SMU is sitting at 1-4 but do not blame Jeremy Johnson. The 6’0” 175 pound wide receiver is putting together a monstrous senior season for the Mustangs. Johnson has racked up over 100 receiving yards in four of his first five games in 2013. Altogether Johnson has caught 53 balls for 635 yards and four touchdowns. He has done it in the non-conference against the likes of Texas Tech, TCU, Texas A&M, and Rutgers to make things more impressive. Look for Johnson to take off when SMU gets into the teeth of the American Athletic Conference schedule.

9. David Fluellen-RB-Toledo

After a great junior campaign, Fluellen is having an even better senior season for the Toledo Rockets. As a do-it-all running back, Fluellen is fourth in the country in rushing with his 846 yards. He has reached the end zone 9 times in 2013 and has also added 22 receptions and 182 yards to his impressive stat line. Fluellen is not only one of the best running backs in the MAC but one of the best backs in the country.

8. Keith Wenning-QB-Ball State

The best pure passer in the MAC is undoubtedly Keith Wenning. Wenning has been the starting quarterback for the ever improving Ball State Cardinals since his true freshman season in Muncie. He has improved each year and is at the top of his game as a senior. Through seven games, Wenning has yet to have a game in which he failed to throw for at least 300 yards. Most importantly, he has been efficient in racking up the second most passing yards in the nation. Wenning is completing over 60% of his passes and has thrown 15 touchdown passes and just five interceptions.

7. Jimmie Ward-S-Northern Illinois

Senior Jimmie Ward has been the heart and soul of the Huskies defense in 2013. After leading the team in tackles last season, he has not skipped a beat this season. Ward not only leads the country in interceptions, but he also leads the Huskies in tackles with 50 total stops. His versatility to make plays both at the line-of-scrimmage and in the defensive backfield make him a pain for opposing offensive coordinators to game plan for.

6. Xavius Boyd-OLB-Western Kentucky

After losing one of the best pass rushers in the country mid-way through last season in Quanteris Smith, the Hilltoppers were looking for an elite pass rusher to compliment middle-Line-backer, Andrew Jackson’s elite run stopping abilities. They have received that in Xavius Boyd. The 6’2”, 243 pound senior ranks second in the country in tackles for loss, third in the country in sacks, 12^th in the country in total tackles and 15^th in the country in solo tackles.

5. Willie Snead-WR-Ball State

Keith Wenning’s favorite target the past two seasons has been Willie Snead. After reeling in 89 receptions for 1,148 yards in 2012, Snead is on pace for an even better season in 2013. Through seven games, Snead ranks in the top five in the country in receptions (51), receiving yards (867) and receiving touchdowns (7). The junior from Belle Glade, Florida was over-looked by every major program in his home state. Snead has found his way to Muncie where he has received the chance to prove his value.

4. Brett Smith-QB-Wyoming

If you like true duel-threat quarterbacks, a trip to Laramie to see Wyoming’s Brett Smith may be a good investment. Smith has been truly dynamic in 2013. He is averaging 309 yards per game through the air and 70 yards per game on the ground. Smith is completing nearly 65% of his passes while tossing 15 touchdown passes to just four interceptions. He has also tacked on 3 rushing touchdowns. On average, Smith produces 379 yards of offense and 3 touchdowns per game.

3. Jordan Lynch-QB-Northern Illinois

No surprise here. After finishing seventh in the Heisman voting, and leading his team to the Orange Bowl last season, Jordan Lynch has his Huskies sitting at 6-0 here in 2013. Everyone knows how good of a runner Lynch is and he has not disappointed thus far ranking 19^th in the country with 616 rushing yards this season. What people don’t give Lynch enough credit for is his efficiency throwing the football. Last season, Lynch totaled 25 touchdown passes to just six interceptions. This season, he has thrown for 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Lynch has only failed to throw for 200 yards once this season. When you combine this with the fact that he is averaging over 100 rushing yards-per-game, it creates a matchup nightmare for any defensive coordinator given the task of trying to slow down the Husky Offense.

2. Antonio Andrews-RB-Western Kentucky

If you don’t know who Antonio Andrews is, you are not alone, but you are missing out. Andrews defines a do everything back. He is a running back, a receiving threat, a punt returner and a kickoff returner for the Hilltoppers.  Andrews is the nation’s leading rusher and the first running back to break the 1,000 yard mark in 2013. He leads the country in all-purpose yards, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns.  He is also a threat out of the backfield as proven by his 19 receptions for 207 yards. Andrews has had only one game where he failed to rush for 100 yards and that was in the opening game against Kentucky, a game in which he rushed for 99 yards.

1. Derek Carr-QB-Fresno State

The phrase, “video game numbers,” would go a long way in describing Derek Carr’s senior season thus far. Derek has done more than just follow in his brother David’s footsteps in Fresno. Through just five games, Carr has amassed 1,864 passing yards good for an average of 373 yards per game. In the process, Carr is completing 71 percent of his passes for 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions. The undefeated and 17^th ranked Fresno State Bulldogs look to have a legitimate shot at crashing the BCS party this season and Derek Carr is the biggest reason why. Look for Carr to have a lot of interest from the NFL come April if he continues to play at this level.

The post Top 10 College Football Players at Non BCS Schools appeared first on KRUI Radio.

 
While Coach Mac has been huge in orchestrating a fast start in 2013, no one has been bigger than junior wide receiver, Paul Richardson (P-Rich as they call him in Boulder). Richardson is the best player in the country you have never heard of. He has the kind of talent where, if healthy, he could be a First Team All-American performer at any other FBS school. Through two games, Richardson led the nation in receiving with 417 yards, after turning in two straight 200 yards receiving performances to begin the season. He racked up those 417 yards on 21 receptions and scored four touchdowns in the process. He is also averaging 19.9 yards per reception in 2013. To give some context to those video game statistics, through two games, the Iowa Hawkeyes as a team had gained 449 yards through the air.

 
After sitting out all of 2012 with a knee injury, Richardson has returned in full force. Injuries have been a concern for him throughout his career. After a promising start to 2011, including a 284 yard receiving performance against Cal, Richardson suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss four games in the middle of the season.

 
This time is different, however. P-Rich has said numerous times that he believes he is stronger, and faster than he was before the injury. He also believes that he is ready to start taking on extra defensive attention that will most certainly start coming his way.
I have studied film of the top eligible wide receiver prospects for this 2014 draft. Names like Sammy Watkins of Clemson, Marqise Lee of USC, and Jordan Matthews of Vanderbilt are at the top of that list. If Paul Richardson can have a healthy 2013 season, then he has the talent to compete with any of those top-tier wide receiver prospects.

The post Under the radar star in the Pac 12 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The Hawkeyes second drive of the game was an effective one. An 11-play 69 –yard touchdown drive, capped off by Jake Rudock’s six yard touchdown run made it 7-0 Hawkeyes with 5:14 left in the first quarter.

However, the Offense sputtered for the rest of the first half including a trip to the red zone that was squandered by a missed 33-yard-field-goal off the foot of Mike Meyer. Despite out-gaining the Bears by 137 yards in the first half, Iowa went into the break with just a 7-0 lead.

The second half started with more frustration for the Hawkeyes offense. An 8 play, 73 yard drive went for not, as Mark Weisman was stopped at the one-yard-line.

The Hawkeyes were able to punch the ball into the end zone on their next two drives, both of which were capped off by Mark Weisman touchdowns. Iowa held a 21-0 lead with 5:43 left in the third quarter.

Missouri State came right back with a long drive of their own on the very next possession. An 8 play 75 yard touchdown drive, capped off by a 27 yard touchdown pass from Kierra Harris to Julian Burton cut the Iowa lead to 21-7 with 14:25 to go in the game. On the very next play from scrimmage, Jake Rudock’s pass was intercepted and run back 28-yards for a touchdown, by Rique Bentley, cutting the Iowa lead to just seven, with 14:15 to go in the game.

Mark Weisman went back to work helping carry the Hawkeyes offense to a 10-play 65 yard touchdown drive, capped by Jake Rudock’s second touchdown run of the game. Missouri State would drive inside the Hawkeye 20-yard line on the very next possession, but a Tanner Miller interception of a Kierra Harris pass with 6:50 left in the game, sealed the deal.

The Iowa offense racked up 189 rushing yards in the second half and 298 yards in the game. Mark Weisman finished with 30 carries for 184 yards and two touchdowns. When asked what was working for him in the second half, Weisman simply said, “my offensive line, that was what was working.”

In total, the Hakweyes racked up 58 rushing attempts for the game and on a warm day, the Missouri State defense eventually gave way. “We want the wear them out every chance we get. That’s why we run up tempo, it’s always good to see the defense out there with their hands on their hips not ready to go,” said Junior Left Tackle Brandon Scherff.

Missouri State will try to pick up their first win of the 2013 season next week as they will be on the road taking on the Murray State Racers. The Hawkeyes will head to Ames, Iowa to take on their in state rivals, the Iowa State Cyclones next week. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CST.

The post Hawkeyes escape Missouri State upset bid appeared first on KRUI Radio.

I thought that it could not get any more awesome than that, but I was wrong. Since that day, I have announced Hawkeye Football and Basketball games, interviewed professional athletes, been on the air twice a week, and to top it off I spent a week in New York City announcing the NIT from the most famous arena in the world, Madison Square Garden. It was truly an experience of a lifetime that topped off an incredible year.

These experiences made it very easy to find an internship this summer as an announcer for a collegiate summer baseball team. As it turns out, announcing Big 10 Basketball and Football is a welcome sight for possible employers. I thank our Sports Director Jordan Kabialis as well as the rest of the sports staff for making this a great year. Luckily for me, I will be back for one more semester to announce some Hawkeye Football. To those who are thinking about joining KRUI Sports I say do it, you will not regret it.

The post Thanks For a Great Year KRUI appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The post 2013 NFL Mock Draft #1 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

3. Ryan Nassib
Nassib was a very efficient passer in his time at Syracuse. He racked up over 9,000 passing yards in his college career. Nassib seems to be a smart quarterback who gets through his progressions effectively. He posses intangibles that will translate to the next level. However, Nassib has a few mechanical issues. His footwork is highly inconsistent, especially when he is under pressure. This inconsistency has direct translation into his next issue, accuracy. Nassib tends to lack accuracy especially when he is pressured. These issues are usually something that cannot be taught. A player either has it or he does not. Nassib does not. He is projected to be a solid second round pick. Guys like Zach Dysert out of Miami (Ohio) and Matt Scott out of Arizona would be better quarterback options for NFL teams in the second round.
2. Shariff Floyd
While Floyd is a definite 1st round talent, many experts project him coming off the board in the first 5 picks. I just do not understand this proposition. Floyd is a talented player. He looks to be a good fit in both the 3-4 (defensive end) as well as the 4-3 (defensive tackle) defense. He is quick off the snap and uses his hands very well. However, Floyd’s biggest issue is his leverage. Floyd consistently plays with a high pad level that leaves him susceptible to short and powerful guards. He did not consistently dominate in college and I just do not see him as a top 5 talent.
1. Barkevious Mingo
I do not know where to start with this guy. I guess I will start by saying he is an elite athlete. At 6’5″ 240 pounds Mingo was the anchor of a state championship winning, 4X100 meter relay team at West Monroe High School. Mingo is tall and lean and possesses good flexibility turning the corner. That is where the positives end. Mingo is a one-trick-pony as a pass rusher. If he does not beat the offensive lineman with his speed rush then he is out of luck. This is exemplified with his mere 4.5 sacks in 2012. Mingo is a liability of all liabilities in the run game. He is not strong enough to put his hand down as a defensive end in the 4-3 so he will have to move to 3-4 outside linebacker. The problem with that is the fact that at LSU he was never asked to drop into coverage as he will as an outside linebacker. Mingo is the biggest boom or bust prospect on this list and if it were up to me, I would not drat him in the first round.

The post 2013 NFL Draft: Most Overrated Players appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Teams are looking for the big, athletic specimens that will be protecting their quarterbacks for years to come. Four of the five tackles on this list are upper-echelon left tackle prospects. Of course with just five spots, I had to leave out some talented players. The players who missed the cut include: Oregon’s Kyle Long, Colorado’s David Bakhtiari, and Arkansas Pine-Bluff’s Terron Armstead; in order of where I have them ranked. This list is not necessarily based on where I think the player will be drafted, rather it is a grade on where I rank them after studying their film and combine results.

5. Menelik Watson
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 310
College: Florida State

Pros: Watson is probably the best all-around athlete on this list, and that is saying something. He has only played football for two years after transferring to Florida State from Marist where he played Basketball. He has good straight line speed that he uses to get into the second and sometimes third levels of the defense. He has good Balance. He shows the ability to absolutely bury defenders in the run game. The more you watch tape of him the more you realize his potential and how much he has improved. His upside is sky high. Offensive line coaches are going to fall in love with this guy’s skill set and measurables. Watson has a very high football I.Q. for being so new to the sport. Note to all Bears fans: You have been looking for a talented left tackle prospect late in the first round for years… Well, here he is. He may be a long-term project, but he could very well turn into an upper-echelon tackle in the NFL.

Cons: Watson is very raw. He has never played left tackle as he was a right tackle at Florida State. He is not consistently quick off the ball. He allows his hands to get outside of his target frequently. Because of this, he draws his fair share of holding calls. He did not show as much at the combine as many had hoped. He has only played football for two years so he is still hesitant. His skittishness manifests itself sometimes when he gets confused on stunts and exotic blitzes. He is not always sure of who to block when he gets to the second level. Watson is the biggest boom or bust prospect of any offensive lineman in the draft.
Projection: 2nd round
NFL comparison: Tyron Smith- Dallas Cowboys

4. D.J. Fluker:
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 339
College: Alabama

Pros: Fluker is massive, strong, and relatively athletic for his size. He possesses good straight line speed for a near 340-pounder. He bends extremely well for his size. This will allow him to slide into guard if need be. Fluker has a very wide trunk and a strong anchor. Fluker has heavy hands and a very strong punch that he uses to get initial separation off of the line-of-scrimmage. He seems to be perfectly suited to be an elite right tackle from day one in the NFL.

Cons: Fluker is slow-footed and gets beat regularly by speed rushers. He drops his head and lunges in the run game far too often. Fluker is not a left tackle prospect and will likely never develop into one because of his heavy feet.
Projection: Mid to late 1st round.
NFL comparison: Phil Loadholt- Minnesota Vikings

3. Lane Johnson:
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 303
College: Oklahoma

Pros: Johnson is incredibly athletic. He is a former quarterback, so it is no surprise that he has good feet, good hands, and long arms. He has incredible straight line speed as exemplified by his 4.76 second 40-yard-dash time at the NFL combine. Johnson moves down the line-of-scrimmage with ease. He bends well and has great flexibility. Johnson uses his long arms and good hands to lock out defenders and keep them from getting into his body. He plays hard and with tenacity. Johnson is downright mean: he plays with the nastiest attitude of anyone on this list. He has tremendous upside, and has made enormous strides after converting from tight end just two seasons ago.

Cons: Johnson is still raw. He plays over-aggressive and overextends/lunges in the run game from time to time. He has gained over 100 pounds in five years but will need to tack on a little bit more weight in order to add on some much needed strength. He is a work in progress: Johnson has only played on the offensive line for two seasons and at left tackle for just one season.
NFL Comparison: Jordan Gross- Carolina Panthers
Projection: Top 15

2. Eric Fisher:
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 306 lbs.
College: Central Michigan

Pros: Fisher possesses a tall lean frame that will allow him to be an effective left tackle in the NFL. He has great feet, which make him extremely effective against speed rushers. Fisher is a fiery competitor who plays with a nasty streak. He has decent power in the run game, especially for his tall and relatively slender frame. He is a very good athlete who possesses good straight line speed as exemplified by is 5.05 second 40-yard-dash time at the NFL Combine.

Cons: Fisher is not particularly strong. He has put on weight but has more of a tight-end frame than anything. His tall frame causes him to struggle to consistently get his pad level low enough to get leverage against bull-rushers. He will need to add strength to improve his anchor against stronger defensive ends that he will face in the NFL. He did not face top end competition at Central Michigan.
NFL Comparison: Joe Staley- San Francisco 49ers
Projection: Top 15

1. Luke Joeckel:
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 306
College: Texas A&M

Pros: Joeckel is an elite pass blocker. He possesses a wide body, with good weight distribution. Basically speaking, he has a prototypical left tackle frame. He has good hands, good balance and great technique. He has long arms which he uses effectively to lock out bull rushers in pass protection. If he gets beat, he has the athleticism to readjust and stay with his guy. Joeckel handles all different types of pass rush moves well. Joeckel is quick off the snap and gets to the second level effectively in the run game.

Cons: Joeckel does not possess elite upper-body strength. He is not a mauler nor is he aggressive enough in the run game. He does not get a big push against stronger defensive lineman. Joeckel does not seem to play with as much of a nasty streak as Eric Fisher or Lane Johnson. He lunges from time to time and allows defenders to slip off blocks in the run game.
NFL Comparison: Matt Kalil- Minnesota Vikings
Projection: Top 5

This is the first in a series of position rankings that I will write before the draft of April 25. Special thanks to Gabe Kuhn for his help.

The post Top 5 Offensive Tackle Prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft appeared first on KRUI Radio.

I am not going to be the one to question effort because I thoroughly believe the Hawks are giving their best effort week in and week out. What I am going to question is something that is so blaringly lacking on this team it’s sickening. That thing is speed. The Hawkeyes are slow. They are slow on offense and on defense. On offense they don’t have a deep threat or an intermediate threat at  wide receiver. The offensive line is not performing well. On the other side of the ball, speed backs and receivers eat the Hawks defense alive.

What does this lack of speed and athleticism add up to? A likely 4-8 season. A season that has Hawkeye faithful suggesting that Kirk Ferentz is on borrowed time. The offense has been much to blame for the struggles. James Vandenberg has been dismal. After throwing 25 touchdowns last season he as thrown just five this season. The receiving core is plagued by drops and disappointment.

As bad as the offense has been, the defense in the last four games has been just as bad. Since the Michigan State game, the Hawks are giving up, on average, 475 yards per game. They miss a lot of tackles, they are undisciplined, and to top it off, like I said earlier, they are slow.

When a team has a dismal season such as the one the Hawkeyes are currently in, fans always want to look for hope. They want to see a rare bright spot. Two seasons ago Marcus Coker’s breakout game in the Insight Bowl was that bright spot. This year, there are none. There is no reason to be excited about what is coming back next year. There are no signs that this team will be improved.

Kirk Ferentz better be worried because if he has another season similar to this one, then he will be on borrowed time. At the same time, another season like this one looks very possible.

The post Hawks in Turmoil appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Coming into the season the talk was about how the rush offense was going to struggle without Marcus Coker. However, after an ugly first game, running back Damon Bullock was a rare bright spot, rushing for 151 yards. Hawkeye fans had hope. However, a week 2 loss to Iowa State was a gut-punch to Hawkeye faithful that sent them back to hopelessness.

Week 3 against UNI started out as more of the same. The Hawkeyes were struggling to put away an FCS football team and they lost their top two running backs, Bullock and Garmon, to injuries. What was left? Hasn’t this team run out of running backs? It turns out that all that was left was a walk-on fullback.

“Mark Weisman. Who the hell is that?” many people asked when the 6’0″ (on a good day) walk-on set foot in between the Kinnick Stadium lines. But people were quickly intrigued by Weisman as he rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns in his first game.

Well, that was against an FCS school, right? We’ll see how he does against an FBS school. In week four Weisman rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns against Central Michigan.

Well that was against a bad defense. Let’s see how he does against a Big 10 team. Week five Weisman rushed for 177 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota. All of the sudden, after a 31-13 dominating victory against the previously unbeaten Golden Gophers, there was hope in Iowa City again.

But there was no way that the Hawkeyes could go into East Lansing and beat Michigan State. Surely the speed and tenacity of the Spartans would wear the Hawkeyes offense down. The opposite happened.

The Hawkeyes’ steady and persistent running game wore down the Spartans’ defense and helped create a nine play, 68 yard touchdown drive with 4:52 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 13. One problem remained: late in the fourth quarter, their stud fullback turned running back was walking gingerly on the sideline and was not coming back into the game. Nevertheless, the Hawkeyes pulled out a victory in double overtime to better their record to 4-2 and an astounding 2-0 in the Big 10.

Many Hawkeye fans began talking Rose Bowl as they are sitting alone atop the Big 10 Legends Division. While that may be farfetched, the fact that the Hawkeyes are in this position is remarkable.

Let’s rewind for a second. What if, at the beginning of the season, someone would have told you that the Hawkeyes would be 4-2 and 2-0 in the Big ten, that their two losses would be to Iowa State and lowly Central Michigan and finally, that person would tell you that James Vandenberg would only have two touchdown passes and that a walk-on fullback would be your starting running back?

I know I wouldn’t believe that the Hawkeyes would be in sole possession of first place in their division. But once again, there isn’t a lot about the Hawkeyes that does make sense.

The post Hawkeyes Don’t Make A Lot of Sense appeared first on KRUI Radio.

By Alex Kuhn and Nick Szafranski

Kinnick Stadium was in a state of shock after the Hawkeyes fell to Central Michigan 32-31 on a last second field goal Saturday. Despite a 217-yard rushing performance by Mark Weisman, Iowa squandered an eight-point lead in the final 45 seconds of the game.

After a Weisman 12-yard touchdown run with 2:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Hawkeyes surrendered a 64-yard touchdown drive to the Chippewas in less than two minutes. However, a failed two-point conversion forced Central Michigan to attempt an onside kick.

The low bouncing kick split the Hawkeyes onside recovery team and was corralled by the Chippewas. A 47-yard field goal by senior David Harman sealed the victory for Central Michigan with three seconds left.

Weisman followed up his performance against Northern Iowa with another outstanding game carrying the ball 27 times for 217 yards and three touchdowns. The sophomore fullback paced the Iowa offense much of the day including a third-quarter 54-yard touchdown drive that was entirely gained by Weisman.

James Vandenberg quietly passed for 215 yards and added his first touchdown pass of the season on the opening drive of the game. Vandenberg finished the first quarter completing all eight of his passing attempts for 129 yards.

“We got some good looks [in the passing game] early and hit a couple play actions,” Vandenberg said. “But we started running the ball so well that there was no reason to pass.”

However, 106 yards on nine penalties handicapped the Hawkeyes and gave the Chippewas second chances throughout the game. “It’s not paying attention to detail,” wide receiver Keenan Davis said. “We were not focusing.”

A Hawkeyes defense that ranked 20^th in the nation in points allowed continued to leave wide receivers open as Central Michigan slashed Iowa’s secondary for 283 yards in the air.

Allowing only ten total points in the second half in the previous three games, Central Michigan’s nine second-half points all came in the last 45 seconds.

The loss sends Iowa (2-2) into Big Ten play against Minnesota looking for a rebound and a chance to grab hold of the coveted Floyd of Rosedale trophy. However, the 3-0??? Golden Gophers come to Iowa City on Saturday having upset the Hawkeyes in their last two meetings.

“When we go through these tough situations you really see peoples inner character and how much they want it, “ Vandenberg said. “I have a lot of faith in the guys in the locker room. I think offense, defense and special teams wise we will respond.”

The post Iowa stunned by Chippewas in final minute loss appeared first on KRUI Radio.