Latest news with #Ferentz
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football reflects upon Jay Higgins' impact, replacing star LB
During his comments from Big Ten media days, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz spoke on the impact that former Hawkeye legend Jay Higgins has had on the current linebacker room. Higgins, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft, is regarded as one of the program's most prolific linebackers, as his 341 career tackles rank him 14th all-time in Hawkeye football history. On Thursday, Ferentz was asked what type of impact Higgins has had on Iowa's current linebackers room. "We just talked about the changes in college athletics. Jay is a good, great illustration of what I talked about, us being a developmental program. To me, he's everything that's great about college athletics. He also played behind a really good linebacker, and we were all worrying a couple of years ago, 'What are we going to do to replace Jack Campbell?' The answer was Jay Higgins. Jay stepped in and did a great job. He's not a first-round draft pick physically, but he's a first-round college football player," Ferentz said. Ferentz added that Higgins' patience during his time at Iowa is commendable, as it has become commonplace for players to transfer out to other programs if starting roles are not guaranteed or given quickly. "His production exceeded Jack's, which is hard to do. His leadership level was every bit that of Jack. To me the greatest thing about Jay was instead of running to a different place because he was playing behind a really good player, he played behind him, he learned from Jack, and learned from other people. "When he got his opportunity, he really flourished. I think that's what's fun about collegiate athletics, to see a guy, a story like that and a person like Jay," Ferentz said. Iowa hopes it can duplicate that Higgins-type story with players such as Jaden Harrell and Karson Sharar. That duo has been in the program and bided their time behind Higgins and Nick Jackson. Higgins also had 17 games where he recorded at least 10 tackles, became the first to record at least 100 tackles in consecutive seasons since Jack Campbell in 2021-22 and his 171 total tackles in 2023 tied the school record for most in a single season. "He goes with the Ravens now. He didn't go in as a draft pick, but I wouldn't rule him out. I would never rule Jay out in anything he does. Tremendous human being, just a great guy," Ferentz said. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Kirk Ferentz offers initial glimpse into Iowa football QB depth chart
The Hawkeyes took center stage from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on the final day of Big Ten media days. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz previewed the 2025 season and shared preseason insights on the 27th Hawkeye football team that he will direct. Senior Mark Gronowski transferred in from South Dakota State and the two-time FCS national champion is set to take over as the starting quarterback for the Hawkeyes. But, what will it look like after Gronowski? Iowa brings back walk-on junior quarterback Jackson Stratton, who played in three games and started a pair for the Hawkeyes last season. The Hawkeyes signed Jimmy Sullivan in its 2025 class and added Auburn transfer Hank Brown and Wake Forest transfer Jeremy Hecklinski. Ryan Fitzgerald, a preferred walk-on in the 2025 class, is also in Iowa's quarterbacks room. Ferentz reflected on the quarterback play in recent seasons and commented on the picture after Gronowski on Thursday afternoon from Las Vegas. "We've had a lot of injuries. Things happen that nobody could count on or anticipate coming. "I can't say enough about the way the guys have stepped in and done a great job. Last year we played with three quarterbacks. Found a way to win eight games and probably left some stuff out there. Two years ago, won ten games, and that was not a strength, probably playing some guys that probably weren't ready to play at this level yet. It was a credit to those guys that went in there and allowed us to still have success and handling a tough circumstance," Ferentz said. Ferentz feels Iowa is in a much better situation with its signal-callers entering 2025. "I think we have an opportunity hopefully this year to put a guy out there maybe that's a little bit better equipped for it, has the experience and help him meet the challenge. "The bigger picture, I think the whole room right now is really an upgrade from what we've had the last two years. Time will tell. We'll figure out how we go along how that's going to work, but every position is up for grabs right now. We would anticipate Mark being our starter. If one of the other guys can beat him out, great," Ferentz said. Realistically, it's Gronowski's job to lose and the rest of Iowa's quarterbacks are jockeying for the backup role and maybe a leg up in the 2026 competition. "In a perfect world, if we're lucky, kind of like the Jay Higgins thing, hopefully somebody on our roster right now will be able to take it if Mark is our starter, which I would anticipate, they'll be able to take the reins from him or we'll have a two-man, healthy two-man competition a year from now. "In a perfect world our guys are coming up from within, but that's a perfect world, and certainly the world is not perfect. That's our plan. That's our hope," Ferentz said. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa's Kirk Ferentz among upper echelon of ESPN's college football head coach rankings
College football coaches may be one of the most rapidly changing job descriptions in America lately. From the transfer portal, to NIL to court cases impacting the sport, their role has quickly gone from X's and O's to just as much, if not more time, spent dealing with off-the-field items. Amid that, winning games remains the common denominator for measuring success. The Iowa Hawkeyes, under the leadership of head coach Kirk Ferentz, have done a lot of winning. Ferentz's success at Iowa has him among the best active FBS head coaches in ESPN's rankings of the best college football coaches in America. Entering the 2025 season, ESPN has ranked Kirk Ferentz as the No. 17 head coach in America. He is also the longest-tenured coach in college football, which in itself should earn him a spot, as sticking around for so long only happens when success is achieved. As a head coach, which also includes a three-year stint at Maine in the early 1990s, Kirk Ferentz owns a 216-145 overall record. When looking at his time at Iowa, which began in 1999, Ferentz is 204-124 overall with a 128-88 record in Big Ten Play. He has taken Iowa to 22 postseason bowl games, while winning 10 of those contests. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Iowa football head coach Kirk Ferentz enters 2025 with great job security from CBS Sports
No one else in college football has the claim that Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz does. Entering the 2025 season, he stands alone as the longest-tenured FBS coach with 26 years under his belt. With a level of success and consistency that most football programs across the country would trade for in a heartbeat, Kirk Ferentz has earned his stay at Iowa without question. Advertisement Following the footsteps of Hayden Fry, Ferentz had big shoes to fill. He has not just filled them, but created his own footsteps in the history of Iowa and college football that will last forever. With all of that considered, Ferentz is one of the most secure coaches in all of college football. CBS Sports did their 2025 College Football Hot Seat Rankings, looking at how stable the jobs are for each of the 136 FBS coaches. Kirk Ferentz landed with a rating of 1.67, which puts him in the 1-1.99 category of "Safe and secure." With a record of 204-124, Kirk Ferentz wins games and has Iowa playing in the postseason nearly every season. To question his job security amid that chaotic college football landscape would be a textbook case of finding out that the grass may not be greener on the other side. He is currently under contract through 2029 after the extension he signed in 2021. Ferentz currently makes $7 million annually. Advertisement Kirk Ferentz has earned the right to step away from Iowa when he decides to hang it up. And to put it very bluntly, that is how his time at Iowa will end - on his terms. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7 This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Kirk Ferentz's job security at Iowa entering 2025 remains unwavering
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football head coach Kirk Ferentz enters 2025 with great job security from CBS Sports
No one else in college football has the claim that Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz does. Entering the 2025 season, he stands alone as the longest-tenured FBS coach with 26 years under his belt. With a level of success and consistency that most football programs across the country would trade for in a heartbeat, Kirk Ferentz has earned his stay at Iowa without question. Following the footsteps of Hayden Fry, Ferentz had big shoes to fill. He has not just filled them, but created his own footsteps in the history of Iowa and college football that will last forever. With all of that considered, Ferentz is one of the most secure coaches in all of college football. CBS Sports did their 2025 College Football Hot Seat Rankings, looking at how stable the jobs are for each of the 136 FBS coaches. Kirk Ferentz landed with a rating of 1.67, which puts him in the 1-1.99 category of "Safe and secure." With a record of 204-124, Kirk Ferentz wins games and has Iowa playing in the postseason nearly every season. To question his job security amid that chaotic college football landscape would be a textbook case of finding out that the grass may not be greener on the other side. He is currently under contract through 2029 after the extension he signed in 2021. Ferentz currently makes $7 million annually. Kirk Ferentz has earned the right to step away from Iowa when he decides to hang it up. And to put it very bluntly, that is how his time at Iowa will end - on his terms. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
