Question of the Week: Thankful for which four Hawkeyes?

We have a Thanksgiving theme to our question of the week. We have a long history for the Kirk Ferentz era of Iowa football and hundreds of great players who made an impact on the field. With that in mind, which four players are you most thankful for being able to see play for the Hawkeyes during the Ferentz era?

Our staff has their answers. Please join in the conversation in the Lounge.

BLAIR SANDERSON: Four? I could probably name 400 if you gave me enough time. Honestly, one of the neatest things about this job that we do is getting to know the players and their families as they go through the recruiting process in high school, then following their college careers, and seeing it right through to senior day like the one at Kinnick Stadium this Friday.

But thinking about the four KF era players that I am most thankful to see play? I think it would be the guys that quickly bring a smile to your face just thinking about the way they approached the game. First, Bob Sanders immediately comes to mind. A man amongst men and a complete program changer at the time.

Second, the late Tyler Sash. Gone, but never forgotten. Truly a remarkable playmaker on defense that brought so much joy to the game.

Third, I have to go with Brad Banks. I’m not really old enough to remember Chuck Long’s great run in the 80s, so to have a Hawkeye at the Heisman Trophy presentation was unforgettable in 2002.

Then, turning the focus to more recent years for last pick, I think I’ll have to go with Cooper DeJean. I covered his state title games in high school along with state track and almost felt bad because it felt at times like we were maybe hyping him up too much but obviously he outperformed all expectations. Thinking about the punt returns, the interceptions, just so much fun to watch him play football. If we do the same question next year, I’ll probably have a different four. So many great players and great people over the past 25 years.

DENNIS SCHEIDT: Wow, these are always tough questions for me because again it’s like trying to decide between a filet and a ribeye and deep dish over thin crust. Win-win-win-win. 

For me, two guys are clear no-brainers. That would be the incredibly high value of enjoyment of watching Dallas Clark and Bob Sanders in the black and gold. Clearly these guys had as much to do with putting the Ferentz era on the map as anyone. Who will ever forget Clark’s performance against Purdue or really any bone-crushing tackle by Bob? So thankful for those guys. 

The next 2 picks are really hard for me. I’m gonna break a rule here and lump two players into one pick. The reason for this is because I’ll be forever grateful to have watched them play, especially in light of their careers coming to an abrupt end because of tragic circumstance. Of course I’m referring to Brett Greenwood and Tyler Sash. Both players were so hard-nosed and gritty that personified Tough, Smart, Physical mantra of the Ferentz era. 

So many other players I could choose with my final pick. LaPorta, Kittle, Fant, Hock, Campbell, JayHigg, ISM, Gallery, Lindy, Tate, Greenway, Shonn, K2, Tory and on and on and on. But I’ll pick the most dynamic player we’ve ever seen we don a Tigerhawk since Tim Dwight of the Hayden Fry era – Cooper DeJean. Nicest kid you can imagine, from a town of 900, with freakish talent you’d never otherwise suspect. Truly phenomenal to see him settling in as a favorite of Philly fanatics which is no easy task. These types are once-in-a-lifetime. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

KYLE HUESMANN: QB Drew Tate- I really don’t remember a lot about the Drew Tate years if we’re being honest. I was only seven years old when he was a senior, but seven-year old Kyle would be mad if I didn’t put Tate on here. If I remember right, I had the #5 jersey, without the name of course because NIL was not a thing. Drew was a great quarterback though, finishing with over 8,000 career yards and 61 passing touchdowns. He also delivered one of the great moments in Iowa Football history with his hail mary to Warren Holloway in the Capital One Bowl.

DB Tyler Sash- How could you not put Tyler Sash on this list? No one in the Ferentz Era played with more energy, passion and emotion. His pick late in the 2008 upset win over Penn State? His interception and lateral to Micah Hyde for the pick six against Michigan State in 2010? Sash was always a part of the big time plays and that’s what made him great.

DB Desmond King- The Interception King. If a pass went into the air, there was a good chance that Desmond King was going to be there with a chance to pick it off. He was the NCAA leader in interceptions during the 2015 season and brought back three interceptions for touchdowns during his career. It’s always nice knowing that you have a defensive back that can grab an interception at any moment and King was that guy.

RB Kaleb Johnson- I’m thankful that I’ve gotten to see Kaleb Johnson break long touchdown run after long touchdown run this season and I’m doubly thankful that I’ve seen him do it at Iowa. In the transfer portal era, Kaleb could have entered the portal looking to showcase his talent with a more well known offensive team. Instead, he stuck around and look what he has done this season. He broke Shonn Greene’s touchdown record, has eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards and has 41 rushes that have gone for 10+ yards. It’s been fun to watch.

TANNER LAFEVER: I’ll start with Bob Sanders – not so much because I have a vivid recollection of specific plays that he made (I was still pretty young at the time), but because his mythos as a player was one of my early ‘hooks’ into the sport.

Hearing my dad and his buddies talk about Sanders – both back then and now – is part of what makes college football so great.

Adrian Clayborn is another guy who quickly comes to mind. from 2008-10 he made huge plays in huge games – including the magical 2009 season for the Hawkeyes.

I still remember watching his punt-block-turned-score in the rain at Penn State from the basement of my friend’s house, and who could forget his absolutely dominant performance in the Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech.

That era of Iowa football remains memorable to me for so many reasons, and Clayborn was a huge part as to why.

I’ll go with Brandon Scherff as my third answer, both because of his own on-field exploits as well as the fact that he made me a better football fan.

I always knew that the offensive line was important, of course. Guys like Gallery and Bulaga before Scherff were names that I knew had been critical to Iowa’s success on the field. But I think it was Scherff who really opened my (older) eyes to just how much damn fun it can be to watch a guy completely dominate in the trenches.

I’m a better football fan today because of Scherff and others like him. And for that, I’m thankful.

And finally, the last name I’ll say is actually the very first one that jumped to mind when this question came up.

I’ll always be thankful for Brett Greenwood.

Both of us attended Pleasant Valley High School – located in the Quad Cities right along the Mississippi River. Growing up, he was a folk hero of sorts to kids like me – excelling on both the gridiron and hardwood. I can remember hearing his name called out over the PA system during a game while I was busy running around with friends at the stadium on a Friday night.

The fact that he’d then go on to Iowa and have the success he did only made the legend grow – and while I was well aware that I’d never reach the same athletic heights he did I was always incredibly proud just to know that a guy like him had come from the very same place as me.

I was in high school when Greenwood had his medical emergency down on the old football field he’d once starred on. I remember catching word at school that day that he’d be working out at his old stomping grounds as he continued to pursue his NFL dreams. And I remember hearing at some point later that evening that he’d collapsed on the field.

Fast forward some years later and I was in Kinnick Stadium on the night that Greenwood miraculously led the Hawkeyes out of the tunnel – grinding out each and every little footstep with a ferocity and determination that I still can’t quite fathom the depths of.

I’ll always be thankful for Brett Greenwood – for so many reasons.

Most of all though, I’m thankful both for the inspiration he was to me as a young kid all those years ago and for the one he continues to be to this very day.

TOM KAKERT: This is such a tough question. It’s like picking your favorite child. I thought about picking one guy from the different eras of Iowa football, but I think I am going to take a different tact and just pick four guys that I really enjoyed watching play football and covering while they were at Iowa.

First, Bob Sanders. That was early on in my career when Sanders was at Iowa. I will always go back to the line that Kirk Ferentz said about him which was it was like your big brother showed up for the street fight. Full stop, he changed Iowa football. I doubt that Kirk Ferentz is coaching a whole lot longer early in his career if Sanders didn’t change the program. Just saw Bob a few weeks ago at UCLA and he still looks like he could play.

Second, Jack Campbell. There have been some really good human beings that have been part of the Hawkeye program over the years. None better than Captain Jack. He was an incredible player, but it was his style of leadership that always left an impression on me. He wasn’t a rah-rah guy, but he led by example and guys would simply follow what he did. Plus, his lovefest and appreciation for Kirk Ferentz, which made the Iowa head coach cry over and over again was really very memorable.

Third, Drew Tate. This has a lot to do with my love for the 2004 Iowa team and what they went through that season. I always think about Tate with that season. He was the heart and soul of that team and what they accomplished. That was capped by the game winning pass against LSU in the Capital One Bowl. Plus, he was a character a lot of fun to be around.

Finally, Brett Greenwood. Of course I had to put a Quad City guy in my four and no one was a better choice than Brett. He was one of the most underrated players of the Ferentz era and a great story rising up from being a walk-on to a starter early on in his career. He had some struggles early on, but helped lead Iowa to an Orange Bowl win. Then there was his tragic near death experience and the inspiration return to Kinnick when he led the Iowa team on to the field in September of 2015. Brett continues to inspire us each and every day.