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Iowa Football: Hawkeyes’ 2017 season preview and predictions

By Connor Muldowney

IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 3: Head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes waits with his team during a play review in the second quarter against the Miami (OH) RedHawks on September 3, 2016 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 3: Head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes waits with his team during a play review in the second quarter against the Miami (OH) RedHawks on September 3, 2016 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – OCTOBER 15: Parker Hesse #40 and Josey Jewell #43 of the Iowa Hawkeyes make a tackle for loss against Markell Jones #8 of the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half of the game at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 15, 2016 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – OCTOBER 15: Parker Hesse #40 and Josey Jewell #43 of the Iowa Hawkeyes make a tackle for loss against Markell Jones #8 of the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half of the game at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 15, 2016 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Defense

Defensively, seven starters return and most of them come from the linebacking unit. Three, however, are defensive linemen and one is a defensive back. The front-seven should be one of the strongest in the conference while the defensive backfield, ranked 29th nationally against the pass in 2016, could take a hit.

Losing 2015 Thorpe Award winner Desmond King isn’t going to be easy for this squad, but he will be replaced by a couple of young guys who got to learn under him. Junior Joshua Jackson and sophomore Manny Rugamba are projected starters with Cedric Boswell, a freshman, and sophomore Michael Ojemudia waiting in the wings. They’ll need a strong summer to get back to where the unit was last year.

Senior safety Miles Taylor returns to his starting spot, but he had 45 total tackles and no picks last season. Jake Gervase and Amani Hooker will be battling for the other starting spot.

On the line, All-Big Ten tackle Jaleel Johnson is gone, but returning is Nathan Bazata. He had 39 total tackles, three for loss and 1.5 sacks as a junior and will be expected to do more. Parker Hesse will be fighting off blue-chip freshman A.J. Epenesa at defensive end. He should be the clear starter with 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as a sophomore.

Matt Nelson, Anthony Nelson, Cedrick Lattimore and Brady Reiff are all young guys battling for the last two starting spots.

Josey Jewell, a superstar-in-the-making?

The linebackers returning to the Hawkeyes in 2015 are the strongest group on the defensive side of the ball. Although they ranked just 43rd in the nation in stopping the run, returning three starters to the unit means that improvement is inevitable. Another year in the system with more knowledge and experience will only improve things.

Seniors Ben Niemann and Bo Bower return to the outside linebacker positions, but there’s a superstar-in-the-making in the middle of the defense by the name of Josey Jewell. The two outside backers finished fourth and second on the team, respectively, in tackles last season while Jewell was top dog with 124 combined takedowns.

As long as he can remain healthy this year, along with his battery mates, he could be the top linebacker in the Big Ten and a potential All-American. This linebacking unit is scary and could combine for over 300 tackles in 2017.

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