The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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132 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY ANDREW HUSSEY Entering his 21st season at Iowa, Kirk Ferentz is the longest-tenured head coach in the country. During the past two decades in Iowa City, he has become the program's winningest coach with 152 victories. After capturing nine games in 2018, the Hawkeyes have won 37 games over the past four seasons, which is tied for the third-best four- year stretch in school history. Iowa's offense is led by senior quarterback Nate Stanley, who has thrown for 5,289 yards and 52 touch- downs the past two years. The 6-4, 243-pounder has started the last 26 contests for Iowa and helped the Hawkeyes score 31.2 points per game last season, which was the ninth-highest single-season total in school history. He has thrown for 26 touchdowns each of the past two seasons. Stanley will be without his talented tight end duo of T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant in 2019. Both went in the top 20 picks of the NFL Draft after they combined for 13 touchdowns and 1,279 receiving yards last season. Iowa's biggest offensive question is, what will the offense look like without that duo? Iowa also loses its leading receiver from last season in Nick Easley (52 catches), but returns junior wideouts Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith. Both had 361 receiving yards in 2018 and combined for five touchdowns. Smith-Marsette is also an explosive kick returner who led the Big Ten and finished second in the country by averaging 29.5 yards per attempt. He was named the Rodg- ers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year in the conference. Along with Stanley and those two wide receivers, Iowa brings back its top three run- ning backs from last season, including two who rushed for at least 637 yards and five scores each. In 2018, the Hawkeyes' defense only allowed just 17.8 points per game, which ranked second in the Big Ten and 11th na- tionally, and allowed just 293.6 yards per game, the seventh-best mark in college foot- ball. However, Iowa only returns four start- ers from that unit and must replace its top four tacklers. Along the defensive line, the Hawkeyes lose all four starters. However, Iowa returns junior defensive end A.J. Epenesa, who didn't start in 2018 but was the most disrup- tive player on the unit. He led the Big Ten with 10.5 sacks and earned first-team all-conference honors. The 6-6, 280-pounder also added 16.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Fellow junior defensive end Chauncey Golston, who had nine tackles for loss in 2018, is also back. In the secondary, Iowa has to replace safety Amani Hooker, last season's Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. Senior cornerback Mi- chael Ojemudia and junior corner- back Matt Hankins lead the returners. Ojemudia has started 10 games in his career, and had 39 tackles and three interceptions last season, while Han- kins started eight games in 2018 and tallied 48 tackles. The Hawkeyes' defense may take a step back in 2019, but it still has one of the best pass rushers in the coun- try. With Stanley at the helm under center, the Hawkeyes will compete for the West Division title. Even in Ann Arbor, Iowa will be a tough test for Michigan — the Hawkeyes have won five out of their last six meetings with U-M dating back to 2009. Notes In 2018, the Hawkeyes' defense ranked third in the nation in interceptions (20) and has compiled the most picks in the country over the past two seasons with 41 … Senior Nate Stanley ranks third among the Big Ten's returning quarter - backs with 219.4 yards passing per game last season. ❑ Iowa Aims To Sustain Recent Success 2019 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2018 Result Aug. 31 Miami (Ohio) — Sept. 7 Rutgers — Sept. 14 at Iowa State W, 13-3 Sept. 28 Middle Tennessee State — Oct. 5 at Michigan — Oct. 12 Penn State L, 30-24 Oct. 19 Purdue L, 38-36 Oct. 26 at Northwestern L, 14-10 Nov. 9 at Wisconsin L, 28-17 Nov. 16 Minnesota W, 48-31 Nov. 23 Illinois W, 63-0 Nov. 29 at Nebraska W, 31-28 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Mekhi Sargent, Jr., RB — Ranked seventh in the Big Ten with nine rushing touchdowns in 2018 … Started the final four games of last season, and finished with 745 yards and 4.7 yards per carry … Ranked in the top 15 in the conference in yards per carry, rushing yards and rush - ing yards per game. Defense: A.J. Epenesa, Jr., DE — Led the Big Ten with 10.5 sacks in 2018, which ranked 12th nationally … His four forced fumbles were second in the Big Ten and 16th nationally … Finished fourth in the Big Ten with 16.5 tackles for loss … Named first- team All-Big Ten by the media in 2018. Senior quarterback Nate Stanley has thrown for 5,289 yards and 52 touchdowns over the past two seasons. PHOTO COURTESY IOWA ATHLETICS GAME 5 • IOWA HAWKEYES • OCT. 5 QUICK FACTS A l l -Ti m e S e r i e s : U - M l e a d s 41-15-4 First Meeting: Iowa 28, U-M 5 (Nov. 10, 1900 at Detroit) Last Meeting: Iowa 14, U-M 13 (Nov. 12, 2016 at Iowa City) Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz, 152-101 at Iowa (21st year) and 164-11 overall (24th year) 2018 In Review: 9-4 overall, 5-4 Big Ten (T-2nd West) Final 2018 Ranking: No. 25 Associated Press poll, received votes in coaches' poll Returning Starters: 12 (6 offense, 4 defense, 2 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 (Outback Bowl vs. Mis - sissippi State, W 27-22) Big Ten Championships (Last): 11 (2004) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Nate Stanley (2,852 yards, 26 TD, 10 INT) Rushing: Mekhi Sargent (745 yards, 9 TD) Receiving: Brandon Smith and Ihmir Smith-Marsette (361 yards) Tackles: Djimon Colbert (52) Sacks: A.J. Epenesa (10.5) Interceptions: Geno Stone (4)