Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - UPDATE: Iowa Hawkeyes Spring Football Depth Chart SURPRISES, Hoops PORTAL news

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Iowa football spring depth chart is out. We got some major surprises. We hear from Kirk Farrance. Lock it down today. Locked on Hawkeye. You are locked on Hawkeye's. Your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, welcome in. I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We're available wherever you find podcasts. You can also watch us on YouTube while you're there. Make sure you hit that subscribe button.

Starting point is 00:00:38 Just takes a moment and helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. Today's episode of Locked On Hawkeyes is brought to you by Five Hour Energy. Head to fivehourenergy.com to find over 15 flavors to choose from. Need one now? Grab a Five Hour Energy shot at your local grocery or convenience store.

Starting point is 00:00:58 Stock up today and stay energized. Well, the Iowa basketball program continues to stay energized with the hiring of Ben McCollum. We got plenty to get into on that. We'll talk about the transfer portal, the latest on Price-Santford. Will he return to Cooper Cotch? And of course, the big one, Josh Dix and what his decision is going to be coming back to Iowa or finding another destination. We will get into that. We're also going to hear from from rivals Elliot Clough is going to stop by on the Hawkeye beat from Hawkeye beacon.com he'll jump

Starting point is 00:01:29 in here a little bit later on we'll talk some basketball we'll talk some football with spring football upon us but we got to hear from Kirk Ferentz as spring football has begun and that's where we begin our conversation here today so it opens up just on the press conference a couple of thoughts, listening to it and then going back and rereading the transcript. It's Kirk and in the 26 years, not a whole lot has changed. You're going to get a lot of the same beats. It was good to have those beats back, a little normalcy returning, but overall nothing overly groundbreaking. We go to the depth chart and that's where I

Starting point is 00:02:08 wanted to go and that's where I want the conversation to start today. Now depth charts in general don't mean a whole lot. Then Iowa football they probably mean even less but for me it's a jumping off point. It's a place to start the conversation and when you start the conversation with Iowa football, you look at the depth chart, I think a couple of pretty major things stood off. Now, number one is the quarterback spot, Mark Gronowski not listed on the depth chart.

Starting point is 00:02:36 We know he is rehabbing coming off that shoulder surgery and the South Dakota State transfer is not on there, but he's not alone. In fact, there are many transfers that are on the depth chart. One of the few that we see on the depth chart is at the quarterback spot, but not Grunowski, it's Hank Brown, the Auburn transfer that is sitting as the backup to Brendan Sullivan. So start right there, Grunowski, looks like rehab is going well, gonna be back maybe even a little bit sooner than some people anticipated when he went under the knife.

Starting point is 00:03:06 Definitely good news there. You want him to build that continuity. You need him to hit the ground running when he is back 100%. And even if he's not going through drills, you know, going 100% or even close to it, getting some more of those mental reps is going to be important for Grunowski. Coming into this new system as they work to marry things together. Obviously, year number two for Tim Lester, what he's trying to implement, basically cleaning out, cleaning house with the quarterback room and what it is today. So a lot going on there. And that's going to be a component. On the offensive side of the football, I started left tackle. That's where my eyes went first because you have Jack Dotsler listed as a starter and then Trevor, Trevor Lauk as the backup. Now Lauk is a guy that came in with a bunch of fan pair. He's a guy that we heard right away. He showed up. You know, a lot of times

Starting point is 00:03:54 these offense alignment, you know, it's going to be developmental. You know, it's going to take a little bit of time before they're there. But with Lauk, you heard it right away. And I do wonder, you know, if he's got an opportunity really to unseat Dutzler as a starter at left tackle. And also if that's going to be a position with guys, not a whole lot of reps, if that's a position potentially that they could be looking at in the portal when the spring portal opens up. Cade Peeper listed as a starter at right guard. If you've been paying attention, that should come as no surprise. He was their sixth offense alignment a year ago. And the interior should be really good with Stevens, Logan Jones, and Pieper, Jennings Dunker out on the right side. Obviously that question mark,

Starting point is 00:04:33 as we talked about, was the left side. One thing at the wide receiver spot. So this is a change. We go back to the beginning of last season where we see three wide receivers listed in the starting lineup. All right, here we go. Vanerzie and Dayton Howard at one spot. Seth Anderson and KJ Parker at another. And then finally Jacob Gill and Kayden Weijin in the last spot. No Jared Bowie. Just struck me as a little bit of a surprise. Is it motivation? Who knows? But that was something that at least jumped out. Running back spot, same same it was in the bowl

Starting point is 00:05:06 game. Kamari Moulton listed as a starter. Jazzyon Patterson back behind him and the tight end position. Addison Estrenga and Zach Wirtworth are the two guys that are listed there. Again, not a whole lot of surprise, not a whole lot to jump into, but I think maybe the biggest surprise to me on the defensive side of the football that jumped out was the inclusion of Joseph Anderson at defensive end. So the left spot is Max Llewellyn and Kenneth Merriwether. Merriwether another

Starting point is 00:05:31 young guy that's been talked about a ton and he's going to start to see some more reps. On the other side it's Hurkett but his backup is Joseph Anderson. So if you remember back to a year ago in that recruiting class, the class of 2024. Iowa went heavy on defensive line and multiple guys had NFL bloodlines with their dads playing in the NFL, including Joseph Anderson. This is incredibly exciting. We know Iowa needs guys that can get to the quarterback and in in the style of play that they play under Phil Parker, that's something that you're going to need, right? You're going to need something like that where guys very quickly can get there. Brian Allen is going to be back. He's not there right now.

Starting point is 00:06:13 Brian Allen is dealing with an injury and because of that, he's not going to be back for a while. He'll be there. He'll be listed in one of those spots. In fact, he'll probably be the spot of Joseph Anderson, but still good to see one of the freshmen getting there. We know be listed in one of those spots. In fact, he'll probably be the spot of Joseph Anderson, but still good to see one of the freshmen getting there. We know that the linebacker group is gonna be revamped. Jayden Harrell, who we've seen a little bit in spot duty. He was part of the goal line stand at Wrigley Field two years ago against Northwestern. He's listed as a starter at middle linebacker

Starting point is 00:06:39 with Jayden Montgomery. Jerry Montgomery's son. Listed as his backup. Then he go over to the cash position, Jackson Rexroth, seeing him special teams wise. Here's another young guy, though. Derek Weisskopf showing up on the depth chart as the backup on the left side. And then at the Will Linebacker spot, Carson Shire, just got to stay healthy with Van Kekreks as his backup. And then finally, the quarterback spot. So, John Nester is in the portal. John Nester is leaving. Rashad Godfrey, a retro freshman, jumps in as the backup behind Deshaun Lee at the

Starting point is 00:07:13 right spot. On the left spot, TJ Hall with Jalen Watson, who saw what a bit of playing time last year as a true freshman. He is the backup there. And then finally, what are they going to do with the safety spot? Will he start the flip of Xavier Wampa? We'll dive into this a little bit more and get into the weeds a little bit deeper with Wampa going from strong safety over to free safety and what that means in the Iowa scheme. Entranger is listed as a starter at strong safety, but also the starter at cash. And they're going to try to figure that out. If it is him playing the cash position, that means we gonna see Zach Lutmer another guy we saw a bunch a year ago as your starter at strong safety and what that's

Starting point is 00:07:48 going to look like going forward. So, there's a little bit of an overview as we overreact to a depth chart. That's what we do and I love it. I love it every single time. We continue here Lockdown Hawkeyes. Let's get into some basketball talk. The latest on the transfer portal. What's happening with Josh Dix? What's going on with Price Sanford? We'll talk football. We'll talk basketball with Elliott Club from Rivals

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Starting point is 00:10:06 fan duel.com to get in on college hoops action all tournament long with fan duel and fan duel.com on as a Ben McCullum takes overam Bennett starts with him from Drake and a few other pieces likely coming along on nothing official at this time. I take us back to the press conference. Ken and I both listened in and when we're watching, but you were there in attendance for it. Your takeaway being there in person and our first real look at Coach McCullum and what

Starting point is 00:10:40 he's doing at Iowa. Man, guys, you guys know this is media. That is probably the biggest breath of fresh air that we've had 15 years from a press conference. And you know, I don't have anything against Fran. It's just a different demeanor, right, with Ben. You can feel the excitement. He walked in that room and it was a different,

Starting point is 00:11:03 you know, the kids talk about aura, right? Like Ben has a little bit of that. He's able to tap into a fan base and as an Iowa native, he just gets it. I mean, it's, it's an emotional connection that he has already cultivated with a fan base that it hasn't had in a long time. Um, he, he pushed all the right buttons. I mean, people are saying he knocked it out of the park. He had a fricking grand slam with that, with that inner introductory presser. He talked defense, he talked getting

Starting point is 00:11:34 guys in seats here, uh, butts in seats for games. He talked offensive efficiency. He talked, um, uh, championships. He taught, I mean, he just straight out, straight out called out price Cooper and Josh saying, Hey, we want you back. Like, I mean, it's that Sam Castell gift that I tweet out from time to time. Trent Trent, you know what I'm talking about? Yep. Um, I, I, I, it's hard. It was hard to leave and not only be impressed, but be excited.

Starting point is 00:12:02 I mean, they don't have a roster of the Venice dirt, which is a fricking incredible cornerstone to start your roster with. Right. But you know, I was impressed with the higher. I liked higher before I like it more now. And you know, it's an introductory presser. He hasn't won a game yet, but he's also won 80% of his games as a coach. Just 131 games this last year. I, you know, I'm excited. Like I'm, I'm happy to stick with the beat going into next season. I'm fully, you know, and I'm not necessarily saying Carver is going to sell out every game

Starting point is 00:12:38 like they did for the women this year, but I, you can feel the excitement in the fan base. It's palpable. It's it's it's different. Um, and yeah, it's hard not to be impressed, hard not to be excited. Yeah. Fair point. Uh, so of the Troika that you mentioned of the, of the three that he, they called by name, what's the likelihood or I guess, um, who would do, who do you

Starting point is 00:12:59 think that he has a, uh, the best opportunity to have to recommit to the university of Iowa. Right, so I do know it's gonna be, first of all, I'll say I think they have a better chance now at Josh than they did even a few days ago. It's increasing, I don't think it's, you know, I think it's more likely than it was before, I'll say that. I don't think it's, you know, I think it's more likely than it was before. I'll say that. I don't think it's necessarily favorable because millions of dollars, right?

Starting point is 00:13:30 Like that's, that's life changing money. That's money. That's hard to turn down. Um, I do think that they're going to have a solid chance at Cooper Koch. I know Cooper has been impressed with, with Ben so far. Cooper's a legacy recruit. Um, and, and Cooper was in the building. He was in the room for the presser the other day. And I think, I mean, can you imagine being 19 years old and

Starting point is 00:13:55 shouted out by the head coach and saying, Hey, how cool would it be to resurrect this program and not thinking, Oh, damn, okay. You know what I mean? Like that'd be so cool to be a part of. And then you look at Price and he's a guy that has been connected to the program through his brother, has already shown some really, really encouraging things towards the end of the season to be able to come back and again, be part of that resurrection of the program. I think it's, to me that'd just be hard to turn down, right? Having been a Hawkeye for so long. But I think, you know,

Starting point is 00:14:29 I look at Cooper Koch and he's the one that I think has the most, you know, just based on the fact that his career is young. He's a legacy Hawkeye. All of those things make a lot of sense to me. I don't necessarily see, you know, as much as an emphasis on some of the other guys. I think there should be personally on Isaiah Jonathan and Arigou who just joined the program, hasn't entered the portal yet. But we'll see how that checks out. Seydou hasn't entered the portal yet. Riccardo hasn't entered the portal yet. But yeah, you know, those three are the ones that stick out the most to me, Cooper, mainly. We've obviously connected the dots with all

Starting point is 00:15:08 the Drake guys, not just starts, but the other ones that have entered the portal and the possibility. Are there any other names, though? And again, we're talking about a list that's over 1200 prospects long already for the transfer portal. Any other connections, though, that you've heard early on that Iowa outside of the Drake guys are trying to get in for visits right Connor and right will be on campus this coming Monday Former Drake point guard folks in Des Moines of course know him from the Darren DeBri's era and go into the NCAA tournament

Starting point is 00:15:37 Winning a couple MVC titles point guard that brought a lot of energy to the Bulldog Also, also gonna to visit Indiana. So that's, that's going to be right. I mean, that's a program with a lot of resources. It's a guy with his former head coach that he had some success with. So, and right, and right. The big one that sticks out to me right now,

Starting point is 00:15:57 he will for sure be on campus next week. And, you know, I think he'd be fun. I think he'd be a fun addition. Would be a great reserve guard behind Bennett St fun. I think he'd be a fun addition, um, would be a great reserve guard behind Bennett Sturt. I think, um, play some, play some minutes. Be impactful on the floor. Uh, other than that, you know, I, I know they've showed some interest in, in

Starting point is 00:16:14 all right from, from Valpo, um, a guy that really had a good NBC tournament. Um, and then, you know, there are a lot of names in the portal right now. They're going to have their opportunities to get some of these guys on campus. And. Folks have been sharing their concern of, Oh, all these guys are leaving. Well, that's that's that's basketball, college basketball now. And Ben just did it this last season, constructed a roster that won a bunch of games. There's going to be a bevy of talent for him to choose from.

Starting point is 00:16:47 And just things that I've heard from behind the scenes about Ben is his players trust him, man. And he gets them to buy in and he gets them to say, you know, I mean, they, he knows, excuse me, they know that he cares about them on and off the court and he wants to build them and you know, a lot of coaches will say that everything that I've heard from from folks close to him from from behind the scenes is that Ben lives it and he gets guys that he wants to buy in

Starting point is 00:17:18 and I you know, I Sound like a Ben McCollum apologist. So I you know, he doesn't need it I sound like a Ben McCollum apologist, so he doesn't need it. So I have no concerns about what they're going to be able to build out of the portal. And 2025 recruiting class will be interesting. I know they just had one of the Drake commits rescind his commitment from Drake. So assuming it's a possibility that he'll follow follow but there's talent out there in 2025 to so he's going to be able to go out get them. Guys that maybe were under recruited and get they're

Starting point is 00:17:52 going to be lucky to be in Iowa study. Yeah, I have very little concern about his ability to build a roster and what that's going to look like going into next season. Elliott left from Hawkeye beacon part of part of the Rivals Network, joins us. Millering Condon on the Iowa Sports Radio Network. Well, let's take a look at football. Ferenc had his spring introductory press conference yesterday.

Starting point is 00:18:13 What was the takeaway or two from listening to coach Ferenc yesterday, Elliott? Yeah, I think we got a lot of generic Kirk yesterday for the most part. Of course, we're asking about, what are you excited to learn about your team or a specific position? And he goes, all of them. I'm like, okay, Kirk, thank you. But I think the main thing to take away is what he shared about Mark Granowski, the one player I think we're all most interested in, is that he's on track to be healed up and

Starting point is 00:18:49 and good to go sooner than what they were expecting a little bit ahead of schedule. I'm going to be throwing lightly here soon. No team activities for the spring, which of course understand post surgery. And you know, I tweeted a story about that and immediately mentions were filled with heard this story before I do think this is different this time around Mark Grunowski has routinely won career record of 49 and 6 Walter Payton award-winner two-time national champ as someone who used to come to an eye I've seen him carve up defenses my own eyes

Starting point is 00:19:24 I think the demeanor of Grunowski is is quite different than the last guy As someone who used to come to an eye, I've seen him carve up defenses with my own eyes. I think the demeanor of Grunowski is quite different than the last guy. He's, what Kirk described him as smarter than the entire staff combined, because he's a mechanical engineering major who's on the dean's list and all that. And I've heard some other things from behind the scenes as well regarding how he's approached Ingratuating himself the roster and he just sounds like a guy who's who's humble knows He's moving up a level knows he has to earn trust knows He has to earn respect and and he's he's all in and he wants to wants to win

Starting point is 00:20:00 So I would say for now skis the number one thing Other than that, talked a little bit about Omar Young and coming in as the new running backs coach. Of course, losing Ladell Betts is not fun, but yeah, you know, it's spring ball, right? We have a lot to learn about this theme over the next few weeks. So I would say the number one takeaway is Grunowski and his health. One thing that jumped out looking in this depth chart again and knowing coming into the year, what it was going to look like is that left tackle spot on the offensive side of the football.

Starting point is 00:20:31 You have two guys that just haven't played a ton after a very veteran offensive line. Mason Richmond wasn't left tackle, but he played left tackle for the last three years and did it at as good of a level as you could hope for. Jack Dotsler and Trevor Locke, the younger of the two. What do you see those two guys, A, is Iowa still shopping or when the portal reopens

Starting point is 00:20:48 for football, will they be shopping for a left tackle? And where are you when you look at those two prospects? Yeah, you know, Trevor was a guy that stands out because he was a four star prospect coming in, right? And Iowa is a little bit different on the outside as opposed to having maulers at the left tackle or right tackle. They really like to have guys who are athletes and that have like Jennings Dunker is more of an athlete than he is a mauler in my opinion. And of course he is a mauler. He would maul me for sure. We'll say that. But talking about Jack and Trevor, I'm not sure if they'll go shopping.

Starting point is 00:21:28 I think this spring is going to be telling to George and to Kirk George Barnett, the offense line coach, as to how they're going to operate there. I think it'll be interesting. It's definitely not the right guard spot, right? Because Cade Pieper has played. Cade Pieper has really, we've been told about Cade stepping up into that right guard spot for because Kate people has played Kate people has really we've been told about Kate stepping up into that right guard spot for Connor Colby and of course it's not you know it's very important but it's not left tackle right so I heard some good things about Jack Dothler heard some good things about Trevor allow I think it'll be really interesting to see where they you know where they go after the spring. Because we know cornerback, defensive back is going to be a need in the portal.

Starting point is 00:22:11 But the spring will be telling about left tackle. And from what I've heard, they really like the young guys in this 23, 22. And what they've shown so far, they've had some time to cook, unlike that class of Mason Richmond, Logan Jones, Connor Colby, they've had some time to grow, to learn the position. And so they'll have the opportunities this spring. And like I said, heard good things about those, heard good things about Locktooth. Is there a wide receiver that perhaps is flying under the radar a little bit? I mean, Vanderzee was hurt last year, certainly certainly just a huge splash in his first game and then kind of

Starting point is 00:22:48 tell the thing you had a good game later on in the season but that's to me is an area of need I go had a terrific year get that but that to me is that it's still a position that's wanting in my mind. Yeah, you know I think they got what they wanted and Tim Phillips out of the portal. They got some speed. So they've got that they've got Jacob Gill who's a seasoned guy, Reese VanderDee, like you said, who's shown some flashes. You know, I really want to see Seth Anderson have a full season healthy.

Starting point is 00:23:17 We haven't seen that yet. Look at Dayton Howard has shown some things that are really encouraging. Jerry at Bowie flashed a little bit this last season, and I've heard a lot of good things about KJ Parker. You turn that film on, Redshirt Freshman from the Chicago area, and he was in that Catholic league there, which is one of the best high school football leagues in the country, and he just carved it up. He puts his foot in the ground and he's gone.

Starting point is 00:23:42 Just a playmaker with what a source told, is he's got phenomenal ball skills. Um, and I've seen that with my own eyes too. I mean, uh, I don't know that that he'll pop this season, but he's a name that I'm watching going forward. And I do think Sam Phillips is going to be fun to watch this year. A guy who's, who's made plays in the open field, um, but also is, is a deep threat. Um, so, you know, I, I, I understand where you're coming from when you mention a position that wants, but it's almost, it's a depth of uncertainty, which is kind

Starting point is 00:24:14 of an interesting way of putting it. There he is, Elliot Clough, joining us from RivalsHawkeyeBeacon.com. Appreciate it, Elliot, for his time. Spring football talk and into basketball, Ben McCollum. Let's talk about those transfer portal candidates. What is the latest with Iowa Hoops? What's happening with Josh Dix? The latest and potentially another visit for him and not to Iowa City.

Starting point is 00:24:37 We'll do that as we continue Lockdown Hawkeyes. Today's episode is brought to you by 5-Hour Energy. Daylight savings snuck up on us again, and if you're feeling that lost hour of sleep, 5-Hour Energy has your back. The extra sunshine means more time for fun, but sometimes you need a little boost to power through. Whether you're staying up late watching the NCAA tournament like I was, squeezing in a round of golf after work, need to do that.

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Starting point is 00:26:21 It's your team, every day. Trent kind of back with you one final time on the Lockdown Hawkeyes Podcast. Thanks for being with us. Hey, hit subscribe if you're watching us on YouTube. Five star review if you're listening on the audio side really does help us do appreciate each and every one of you for helping us out on that front. All right, let's get into it and the latest on the transfer. So as we await the decisions, the three guys that were mentioned in the press conference by Ben McCullum, Cooper Koch, Price Samford, and Josh Dix. So we

Starting point is 00:26:54 start at the forefront and the conversation begins, I think, with Cooper Koch because of the three, he is the most realistic guy to return. He's got the bloodlines, obviously his dad being a Hawkeye player back in the 90s. They sat right in front of us at that game. I mentioned against Michigan State to end the season and good to see him, but they were into it. And they love the Hawkeyes and he loves the Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:27:15 He was drafted into the NBA. And I think that would be the one because of that that makes the most sense. Next on the list is Price Sanford. So Price has been traveling around. He took a visit to Nebraska. Looks like he's also going to have another visit set up for him. We'll see how this goes. I heard the Nebraska visit was fine. But it comes down to, I think, can Coach McCollum sell him? Can he make the sale in the pitch of what they're gonna be able to do with price samper now all the odds I think for all three of these guys have improved After their conversations with coach McCollum, and he do hope after kind of that initial

Starting point is 00:27:54 Excitement wears off after you go through a couple of visits if that's what you're doing That you give one final look at Iowa. That's the hope will it happen? We don't know but that is's the hope. Will it happen? We don't know, but that is certainly the hope from the Iowa perspective. But finally, the most difficult one is Josh Dix. And Josh Dix has a ton of suitors, opportunities all across the country from some major, major programs. Kansas is putting on the full-court press. They need more shooting. They swung a mist on some of their portal entries, AJ Storr among them. They're doing everything they can though to bring in Josh Dix. Illinois has also joined the fray. And look, if it comes down to a bidding war between Kansas

Starting point is 00:28:37 and Illinois, Iowa can't compete with that. Iowa financially is still on the spot. Though it's much better than it was, and they continue to build that war chest for the NIL, it's still not at the level to compete with programs like that. Illinois invested a ton in basketball. Kansas, we know obviously what they do and they invested before. Investing was legal, but that's a conversation for another day. Josh Dix though, still there's a chance.

Starting point is 00:29:02 And saw an update from Trilly Donovan, who is an online persona, but very connected in college basketball. He said earlier today that I was still not out of it. And when that guy says something, I listen. Talking to people, again, if Iowa can be close financially, there's going to be a shot. I think they were boosted by Owen Freeman going to Creighton because Josh Nix is not going to go there. But what other thing? And people talk about home and connections and all those things. Remember, Council Bluffs, Lawrence, Kansas is closer than Iowa City. So if you're thinking proximity is just, well, in state, that's not the case here with Josh Dix. I think Lawrence is a half hour closer,

Starting point is 00:29:44 something like that, to the Council Bluffs. So if it comes down to distance or you think Kansas is miles and miles away, that's not the case. In fact, it's closer than Iowa City. I was in better shape, still not in great shape, but they're not out of it, as Trulli said, and that is a good thing. We are out of time. We will be back with you on Monday recapping the weekend that was. We got some baseball, we got some basketball news. Hopefully there'll be more on the transfer portal front to get into what's happening to that softball team. Red Hot, after what they did last week in that upset win against UCLA. Tons of things to get into. Spring football is open. When

Starting point is 00:30:18 anything goes and anything happens, we have you covered here on Locked On Hawkeyes. Thanks for being with us and making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Don't forget about the guys over with Locked On College Basketball. Andy and Isaac doing a great job. With March being here, you want to be the most informed fan and you do it with Locked On College Basketball right here wherever you're listening or watching Locked On, your team every day. We'll talk to you again on Monday. Until then, go Hawks.

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - UPDATE: Iowa Hawkeyes Spring Football Depth Chart SURPRISES, Hoops PORTAL news

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