Draft Watch: Iowa Hawkeyes Making Big Plays

Oct 11, 2014; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Jonathan Parker (10) breaks for a long touch down run against the Indiana Hoosiers at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

For the Iowa Hawkeyes, the focus in NFL Draft circles for the 2015 class has been offensive tackle Brandon Scherff, and for good reason. Scherff is a big, strong, athletic tackle prospect with toughness and intelligence. He’s a true top tackle prospect and deserves recognition for his ability, but it was the skill players in this Big Ten battle that stole the show.

Iowa has recently discovered that it has three guys at the wide receiver position that are faster than most players Iowa plays against in Damond Powell, Tevaun Smith, and Jonathan Parker. All three of these players had a significant impact on the Hawkeyes’ win over Indiana, but the Hoosiers have a player of their own who is going to be playing on Sundays in the near future.

Running back Tevin Coleman, the leading rusher in the Big Ten, flexed his ability against the Hawkeyes and even in defeat, he was spectacular. Coleman rushed for 219 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries, including this burst through the Hawkeye defense for 84 yards and a score.

Coleman’s spectacular afternoon didn’t end there, as the Hawkeyes had trouble corralling him every time he touched the football. Here he is again for a run of 45 yards past all of the Iowa defense.

As impressive an afternoon it was for Coleman, it wasn’t enough to fend off the big playmakers I mentioned for Iowa, starting with Damond Powell. In the last three games, the speedy Powell has plays for 62, 46, and 72 yards. The senior and former JUCO transfer had an incredibly productive 2012 campaign at Snow College before transferring to Iowa where he’s been a phenomenal big play threat, and the Hawkeyes are finally figuring out how to get him more touches of the football.

In addition to Powell, Tevaun Smith has been a nice development for Iowa. Smith is probably the team’s most consistent receiver of the three mentioned, coming up with some key third down conversions. Perhaps the most exciting playmaker Iowa has discovered this year is Jonathan Parker, a redshirt freshman who is reminding me a lot of Darren Sproles. He is a high school running back who has played all over the field for the Hawkeyes this year, including as a return man. Anytime he touches the ball, he’s a threat to score, and he finally got one on Saturday with an end-around, just blowing by everyone.

And of course, none of this would be happening if not for the guy who is orchestrating the offense. Iowa redshirt junior Jake Rudock is still not looking like a draftable NFL quarterback, but he is progressing toward that. On the touchdown pass to Powell, you can see Rudock’s great footwork, and how he drives his hip into the throw to achieve perfect accuracy on the throw so that Powell is literally able to tuck the ball like a running back while simultaneously making the catch.

Rudock played arguably his best game of the season Saturday, and hopefully has cemented his role as the starter going forward with more improvements on the way. Quietly, he’s got Iowa at 5-1 and looking really strong in the Big Ten, one of the shakiest conferences in college football right now.