Iowa
Iowa Football’s Keagan Johnson Enters Transfer Portal
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Second-year receiver Keagan Johnson announced his intentions to depart the Iowa Soccer program Thursday. He joined Hawkeye quarterback Alex Padilla and offensive linemen Josh Volk in coming into the switch portal this week.
“I wish to thank the College of Iowa and the Iowa group for welcoming me with open arms all through my time right here,” Johnson stated in his assertion. “I’ve made recollections that can final eternally, and I’ve created bonds that I’ll at all times cherish. With that being stated, at the moment, I’m saying that I’ll enter the switch portal.”
Johnson (6-1, 194) appeared in two video games this season, the final being Friday’s regular-season finale towards his home-state Nebraska squad at Kinnick Stadium. The Huskers upset Iowa, 24-17.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz stated publicly at completely different occasions in the course of the 2022 season that Johnson was sidelined with a nagging soft-tissue harm. He first appeared in a sport towards Nevada on Sept. 17. He performed on a restricted foundation in that contest and towards Nebraska, ending the marketing campaign with two catches for 11 yards.
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Johnson was anticipated to be a focus of the offense in ’22 after hauling in 18 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns final fall. That season ended with an absence from the Citrus Bowl attributable to an stomach harm. He then sat out spring ball and most of August camp. He instructed HN in July that the adversity was strengthening him.
Iowa celebrated its recruiting victory towards Nebraska and others in touchdown Johnson as a member of the ’21 Class. His father, Clester Johnson, received two nationwide championships with the Huskers in the course of the ’90s.
Keagan Johnson instructed HN when he dedicated to the Hawkeyes out of Bellevue (NE) West Excessive that he adopted his coronary heart. He noticed himself getting used like former wideout Ihmir Smith-Marsette within the offense.
Iowa struggled mightily on that aspect of the ball the final two seasons. It completed the ’22 common season ranked 123 out of 131 FBS applications nationally in scoring offense (17.4 factors per sport). It was 130 in complete offense (255.4 yards per sport).
Rivals ranked Johnson as a four-star recruit popping out of highschool. He reported scholarship presents from Iowa State, Kansas State and Nebraska.
Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“I think for Payton we all have an expectation, you know, when your best player comes back and lead the league in made threes, well, he’s going to make more threes and he’s going to get more rebounds.
“The thing I’ve been impressed with is he was a really good rebounder last year. He’s a special offensive rebounder.
“A lot of shooters just don’t do that. They hang around on the perimeter, and that’s that. Throw me the ball, and I’ll shoot it in the hole for you.
“He does that, but he’s done more off the dribble. He’s done more passing to open people and reading situations, which is what you would expect from a senior.
“Think about him. Freshman year he played a lot. He was on the Big Ten Championship team. Sophomore year, Rookie of the Year in the league. Last year led the league in made threes, was an All-League player.
“Now, I think how do you go from being a second- or third-team All-League player to first-team? Obviously it’s consistency of effort and performance, and he is going to work harder.”
Back in the offseason, the assumption was that Seth McLaughlin would win the starting center job after transferring from Alabama. Not only did he win that job but so far this season, he has played quite well.
This is certainly a welcome sight after the Ohio State Buckeyes struggled with offensive line consistency in 2023 and McLaughlin himself had a down year with the Crimson Tide.
Through the non-conference schedule and two Big Ten Conference games, the pairing has been perfect for both parties. The experienced center has been a strong addition in the trenches and will look to continue to be a dominant force throughout the rest of the season.
Just how dominant has McLaughlin been?
In the win against the Iowa Hawkeyes, McLaughlin actually posted the highest grade of any center in the country during week six according to Pro Football Focus. His 78.6 mark is an excellent grade, yet not surprising considering how solid he has been in the middle.
Highest Graded Center from Week 6:
🔴 Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State: 78.6@OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/NNZY3D6Vc2
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 7, 2024
Not only has McLaughlin been solid this season, but the rest of the offensive line has played quite well. Against the Oregon Ducks, McLaughlin, Josh Simmons, Donovan Jackson, Tegra Tshabola and Josh Fryar will all need to be at their best. It seems like they have been at their best to this point, however, this will be the toughest test yet for the whole team.
If this unit can enforce physicality in the run game and give Will Howard time to operate on Saturday, then not only might McLaughlin grade high with PFF once again, but the rest of the unit may fair pretty well.
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