckily for the incoming o-line uglies, they’ll be protecting three very talented backs in Adam Robinson, Brandon Wegher, and Jewel Hampton.

On a positive note, the Hawkeyes return plenty of players with starting experience—largely in thanks to last season’s injuries—to back up the offensive line.

Also, here’s to hoping this year’s playmakers are smarter in the off-season than they were in 2007. That will go a long way in ensuring Iowa’s success.

Overall, though, this young o-line needs to mature very quickly and find that groove 2007′s squad couldn’t.

Hopefully, they’ll also put on some meat in the off-season, as Vandervelde and red-shirt sophomore Casey McMillan are the only ones in the discussion over 300 pounds. We’ll get an update on that situation closer to spring practice.

Finally, as always, nobody gets injured.

Knock on the wood nearest you.

As you might have noticed, the new design is complete. I’m pretty stoked but there are still kinks that need ironed out. If you stumble across anything that causes frustration, let me know. As always, feedback is appreciated.

Well, yeah, I’ve been doing some renovating but it’s being slowed by school work and other projects. All content is still up and I’ll keep updating but please be patient with the beautification process.

I’m hoping to have all my design ideas live and all the kinks worked out within the week.

Thanks,

Tim

James Morris’ passion for sports extends beyond the gridiron to the mat.

Though he’ll lend the University of Iowa his linebacking skills for the next four years, Morris has made a statement in this year’s Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament.

While Morris may have a tad more success on the football field, having helped lead Solon High School to its third straight state football championship, he shares his love for wrestling with many of his fellow Iowa athletes.

Iowans love their football whether it’s high school, college or professional. The Hawkeyes’ trumping of Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl shows promise for a team that has most the state excited for the 2010 season.

But for Iowans, wrestling is more than a sport. Calling it a way of life may come off as far too cliche but it’s simply a truth for many Iowans.

Iowa and wrestling are as inseparable as Canada and hockey.

Wrestling is a one-on-one battle against you and your opponent. It takes hard work, determination, passion and guts. As the legendary, former University of Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable once said:

“Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.”

The sport represents the pride and work ethic of the Midwest.

Many kids first learned wrestling in their own living rooms from their father, or from an older brother who learned it from their father and wanted an excuse to “hone their skills” on a little twerp.

Making it to the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament is a feat in itself. James Morris is one of many young Iowans who have stood tests of endurance, strength, patience and pure heart.

Morris entered the tournament with an impressive 34-0 record but was handed his first defeat in the Class 3A 215-pound quarterfinals Friday afternoon by Senior Ryan Fank of Independence (40-2).

Morris will wrestle Logan Johnson of Algona High School tonight for a chance to wrestle for third place—no small accomplishment in the country’s best high school wrestling showcase.

Just placing is reason enough to hang your head high and Morris won’t finish any worse than sixth place.

No matter where he stands on the podium when it’s all said and done, Morris has shown that he has the right traits to make a mark in Norm Paker’s Iowa defense.

Hopefully for Morris, now that his wrestling career winds down, everything else will be easy.

Read this article and more Iowa Hawkeyes coverage on Bleacherreport.com.

Another year, another batch of the latest green recruits for Kirk Ferentz and his staff to cultivate into model Iowa Hawkeyes football players.

Iowa City Press-Citizen: Ferentz ‘thrilled’ with recruiting class

If he’s happy, so are we.

Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa hitting a groove with recruits

The Hawkeye coaching staff will try to find high-level recruits with character this time around–because that’s what counts! No more trouble makers, please.

The Gazette: Derby wins his first QB derby at Iowa

A.J. Derby has upside at quarterback. He could be an All-American (Iowan) hero.

Iowa Prep Sports: Hawkeyes offer Kennedy’s French a scholarship

Christian French is a 6-foot-6 safety. The Hawkeyes want him at TE or DE–good idea.

Hawkmania (Quad City Times): No recruiting drama for Hawkeyes

Iowa recruits men of their word. We don’t like surprises anyway.

——————–

It’s been a fun ride providing my opinion and analysis. Thanks to everyone who has commented and linked to my site this fall and winter.

The good news is I’m not going anywhere! Nope, we’ve already got new faces showing up in Iowa City, looking to become Hawkeyes. What’s even more exciting is that if the Hawkeyes can put in another successful season, it could mean big success and big signings for 2011!

It’s never too early to look ahead–when it comes to recruiting.

Well…maybe Lane Kiffin and USC looked a little further ahead than most feel comfortable. Yeah, I think they did.

13-year-old David Sills is just that: a thirteen-year-old boy. Let the kid grow up and, yes, he is still a kid. He’s not even in high school yet.

Hopefully the NCAA steps in and stops things like this from happening in the future. USC has gone too far on this one.

I know he’s probably stoked, as he has a right to be, but the parents need to protect their child.

All he can hope to do now is live up to the expectations. For his sake, I sincerely hope he does.

That’s too much pressure on a teenager.

According to David Krider of Maxpreps.com, the Iowa Hawkeyes are the biggest sleeper team that may still have a chance at signing offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson.

That’s all I want to say on the topic.

If he comes — great. If not, I’ll try to muster up some fake disappointment.

I’m finished with the drama. Finished.

The big guy will make his decision Wednesday.

—-

Bleacherreport.com — Could Seantrel Henderson be a bust?

Iowa City Press-Citizen – The Iowa Hawkeyes picked up Ohio safety Anthony Hitchens who waited and waited and waited for an offer from Iowa. There’s no longer a void at safety after David Cato announced his transfer. See, it all works out in the end.

Rivals — No need to worry Hawkeye fans, Marcus Coker is still planning on signing with the Hawkeyes.

Here’s what Coker says about himself according to Scout.com:

“I can run downhill. I don’t waste movements and have football smarts. I’m a big bruising back and play with a lot of power.

“I want to improve my agility. And make people miss more.”

That sounds exactly like the kind of back that will fit right in at Iowa.

Rivals — Linn Mar’s (Marion, Iowa) David Parry enjoyed an Iowa visit this weekend. He has an offer to walk on. Perry’s is also highly interested in Stanford University, according to Rivals.

Rivals — While the Hawkeyes may be out of the running for Seantrel Henderson, his former teammate QB Mark Alt returned home from an offical visit to Iowa with a scholarship offer. Alt previously committed to Minnesota to play hockey. He is a one-star QB, according to Scout.

Scout — Ohio native TE Ray Hamilton is a big guy at 6-foot-5 220 pounds. He is a three-star recruit according to Scout. And he now holds an offer from Iowa for 2011.

Scout — Ellis Jordan and John Chelf have decided to walk-on at Iowa to join their former Iowa City High teammate A.J. Derby. The two were key players in Iowa City High’s 2009 4A State Championship team.

Jordan is a running back who passed up numerous Division II offers and Chelf a wide receiver who passed up an offer from Minnesota State and the opportunity to walk on at Iowa State to join the Hawkeyes.

You know who else was a walk-on at Iowa and also an Iowa native? Dallas Clark. He’s playing for his second Super Bowl Ring with the Colts.