West Des Moines Iowa — Spring drills continue for an Iowa team that went 6-3 in the Big Ten last season despite a number of problems on offense. The Hawkeyes are hoping a coaching overhaul can get its attack on track.
Though Iowa’s defense might be more set than its offense this spring, it did lose a key piece on Thursday when safety Brandon Snyder tore an ACL. Head Coach Kirk Ferentz said Friday the former West Lyon standout is likely out for the season. Snyder, a 13-game starter last season ranked third on the team in tackles, led the team by forcing three fumbles and shared the team lead with three interceptions during his first year in the lineup. Ferentz said Snyder suffered the injury during a special teams drill near the end of Thursday morning’s practice.
Iowa (8-5 in 2016) has a new coordinator and running backs coach – Brian Ferentz, the 34-year-old son of coach Kirk Ferentz and a former lineman for the Hawkeyes and new faces leading the quarterbacks, wide receivers and offensive line. The Hawkeyes conclude spring practice with a scrimmage at Kinnick Stadium on April 21.
The biggest hot spot for the offense is the wide receiving corps coming off a 30-3 bowl game loss to Florida. Nick Easley, the rare junior college transfer brought in during Kirk Ferentz’s nearly two decades in charge, has emerged as a name to watch.
Easley, who caught 72 passes for 954 yards and seven TDs for powerhouse Iowa Western, earned a spot on spring depth chart before his first practice in Iowa City. With Jerminic Smith out for the spring because of academic issues, Easley, Devonte Young and Adrian Falconer have slid into prominent roles in the new offense. Iowa also needs a new quarterback to replace likely NFL draft pick C.J. Beathard. Sophomore-to-be Nathan Stanley is listed as a starter on the depth chart, but Kirk Ferentz said Friday that the situation is “clearly cloudy.” Stanley and Tyler Wiegers are competing for the Number one job, with Ryan Boyle and Drew Cook trailing behind.
