(buzzbox.com)
On or off the field, with DJK, things were never dull. It is pretty well-known that he drove Coach Ferentz "crazy", and you never knew if he was going to start or be benched again for some undisclosed reason. However, nobody will doubt how productive he was for Iowa and is one of the three best wide receivers in Iowa history. Teamed with Marvin McNutt, he was part of the best starting WR duo at Iowa, in my opinion. When I started this countdown, I never guessed he would have made the top 10.
The Ohio native redshirted in 2006 and then started as a backup but eventually started and ended up leading the team with 38 receptions and 482 yards. He also scored 2 TD's. As a sophomore, DJK started most games and again led the team with 44 receptions and 639 yards. As a junior, DJK started 7 out of 12 games. He once again led the team with 45 receptions and 750 yards, which made him the third Iowa Hawkeye to lead team in receiving three years in a row. He earned 2nd team All Big Ten in 2009. As a senior, DJK caught a career high 46 receptions. He also scored a career high 10 touchdowns. He also led the Big Ten in kickoff returns. He was named first team All Big Ten by both media and coaches. However, he once again had troubles as well. He was sometimes benched and he missed what should have been his final game, the Insight Bowl, due to an arrest. DJK also ended his career with 1,575 kick returning yards.
When DJK left he was the team's all time leader in receptions(173) and receiving yards(2,616). His 17 touchdowns were 4th all time. The next year McNutt would break his yards record but his receptions record still stands. DJK is one of only two in my top 20(the other Brad Banks), not to make it in the NFL.
9. DT-Mitch King: 2005-2008
(nationalchamps.net)
Marvin McNutt/DJK, Abdul Hodge/Chad Greenway, Tyler Sash/Brett Greenwood, and Mitch King/Matt Kroul. Those are some of the best duos or pairs in Iowa history. Kroul and King seemed to be starting at DT at Iowa for a decade. They both had the same initials, both were lightly recruited LB's from Iowa who moved to the DL, and both started basically 4 years at Iowa. While Kroul was a very good player, King was the better of the two. Although undersized, his motor never stopped and he became one of the better Iowa Hawkeyes ever. Legendary Defensive Coordinator Norm Parker had said this to say about King, "He's as good of a college football player since I've been here on defense."
After redshirting in 2004, King started out a reserve as a freshman, but ended up starting the last 8 games. He ended up with 11 tackles for lost and 2 sacks. He was first team Freshmen All American and Honorable Mention All Big Ten. As a sophomore, King finished with 7 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. As a junior, King had 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He was named First Team All Big Ten. As a senior King again started all his games and finished with 15.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. He was First Team All Big Ten, Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, and First Team All-American by ESPN.com. SI, Walter Camp, and AP listed him as 2nd Team All-American. King finished his career with 55 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, and 228 tackles.
King was always a fan favorite and there is no doubt that he was a Hawkeye from birth. After college, King was undrafted but ended up playing for the Titans, Colts, Rams, and Saints.
8. QB-Ricky Stanzi: 2007-2010
(ogdraft.com)
The Ohio native is one of the most popular players to play for the back and gold. Stanzi was a winner and a leader. His Love America or Leave it speech made him even more popular to the loyal Hawkeye fans and he was Iowa's version of Captain America. Stanzi was not perfect and often made things much more difficult than they should have be, but nobody would doubt he was as clutch as any QB in Iowa history. He did not put up the stats of a Drew Tate or a two way threat like Banks, but he is my highest ranked quarterback in Kirk Ferentz's Era.
The 6-4 Mentor, OH native was not very highly recruited when he came out of high school. Heck, he was not even the most highly recruited QB from Ohio to join the Hawkeyes in the class of 2006. That honor went to Arvell Nelson, remember him? After redshirting in 2006, Stanzi and Nelson were both listed as co-backups behind Jake Christensen. He played one game and went 0-4. However, as a sophmore, Stanzi replaced Christensen during the beginning of the year and started 11 out of 13 games. He revived the offense and led the team to a 9-4 finish, ending with a 31-10 Outback Bowl victory vs. South Carolina. 2009 was a big season for Iowa and Stanzi was a big part of it. He led Iowa to a 9-0 start. Most games were close and Iowa often came from behind, but Stanzi had ice in his veins during the second half. However, against Norwestern, Stanzi was knocked out and Iowa went on to lose at Northwestern and at Ohio State behind freshman James Vanderberg. Iowa won a sloppy game against Minnesota to finish 10-2. Iowa ended up earning their second BCS and Orange Bowl birth under Ferentz. Stanzi came back and completed 17-29 passes and threw for 231 yards and two TD's to lead Iowa to a 24-14 victory over Georgia Tech and an 11th victory. It was never easy for Stanzi as he threw 15 interceptions during 2009, but when he got hurt Iowa learned of his importance. He ended up earning honorable mention Big Ten and All-American honors despite missing two and half games. As a senior Stanzi stayed healthy and started 13 of 13 games. Iowa finished a disappointing 8-5 that season ending with a Insight Bowl victory against Missouri, however Stanzi had his best season statistically speaking. He passed for 3,004 yards and threw for 25 TD's. One of the most impressive stats was he only threw 6 interceptions.
One of Stanzi's biggest stats was his 26-9 career record as a starter. His 26 wins is second too Chuck Long. He had at least on passing touchdown in 21 straight games, which is a school record. He was the only Iowa QB to have 3 straight bowl wins. In 2011 he was a fifth round draft pick for the Kansas City Chiefs where he is now their backup QB. Stanzi will always be remembered as one of the most beloved Hawkeyes at all time. He was not always pretty, but I remember him as a winner and that is why he made the top 10.
7. LB-Abdul Hodge: 2002-2005
(hawkeyereport.com)
Another favorite of mine. Born in the Virgin Islands and growing up in Florida, Hodge dominated the Big Ten for three years. He was often overshadowed by fellow linebacker Chad Greenway, but Hodge was very good and a fan favorite in his own right.
In 2002 as a redshirt freshman, Hodge was second team middle linebacker behind Fred Barr. He was a key contributor on special teams and also totaled 38 tackles and 1 sack. After Barr's graduation, Hodge took over as a the starter and was the team's starting MLB for the next three years. He finished with 141 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. As a sophomore he was a first team All Big Ten. As a junior, Hodge once again started every game for Iowa and again earned All Big Ten honors. He finished with 116 tackles. In the memorable Capital One Bowl game against LSU, Hodge broke the bowl game record with 16 tackles. As a senior, Hodge was just Abdul Hodge again: starting every game, finishing with 158 tackles(2nd best ever for Iowa), and 11 tackles for loss. He once again broke a bowl game record as he recorded 19 tackles in the Outback Bowl against Florida. This was a Outback Bowl record and an Iowa record for bowl games. For some reason after being first team All Big Ten for two seasons, Hodge was just second team All Big Ten as a senior. He also was Honorable Mention All-American.
Hodge was a tackling machine and a leader at the middle linebacker spot for three years. Hodge and his long hair was a fan favorite for many Hawkeye fans. Hodge was a third round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers, but surprisingly did not have a long career in the NFL. When my Vikings took Chad Greenway in the same draft in the first round, I actually thought Hodge would become a better player. Still, there is no debating that Abdul Hodge is one of the greatest Iowa Hawkeyes.
6. DE-Matt Roth: 2001-2004
(espn.go.com)
Back when Iowa was still a struggling program, Roth a 4 star linebacker out of Illinois, committed to Iowa. After starting out as a linebacker as a true freshman; Roth moved to DE and that proved to be a good move for the Hawkeyes. He was a big part of the defense turnaround in the early 2000's.
As a true freshman, Roth played in all 12 games as linebacker. He finished with 19 tackles but played mostly on special teams. Before the 2002 season, Roth moved to defensive end where he became a key reserve. Eventually, Roth would move into the starting lineup at the end of the season, including the Orange Bowl against USC. He also once again contributed in special teams as a sophomore. Even though he did not start for most of the season, Roth finished with 11 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. As a junior, Roth started every game and finished with 12 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. He was named First Team All Big Ten for his efforts during his junior year. As a senior, Roth finished with 8 sacks and was named First Team All Big Ten once again and also Walter Camp 2nd Team All American as well.
Roth finished his career with 30 sacks and 167 tackles. After finishing his career at Iowa, he was a 2nd round pick in the 2005 draft by the Miami Dolphins. He has had a solid career in the NFL. Last year he played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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