Big Ten football is known for its smash-mouth style of play. Big bodied linemen battling in the trenches and linebackers shooting the gap to stuff the run. In a conference known for producing great linebacker play, do the Iowa linebackers have a case for being the best in the Big Ten? College football analysts certainly seem to think so. Iowa linebackers account for two of Pro Football Focus best returning “off-ball” linebackers, or linebackers in coverage. Jack Campbell is an easy pick due to his usage and productivity. He is joined on the list by Jestin Jacobs as a sleeper.…
Author: Joe Fisher
Joe Fisher
Joe Fisher is an experienced journalist in the realms of sports and news. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism in 2017. At the time he was already published by The Des Moines Register and working for the Big Ten Network - Student U. After graduation he immediately began his first full-time journalism job with an award-winning newspaper, The N'West Iowa REVIEW. Joe has since become a freelance writer. He shares time between news and sports. He is passionate about basketball and football in particular. He began writing for Gridiron Heroics in the summer of 2022, covering Iowa collegiate football and the Big Ten.
The Pro Football Focus 2022 preseason Fred Biletnikoff Award watchlist dropped today and Iowa State has a player on the list. Senior Xavier Hutchinson is among the names to watch as the best wideouts in college football this season. The Biletnikoff Award is presented to the most outstanding receiver in college football by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. Last season, Pitt sophomore Jordan Addison took home the hardware after stacking 100 catches, 17 touchdowns and 1,593 receiving yards. Other receivers to win the award include DaVonta Smith, Ja’Marr Chase and Jerry Jeudy. Hutchinson is the clear No. 1 receiver for…
The Iowa State Cyclones 2023 roster got stronger today with the addition of a new recruit. Lincoln High School receiver Beni Ngoyi announced live on Instagram that he will continue his football career at ISU. https://twitter.com/beni_ngoyi/status/1549822653472641025 Ngoyi had his list of potential landing spots shortened to ISU, his hometown team Nebraska, and Washington headed into Wednesday. His family, Links teammates and coaches assembled at Lincoln High School where he took the microphone and made his decision public. “I want to start off by thanking my teammates. They crafted me into the person I am today,” Ngoyi said. “If you would…
Iowa Football fans need to act fast if they want tickets to Kinnick Stadium for the biggest games of the season. Two of the biggest home matchups of the year have already sold out. Those matchups are the Sept. 17 Cy-Hawk game against Iowa State and the Oct. 1 BIG Ten Championship rematch against Michigan. https://twitter.com/HawkeyeFootball/status/1549786581069856768 Officially Kinnick Stadium holds 69,250 for football but the Kaevon Merriweather graphic is correct, 70,000 sounds much better. Cy-Hawk Series Continues Iowa and ISU typically alternate home games each year for the football edition of the Cy-Hawk Series. Due to the COVID pandemic, the…
The Iowa State Cyclones football program has grown stronger and stronger on the recruiting front under Head Coach Matt Campbell. On Wednesday, ISU will learn if they nabbed a commitment from a very talented wide receiver in Lincoln’s Beni Ngoyi. The Nebraska native has narrowed down his choices for a college program to three teams: Nebraska, Iowa State and Washington. A formal announcement is coming Wednesday at 1 p.m. CT, according to his Twitter page. Ngoyi, who will graduate high school in the class of 2023, is a 6’4 receiver with a strong track and field background. Ngoyi reportedly…
Iowa football experienced a lot of turnover this offseason after a respectable 10-4 season. While the 2021 campaign was solid thanks to another good year from the defense, the common gripe was the Hawkeyes inability to stretch the field. Blame was thrown at quarterback Spencer Petras, as well as coordinator Brian Ferentz throughout the season. To make matters worse, the offseason brought about the transfers of Charlie Jones and Tyrone Tracy Jr. at wideout. Hawkeyes beat writer Chad Leistikow of Hawk Central interviewed the two sophomore receivers who are expected to pick up a bulk of the load in the…
