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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Iowa

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01/07/23 - Noah Shannon, rSr/2024, Iowa + More +

Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon will use his extra COVID-19 year of eligibility to stay for a sixth football season, he announced Friday afternoon on social media. "I'm excited to get back to work with my teammates," Shannon said on Twitter. "I can't wait to swarm Kinnick in front of the best fans in the nation." Shannon has started every game of the last two seasons at defensive tackle. He had 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 2022. - The Gazette

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DT Noah Shannon, Iowa
News Source: The Gazette
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01/05/23 - Joe Evans, rSr/2024, Iowa + More +

A day after powerful defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness announced his departure for the NFL Draft, the Iowa football program got another pass rusher back. Joe Evans, who has 18 career sacks and started all 13 games this past season, announced on Wednesday that he would return to the Hawkeyes as a sixth-year senior. The former walk-on from Ames has become one of Iowa's top defensive players. He decided to give college one more year before entering the NFL draft in 2024.

"I have been honored to suit up with the best teammates I could have ever hoped for - guys who are more than teammates, they are like brothers that I will be standing with the rest of my life," Evans said in a statement posted to his Twitter account on Wednesday. "When I sat down with my family to make a decision for next year, the answer was clear: I am excited to announce that I will be back next year in black and gold. I cannot pass up the chance to be a part of this team and this program again, to swarm out with my teammates and coaches in front of such great fans." Evans had six sacks and four quarterback hurries this past season and logged 40 tackles overall. Evans, a 6-foot-2, 246-pound defender, was voted second-team All-Big Ten Conference by the league's coaches, a sign of the respect he has among those who know football best. With Evans returning, it's likely that he and tremendous junior-to-be Deontae Craig are starters off the edge next season. - Iowa City Press-Citizen

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OLB Joe Evans, Iowa
News Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen
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01/04/23 - *Lukas Van Ness, rSo/2023, Iowa + More +

After two dominant years on Iowa's defensive line despite never getting a college start, Lukas Van Ness is going to the NFL. Van Ness, a redshirt sophomore for the Hawkeyes, will forgo the final two years of his eligibility. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound native of Barrington, Illinois, sent out his announcement on social media Tuesday. "My time at Iowa was very special, and I will always be a Hawkeye," Van Ness posted. "It was not an easy decision to leave the University of Iowa with remaining eligibility. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to play in the NFL."

Van Ness said he plans to complete his degree at Iowa, but his days as a Hawkeye player are done. He was the other major third-year Iowa player with an NFL decision; punter Tory Taylor announced after Saturday's 21-0 win in the Music City Bowl that he would return for his fourth year. Van Ness had 13 sacks in his time at Iowa while being a versatile chess piece on Kelvin Bell's defensive line. He was an undersized defensive tackle a year ago and logged seven sacks, tying Joe Evans for the team lead. This year, he moved to defensive end during spring practice but wound up moving inside to help out with depth after Yahya Black's foot injury. Van Ness was often dispatched in obvious passing situations. - Iowa City Press-Citizen

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DE *Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
News Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen
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01/02/23 - Tory Taylor, Sr/2024, Iowa + More +

Tory Taylor has been called the most valuable player on Iowa's football roster at times. Without a doubt, he certainly is the program's "MVP" - most valuable punter - since Reggie Roby in the early 1980s. Taylor was already a popular Hawkeye with his punting exploits. And now, he'll be even more beloved by his fans. Taylor has decided to return for his senior year and put off NFL dreams for another year. "Even though the time was probably right to leave, I will be coming back next year," Taylor said Saturday after Iowa's 21-0 win against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. "Just really looking forward to it. It's going to be a special year."

Already 25 years old, Taylor gave serious thought to making the jump to a professional career. He said Saturday that he was "85/15" or "80/20" a month ago that he would probably go to the NFL. But he was excited by incoming quarterback Cade McNamara and the chance to be a part of a successful Hawkeye team for one more year. The affable Australian also has learned that there are maybe one to three open punting slots a year at the NFL level. Even with someone of his pedigree, there's no guarantee that he would be on an NFL gameday roster nine months from now. "I really think this team can go far, and I want to be a part of it," Taylor said. "There's a couple things I want to tweak with my game. ...From a specialists point of view, there's not going to be anyone better than myself, (long snapper) Luke (Elkin) and (kicker) Drew (Stevens). So I'm really looking forward to that." - Iowa City Press-Citizen

Sr/2024

P Tory Taylor, Iowa
News Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen
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12/31/22 - Cooper DeJean, Jr/2024, Iowa + More +

Joe Labas threw for 139 yards and a touchdown in his first start and the Iowa Hawkeyes posted the first shutout in the Music City Bowl's 24 years by beating Kentucky 21-0 Saturday. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz also capped his 24th season by matching the late Joe Paterno for the most bowl victories among Big Ten coaches with his 10th. Iowa (8-5) got a bit of payback for ending last season losing to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl after a late comeback by the Wildcats. The Hawkeyes defense outscored its offense, returning two interceptions for TDs in the second quarter. The Hawkeyes finished the season with their fifth win in six games. Kentucky (7-6) lost for the third time in four games, this time without quarterback Will Levis and running back Chris Rodriguez as both opted out to prepare for the NFL draft. The loss ended the Wildcats' school record streak of bowl wins at four straight.

The Hawkeyes scored all their points in the second quarter to seize control, scoring twice 11 seconds apart early in the quarter. Taking his first snaps in a college game with Spencer Petras out with an upper-body injury, Labas hit Sam LaPorta with a short pass that the tight end took 27 yards pushing through defenders. Labas then found Luke Lachey for a short pass, and the tight end finished off a 15-yard touchdown with 12:08 left. Drew Stevens pushed the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, setting Kentucky up at the 35. Freshman Destin Wade, also making his collegiate debut, was picked off by Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa who went 52 yards for the 14-0 lead. Bowl MVP Cooper DeJean picked off Wade on third-and-10 from the Kentucky 7 and easily ran 14 yards for a 21-0 lead. The Hawkeyes didn't miss All-American defensive back Kaevon Merriweather who opted out to prepare for the NFL draft. They posted their second shutout this season, holding Kentucky to 185 yards while sacking Wade four times and forcing the Wildcats to turn it over on downs twice. - Iowa/AP College Football

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CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
News Source: Iowa/AP College Football
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12/29/22 - Jack Campbell, rJr/2023, Iowa + More +

Jack Campbell came back and won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker and was the Big Ten Conference's defensive player of the year. Campbell has the potential to climb into the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft but is seen as a Day 2 pick at the latest. Yet he is choosing to play in Saturday's Music City Bowl against Kentucky rather than join the growing trend in college football for top prospects to opt out of bowl games. - Iowa City Press-Citizen

rJr/2023

ILB Jack Campbell, Iowa
News Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen
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12/28/22 - Nico Ragaini, rSr/2024, Iowa + More +

Iowa wide receiver Nico Ragaini plans to use his extra COVID-19 year of eligibility to stay at Iowa for a sixth season, he told reporters Tuesday. "If they're accepting me back here, then I'm most definitely going to come back here to be a Hawkeye for another year," Ragaini said Tuesday.

Ragaini had 32 catches for 365 yards and one touchdown in 10 games in the 2022 regular season. No other wide receiver had 20-plus catches. The return of Ragaini adds a veteran presence to what would have otherwise been a young 2023 wide receiver room. Brody Brecht, Diante Vines and Jacob Bostick also are expected to return. Three wide receivers - Alex Mota, Dayton Howard and Jarriett Buie - from the 2023 recruiting class have signed with the Hawkeyes. - The Gazette

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WR Nico Ragaini, Iowa
News Source: The Gazette
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12/24/22 - Sam LaPorta, Sr/2023, Iowa + More +

Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta anticipates being "ready to go" for the Music City Bowl after tearing the meniscus in one of his knees last month against Minnesota. He had his knee scoped to repair the injury in the week following the Minnesota football game. Four weeks later, LaPorta said Thursday his knee is "feeling good." The return of the John Mackey Award finalist is significant for an offense that ranks 130th out of 131 teams in yards per game and will be without several key pieces for the bowl game. Quarterback Alex Padilla and wide receivers Keagan Johnson and Arland Bruce IV left via the transfer portal, and quarterback Spencer Petras is unavailable after having shoulder surgery. Joe Labas is expected to make his first career start at quarterback.

LaPorta suffered the meniscus tear on a 24-yard fourth-down reception in the first quarter against the Gophers. "I turned up, and I kind of just felt something pop in my knee," LaPorta said. "Went back in for one more play and then didn't feel too good." LaPorta was out for the Hawkeyes' season-closing loss to Nebraska. He spent some time on the sideline and some in the locker room so he could put his knee in a compression machine. He did so "hoping that I could keep the swelling down for a possible chance to play in the Big Ten championship," LaPorta said, although it became a moot point when Iowa came up short of a division title. - The Gazette

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TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa
News Source: The Gazette
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12/16/22 - Rusty Feth, rSr/2024, Iowa + More +

2022 ALL-MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM: Offensive Lineman – Rusty Feth, Miami,...Miami's offensive line is by far the most experienced unit for the RedHawks in 2022, returning four starters from last season's squad. In all, Miami's offensive line has started 96 combined games. Rusty Feth leads the way with 32, followed by Reid Holskey (25), Sam Vaughan (14, but out for the year in 2022), Will Jados (10), Kolby Borders (7), John Brekke (5), and Ben Jackson (1) Brekke was also a three-year starter from Holy Cross before transferring to Miami. - Miami OH Football

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C Rusty Feth, Iowa
News Source: Miami OH Football
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12/14/22 - Nick Jackson, rSr/2025, Iowa + More +

All-ACC inside linebacker Nick Jackson, the unquestioned heart of the Virginia defense, has entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal Monday, Jackson said Monday, becoming the fourth Cavaliers' starter to do so this offseason. "Hardest decision I've ever made," said Jackson. "And not ruling coming back to the Cavs out." Jackson led the Cavaliers with 104 tackles this season, his third straight year with over 100 stops. He also had a career-high five sacks and earned second-team all-conference honors.

"It's been nothing less than a dream and honor to play for the University of Virginia," said Jackson. "The support and everything has been more than I could imagine when I committed in 2018." Jackson joins quarterback Brennan Armstrong, cornerback Fentrell Cypress and left guard John Paul Flores as Virginia starters in the portal. In all, UVa - which went 3-7 in its first season under coach Tony Elliott - has 12 players in the portal as of midday Monday. That group includes backups in defensive back Chayce Chalmers, offensive lineman Zachary Teter, wide receiver Nathaniel Beal III and long snapper Lee Dudley. - Charlottesville Daily Progress

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ILB Nick Jackson, Iowa
News Source: Charlottesville Daily Progress
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12/10/22 - Jack Campbell, rJr/2023, Iowa + More +

2022 WALTER CAMP FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: LB Jack Campbell, Iowa,...Campbell (6-foot-5, 246-pounds) has led Iowa’s defense all season. He has totaled 118 tackles, which are second in the Big Ten and tied for 13th nationally. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native also recorded two interceptions, one recovered fumble and one forced fumble, along with 3.5 tackles for loss. He has 295 career tackles to rank 19th in program history. - Iowa Football

rJr/2023

ILB Jack Campbell, Iowa
News Source: Iowa Football
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12/08/22 - Jack Campbell, rJr/2023, Iowa + More +

2022 BUTKUS AWARD WINNER: Jack Campbell, Iowa,...University of Iowa senior linebacker Jack Campbell has been named the recipient of the 2022 Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker. The announced was made Thursday by the Butkus Foundation. On Tuesday Campbell was presented the William V. Campbell Trophy by the National Football Foundation. He was previously named the Nagurski-Wooden Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for the second consecutive season. He was named a semifinalist for the Bednarik and Rotary Lombardi awards.

Campbell was also the Butkus Award national Player of the Month in November as the Hawkeyes posted a 3-1 record with wins at Purdue and Minnesota and a home victory over Wisconsin. In the four games, Campbell totaled 36 tackles, including 20 solo tackles and 16 assists. He had a forced fumble and pass interception in the final five minutes of the win at Minnesota, which led to Iowa's game-winning field goal with 28 seconds remaining. Campbell is the first Hawkeye to earn the Butkus Award. Former Hawkeye linebacker Josey Jewell was a semifinalist for the award in both 2016 and 2017, while Chad Greenway was a semifinalist in 2005. Larry Station placed second in the Butkus Award balloting in 1985. - Iowa Football

rJr/2023

ILB Jack Campbell, Iowa
News Source: Iowa Football
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12/08/22 - Sam LaPorta, Sr/2023, Iowa + More +

2022 JOHN MACKEY AWARD FINALIST (OUTSTANDING TIGHT END): Sam LaPorta, Iowa,...LaPorta (6-foot-4, 249-pounds) leads Iowa in both receptions and receiving yards, totaling 53 receptions for 601 yards and a touchdown. LaPorta was injured in the first quarter of Iowa's win at Minnesota and did not play against Nebraska. LaPorta leads the Big Ten Conference tight ends in receptions and yards. LaPorta's career totals include 148 receptions for 1,730 yards to rank 15th in career receiving yards. Among Iowa tight ends, he ranks first in career receptions and is second to Marv Cook in receiving yards.

LaPorta had nine receptions for 101 yards at Illinois, six receptions for 55 yards at Ohio State and three receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown at Purdue. Prior to his first quarter injury at Minnesota, he had totaled four catches for 95 yards. Iowa has had two previous winners of the Mackey Award, including Dallas Clark in 2002 and T.J. Hockenson in 2018. Tony Moeaki (2009), Allen Reisner (2010) and Noah Fant (2018) were also semifinalists for the award. - Iowa Football

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TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa
News Source: Iowa Football
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12/07/22 - Jack Campbell, rJr/2023, Iowa + More +

2022 WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY WINNER: University of Iowa senior linebacker Jack Campbell was awarded the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy. The presentation was made during the 64th National Football Foundation Annual Award Dinner, presented by Las Vegas, at the Bellagio Resort and Casino. The Campbell Trophy is the premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. As the 33rd recipient, Campbell will receive a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. Campbell, a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, was earlier named the Nagurski-Wooden Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. He is one of five finalists for the Butkus Award, which is awarded to the best linebacker in the nation. He was named a semifinalist for the Bednarik and Rotary Lombardi awards.

Campbell (6-foot-5, 246-pounds) has led Iowa’s defense all season. He has totaled 118 tackles, which are second in the Big Ten and tied for 13th nationally. He also recorded two interceptions, one recovered fumble and one forced fumble, along with 3.5 tackles for loss. He has 295 career tackles to rank 19th in program history. Campbell, who will earn his degree in December, carries a 3.49 grade point average with a major in enterprise leadership and a minor in sport and recreation management. He earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recognition in 2021, has earned Dean’s List honors three semesters and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. He has been a member of Iowa’s Player Leadership Council for three years. - Iowa Football

rJr/2023

ILB Jack Campbell, Iowa
News Source: Iowa Football
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12/05/22 - Nick Jackson, rSr/2025, Iowa + More +

2022 ALL-ACC FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM: LB - Nick Jackson, Virginia, 75 votes,...The Cavaliers' leader in tackles for the third-straight season, Jackson finished with 104 stops including seven tackles for loss in 10 games played. He recorded double-digit tackle efforts in six of 10 games played, including 10 tackles playing just the second half against Duke. On Oct. 31 he was named the ACC Linebacker of the Week after an eight-tackle, two-sack effort against Georgia Tech in his hometown of Atlanta. Jackson's 354 career tackles are tied for the 11th most in program history. - Virginia Football

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