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Know Your 2018 Penn State Football Enemy: Iowa Hawkeyes

By Joe Ciminera

IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions visits with head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes before their match-up on September 23, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions visits with head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes before their match-up on September 23, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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It took a last second touchdown for Penn State football to defeat Iowa last season, will this year’s matchup be as close?

Great coaching can cover up many deficiencies on a roster, and when Iowa and Penn State square off, two of the best coaches in the game will be going at it.

Iowa travels to Happy Valley on October 27, and Kirk Ferentz will most likely be the winningest coach in Iowa football history by then. He enters the season needing just one more win to pass Hayden Fry and earn victory number 144.

That win may not be an easy one for Ferentz to get, as there are many unknowns on this years squad.

For a team and coach that is known for producing outstanding offensive lines, that unit may actually be a weakness for the Hawkeyes this season. Last year, Iowa suffered injuries on the offensive line and was never able to gel as a cohesive unit.

This season, Iowa will try to replace tackles Ike Boettger and Boone Meyers with sophomores Alaric Jackson and Tristan Wirfs. That duo gained some experience as freshmen, but still are works in progress.

Iowa also loses star running back Akrum Wadley, and will be thin at the position with sophomores Toren Young and Ivory Kelly-Martin getting the lions share of the work.

How effective the Hawkeyes can be running behind a shaky o-line remains to be seen.

The bright-spots for the Hawkeyes come in the passing game. Quarterback Nate Stanley was impressive in 2017 throwing 26 touchdown passes. Stanley can’t hang on to the rock though, fumbling five times last season. Penn States strong defensive line could wreak havoc in the ballgame.

Noah Fant is one of the best tight ends in all of college football. He will be Stanleys main target in the red zone as they hooked up for 11 touchdowns last season. at six-foot-five, 241 pounds, Fant will have the attention of NFL scouts.

On the defensive side of the ball the Hawkeyes lose staples Josh Jackson,  Josey Jewell, Bo Bower and Ben Niemann. They will also be without the services of starting linebacker Aaron Mends who suffered a torn ACL in spring ball and will be out for the year.

Linebacker is up in the air, and the secondary takes a serious step back after Jackson departed for the NFL. The defensive line play will need to be exceptional for coordinator Phil Parker. Led by ends Parker Hesse and Anthony Nelson, the defensive line will have to mask the Hawkeyes defensive inefficiencies.

It took Penn State a last second touchdown to beat the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium a season ago. Trace McSorley and Juwan Johnson should be able to dismantle Iowa without the need for heroics this time around.

While it appears Iowa is going to be rebuilding, and Penn State should overmatch them on their way to an easy victory, it may not be the case.

Next. Trace McSorley named to Unitas Award watch list. dark

Kirk Ferentz isn’t the winningest coach in Iowa football history for nothing.

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