On3 rates pair of Iowa Hawkeyes’ defensive units among nation’s top 10
Phil Parker doesn’t rebuild. He reloads.
Count On3 in the camp that’s singing he and the Iowa Hawkeyes’ praises entering the 2023 college football season. After Pro Football Focus recently tabbed Parker as the nation’s top defensive coordinator, more preseason accolades are rolling in for Iowa’s defense.
It’s no surprise. The Hawkeyes’ defense was legendary a season ago, surrendering just 270.8 yards of total offense and 13.3 points per game. Both of those marks ranked No. 2 nationally.
Iowa returns plenty of star power defensively and went and added one big-time transfer portal addition. As a result, On3’s Jesse Simonton has the Hawkeyes’ among his top 10 units nationally along the defensive line and cornerback groups.
Simonton ranked Iowa’s defensive line and edge rushers as the country’s No. 7 unit nationally. Here’s what Simonton had to say about Iowa’s defensive line and edge rushers group.
Under veteran coordinator Phil Parker, the Hawkeyes typically have one of the saltiest defenses in the country — and it starts up front.
Lukas Van Ness was a 1st Round pick last month and didn’t even start for Iowa last season.
From a unit that allowed just four rushing touchdowns in 2022 (best in the nation) and was Top 3 in the Big Ten in sacks and TFLs, all four starters return led by ends Deontae Craig and Joe Evans (combined 13.5 sacks). It’s an entirely veteran group, with Evans a sixth-year senior and both tackles (Logan Lee and Yahya Black) upperclassmen, too.
The Hawkeyes are especially deep on the interior, with as many as six guys vying for real rotational snaps. Noah Shannon could start, sophomore Aaron Graves is a former Top 100 recruit, and Terio Thompson was a JUCO All-American last season before transferring to Iowa.
The returns of Joe Evans and Noah Shannon really bolstered this unit’s overall depth. Combining those two with established veterans like Logan Lee and Yahya Black and rising talents such as Deontae Craig and Aaron Graves ensures that this group will remain one of the Big Ten and nation’s finest.
Iowa joins Georgia, Michigan, Illinois, Penn State, Alabama, LSU, Florida State, Clemson and Ohio State within Simonton’s top 10 defensive line and edge rush units.
Meanwhile, Simonton had Iowa’s cornerbacks ranked even higher. The Hawkeyes check in with the No. 3 cornerbacks group in the country per On3. Here’s what he had to say about the Iowa corners.
Cooper DeJean was an All-Big Ten first-teamer in 2022 after stuffing the stat sheet for an elite Hawkeyes pass defense that ranked No. 1 nationally. The junior had 75 tackles and five interceptions — including three pick-sixes, scoring more touchdowns than Iowa’s entire receiving room COMBINED.
Jermari Harris is back after missing the 2022 season with an injury. He had four picks in 2021, and with Dejean, gives Iowa one of the best duos in the Big Ten.
The Hawkeyes lack experienced depth behind the two starters, but DC Phil Parkerhas excelled at developing the next-man up. – Simonton, On3.
Really, if you don’t know about Cooper DeJean by now, what are you even doing as a college football fan? Then, the return of Jermari Harris means Iowa should remain very salty at corner.
While the safeties and linebackers weren’t included among their top 10 units at this stage, they could each reach that status before 2023 is finished.
Iowa has a potential superstar in sophomore Xavier Nwankpa and two other very reliable options at safety in Quinn Schulte and Sebastian Castro. At linebacker, Iowa brought in Nick Jackson from Virginia to pair with Jay Higgins, Jaden Harrell, Karson Sharar Kelby Telander and Kyler Fisher.
Phil Parker appears primed to feature one of the Big Ten and nation’s best defensive groups once again in 2023.
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