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QB Stanzi key to Iowa’s Big Ten title hopes

IOWA CITY, Ia. — When quarterback Ricky Stanzi arrived on the University of Iowa campus in 2006, few thought the rail-thin right-hander from Ohio would ever be much of a factor for the Hawkeyes.

Three years later, he just might be the key to Iowa’s hopes for a Big Ten football title.

Stanzi’s rapid and rather unlikely ascension up the Hawkeyes’ depth chart is now complete. After wrestling the starting job away from Jake Christensen last fall, Stanzi helped lead Iowa to a 6-1 finish, including a now-legendary late drive to knock off Penn State and a 31-10 romp over South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.

Stanzi no longer has to look over his shoulder at Christensen, who has announced plans to transfer. But there’s still a ton of pressure and a belief among the faithful that Iowa has a good shot at the Big Ten title.

Iowa returns eight starters from a defense that allowed just 13 points a game in 2008, The Hawkeyes boast of a standout offensive line and carry over the momentum from a late-season push that helped make Iowa relevant again.

But Shonn Greene, the 2008 Doak Walker Award winner as the nation’s best running back, isn’t around to do the heavy lifting anymore. So if Iowa is going to have enough firepower to contend for a conference title and its first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1991, Stanzi will likely have to play a much bigger role in the offense.

Stanzi threw for 1,956 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2008, his first season of extended action.

“It was a good season. We ended pretty strong,” Stanzi said. “But last season is last season. We’re not really worried about that right now.

“You’re supposed to feel more confident the more experience you have, but that doesn’t mean there’s any room to get lazy. I still have a lot of work to do and things to fix before the season starts.”

Of course, Iowa would rather not lean on Stanzi too much. Coach Kirk Ferentz always has preferred control games with a balanced offense and a suffocating defense, and defensive coordinator Norm Parker’s unit could wind up being among the best the Hawkeyes have ever had.

Iowa’s defensive line is bookended by a pair of emerging junior ends in Christian Ballard and Adrian Clayborn. The Hawkeyes will attempt to replace King and Kroul with more of a tackle by committee approach, leaning on a deep but largely untested group of linemen, including Karl Klug and Mike Daniels.

Iowa’s real strength is in its linebackers—a smart, tough and athletic group, led by senior Pat Angerer. Senior outside linebacker A.J. Edds has 25 career starts, and junior Jeremiah Hunter finished second on the team in 2008 with 80 tackles.

The Hawkeyes also should be strong in the secondary. Cornerback Amari Spievey has established himself as a shutdown corner. Free safety Brett Greenwood is a solid veteran presence, and sophomore free safety Tyler Sash has all the making of Iowa’s latest unheralded gem.

Sash tied with Angerer for the Big Ten lead with five picks in 2008 and seemed to get better each week.

On offense, a number of largely untested backs will compete to replace Greene.

Sophomore Jewel Hampton shined in limited duty last season, rushing for 5.1 yards a carry and seven touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Jeff Brinson is a 5-foot-11, 215-pound bruiser in the mold of Greene.

There’s also considerable buzz about true freshman Brandon Wegher, a high school star from Sioux City, who rushed for 3,238 yards and 54 touchdowns as a senior.

Whoever gets the bulk of the carries should benefit from a deep and talented line, led by tackles Bryan Bulaga and Kyle Calloway. They’ll help Stanzi as well, if his receivers emerge as an option along with the running game.

Iowa’s schedule includes road games at Penn State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa State—which hasn’t been very friendly to the Hawkeyes of late. Iowa will need leaders and playmakers to do well, and the Hawkeyes are hopeful they have both in Stanzi.

“We feel good about Rick and his development,” Ferentz said. “Last year, he was just trying to play, just trying to compete for a job. I think now he’s ready to do more than that.

“He’s accepted a leadership role, and I think he’s embraced it. The exciting part is, he can do a lot better as a football player.”

IOWA AT GLANCE

-- Location—Iowa City, Iowa.

-- Enrollment—30,561.

-- Stadium—Kinnick Stadium (70,585)

-- Coach—Kirk Ferentz, 11th season at Iowa (70-53), 13th overall (82-74).

-- 2008 record—9-4,

(5-3, tied for fourth in Big Ten).

-- Last bowl—2009 Outback Bowl (beat South Carolina, 31-10).

-- Returning starters—14 (6 offense, 8 defense).

-- Key players—QB Ricky Stanzi, RB Jewel Hampton, OL Bryan Bulaga, DE Adrian Clayborn, LB Pat Angerer, CB, Amari Spievey.

-- Key recruits—RB Brandon Wegher, WR Keenan Davis, WR Jordan Cotton, OL Nolan MacMillan.

-- Key departures—Shonn Greene, DL Mitch King, DL Matt Kroul, CB Bradley Fletcher

-- Coach’s quote—“If you look at the road portion of our schedule, it’s extremely challenging. If we are going to be standing around in November, the end of November, looking back saying that we had a successful year, we’re going to have to prove our mettle certainly away from Kinnick as well as in Kinnick” — Ferentz