Iowa Football: Post-spring game 2018 depth chart projection
After an 8-5 season, Iowa football has high expectations heading into 2018. What could the Hawkeyes’ depth chart look like after the spring game?
Kirk Ferentz has been through many a spring practices in his now 19 seasons as the head man in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes, who turned out to be one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten Conference a season ago due to injuries. They showed flashes of greatness (historic blowout of Ohio State) and showed there’s still a lot of work to be done (Wisconsin game). But the faster a young team learns, the better it is for everyone.
The pre-spring depth chart showed little surprises to many Hawkeye fans with all the familiar names from a season ago still in place. Their were two position groups in question coming into the spring and they were the linebacking corp and the interior offensive line, both of which were hurt by graduation and NFL entrees. With those in mind, here is the post-spring depth chart.
Offensive Line
Starting Tackles: Tristan Wirfs (LT), Alaric Jackson (RT)
Backups: Mark Kallenberger, Dalton Ferguson
Wirfs and Jackson became known commodities to Hawkeye fans due to injuries to senior tackles Boone Meyers and Ike Boettger. Jackson started every regular season game in 2017, while Wirfs became a starting tackle during Iowa’s homecoming bout with Illinois in 2017, and started every game the rest of the way. As the season progressed, the two mountains of flesh anchoring each side of the line showed unlimited potential in terms of how dominant they could be.
Alaric Jackson is stepping into his second full season as a starting tackle for the Hawkeyes and stands at a massive 6-foot-7, 320 pounds and has shown flashes of greatness. Opposite, Tristan Wirfs is just a hair shorter, standing at 6-5 and 320 pounds, but moves remarkably well for his size and age. These two might combine for the best tackle duo in the Big Ten. Backups Mark Kallenberger and Dalton Ferguson are prepared at a moments notice to fill in as well.
Starting Guards: Ross Reyonlds (LG), Levi Paulsen (RG)
Backups: Coy Kirkpatrick, Landan Paulsen
Ross Reynolds enters his final season in Iowa City etched in at the left guard spot previously held by now-Center Keegan Render. Reynolds, a 6-foot-4, 295-pounder from Waukee, Iowa, has paid his dues as a backup throughout his career and appears to be ready to make the best of his remaining time as Hawkeye by helping anchor the interior line. His backup, Coy Kirkpatrick, remains his backup coming off a redshirt.
Levi Paulsen has a tough task of replacing an All-Big Ten performer in Sean Welsh, who is likely going to be drafted late in this April’s draft. Paulsen stands at 6-5, 305 pounds, impressive for being an offensive guard. His spring game performance showed that he has definitely prepared well to take over the starting role. His backup is a familiar name for Levi, as his twin brother Landan Paulsen is penciled in at back up.
Starting Center: Keegan Render
Backup: Cole Banwart
The elder statesman of the 2018 Iowa offensive line is center Keegan Render. Render has 36 games under his belt during his time in Iowa City, but only nine appearances last season due to injury. The 6-foot-4, 307-pound senior from Indianola, Iowa, has some big shoes to fill at center with James Daniels jumping early to the NFL draft, but Render’s experience should help out the situation. Sophomore Cole Banwart is slated as the backup following spring practices.