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No. 6 Iowa 2006 record- 6-7, 2-6 Big Ten

Projected Finish in 2007- 6-6, 5-3 Big Ten

After a disappointing two-point loss to Texas in last season's Alamo Bowl, Kirk Ferentz will field a new quarterback for the first time since 2004, replacing three-year starter Drew Tate. Sophomore Jake Christensen will be the starter for the Hawkeyes in 2007 with very little experience as a freshman. Senior running back Albert Young returns healthy and ready to go for 2007, coming off an injury-plagued 2006 season in which Young rushed for just 779 yards compared to the 1334 yards he racked up in 2005.

The Iowa defense returns several key starters in 2007 and has pleased defensive coordinator Norm Parker this offseason with the progression from the start of training camp. The defense stood in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten this past season in most every defensive category, including rush, pass and scoring defense. The defensive line appears to return the most experience fielding two seniors and two juniors including a pair of All-Big Ten candidates in defensive end Bryan Mattison and defensive tackle Mitch King.

The biggest question marks still fall with the offense, however, as the Hawkeyes introduce a new quarterback and some fresh faces to the depth chart at receiver as well for Ken O'Keefe's offense, which will offer a challenge in passing the football in 2007. Ferentz, though, has lead Iowa to six straight bowl games and looks to do that again this year as the Hawkeyes benefit from a schedule that does not include either Michigan or Ohio State.

Quarterback

The loss of Drew Tate means that Jake Christensen has some fairly big shoes to fill after Tate passed for more than 2600 yards in each of the last three seasons. Tate's leadership on the offensive, although sometimes possibly too fiery, will leave a void on that side of the ball which will be expected to be picked up by running back Albert Young and Christensen as well. In limited action last season with the absence of Tate due to injury, Christensen passed for 285 yards and two touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. His father, Jeff, did play for three different teams in the NFL so the former Illinois high school player of the year has the athleticism and intangibles that might allow him to improve very quickly and play a very effective role in the Hawkeye offense. Should Christensen fall victim to injury, though, Ferentz will have to place a freshman under center, as both backups to Christensen, Arvell Nelson and Rick Stanzi, are both redshirt freshman.

Running Back

With a healthy Albert Young back in the starting role after an injury-plagued 2006 season, the Hawkeyes should improve on their seventh place finish in the Big Ten in rushing offense last season. Fellow senior Damian Sims offers depth at the running back position coming off a season in which he ran for 664 yards and scored six touchdowns. With two serviceable backs behind quarterback Christensen, Ferentz hopes that the rushing attack can help setup the pass and can take some pressure off of his first-year starter under center. Young definitely has the capability to rank near the top of the Big Ten in rushing as he showed major potential in 2005 before facing a difficult season fighting injuries last year. The ability that both backs possess in being able to catch the ball out of the backfield also serves as a useful threat in the passing game as well.

Wide Receivers

Returning leading receiver Dominique Douglas will likely be the first option at wide receiver with Andy Brodell serving as the No. 2 receiver in the Hawkeye offense. Douglas caught 49 passes last season for 654 yards as a freshman, but had trouble reaching the endzone with just two touchdowns. Brodell, however, showed big-play potential averaging 18.6 yards per catch with 39 receptions for 724 yards while also possessing the capability of finding the endzone as he recorded five touchdowns. Depth will be an issue at the wideout position with backup Trey Stross serving as the only other receiver with considerable experience in the offense. If Douglas and Brodell can stay healthy, Christensen will have two very respectable options that can be relied upon in nearly every situation that he will face in the passing game.

Tight End

Junior Tony Moeaki is slotted as the starting tight end after making 11 catches last season for 140 yards and reaching the endzone three times. Moeaki is a big target at 6'4, 255 pounds, and offers another reliable target for the offense as he has averaged more than 13 yards a catch over the past two seasons. Moeaki will be complemented by junior Brandon Myers, who has just one career catch, at tight end.

Offensive Line

Dace Richardson and Seth Olsen provide the leadership and experience across a line that will include a one-year starter at center, Rafael Eubanks, and first-year starter in tackle Kyle Calloway. The competition at the left tackle position seems to be favoring freshman redshirt freshman Julian Vandervelde at a position that will be responsible for protecting the backside of Jake Christensen. The offense allowed 23 sacks in 2006 and will be susceptible at a few key positions again in 2007. Richardson and Olsen both have two years of experience at the right tackle and right guard positions, respectively, and Eubanks with one year of experience at center. The left side of the line will be the key, though, as two new starters will make their way into the starting lineup and will have to face the ups and downs of being an every down player along the line and will have to live up to expectations with a legitimate 1000 yard rusher in the backfield depending on them to lead the way.

Defensive Line

Senior defensive end Bryan Mattison and junior defensive tackle Mitch King lead the way on the defensive front as they ranked one-two on the defense last year in sacks and were also in the top three in tackles for loss. Mattison recorded 10.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage with 6.5 sacks, while King registered 12 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. The two will have to provide pressure once again this season along with end Kenny Iwebema and tackle Matt Kroul as the defense only managed to record 21 sacks last season. As part of a front seven that should be relatively strong on defense, the defensive line will be the most experienced heading into the season.

Linebackers

The reigning most valuable player on the Hawkeye's defense, Mike Klinkenborg, will be the starter at middle linebacker coming off a season in which he gathered 129 tackles as the leader in that category. He will be joined by outside backers Mike Humpal and A.J. Edds as the starting linebacking corp when the Hawkeyes open up with Northern Illinois on Sept. 1. The linebacking position will have to be more productive in getting to the quarterback and stopping the run as the Iowa defense allowed more than 133 yards per game on the ground in 2006, good for just seventh in the conference. Klinkenborg is one of the most dependable linebackers in the conference, but Humpal and Edds will have to step up their game in order for the defense to reach its potential in forcing offenses to retract from their gameplan.

Defensive Backs

The defensive backfield is the most questionable position group on defense. With three defenders returning from last year's defense, the Hawkeyes hope to get similar and perhaps better results than last season as they ranked sixth in the Big Ten in pass defense at 210 yards a game. Adam Shada, who was tied for the team lead in interceptions last season with three, will start at one corner as Charles Godfrey, who led the secondary in tackles in 2006 with 83, will be the starter at the other. Senior Devan Moylan will start at strong safety with little experience seeing action in just 4 games last season as a backup. The free safety position is a battle with former walk-on Brett Greenwood holding a slight edge over junior Harold Dalton. While the corners have plenty of experience, the safeties will be a question mark heading into the season and they will be tested early and often and will have plenty of chances to prove themselves in 2007.

Special Teams

Freshman Ryan Donahue will take over the punting duties, replacing Andy Fenstermaker, who averaged less than 38 yards per punt in 2006. Austin Signor, a sophomore from Urbandale, Iowa, is expected to take on the place kicking duties after going just two for two last year as a backup to Kyle Schlicher. Signor did have a long of 41 yards last year and will have the chance to show his leg this season as the starter at the position. Damian Sims and Albert Young along with Dominique Douglas are expected to be the strongest candidates at the return positions. Sims averaged 18.4 yards per kick return in 2006 and led the team in return yardage. Dominique Douglas and Andy Brodell shared time at punt returner last season as they had almost identical numbers in the return department. Douglas shows a more elusive character as a returner, however, and will probably get the job due to his ability to create the big play in the open field.

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