What Every Iowa Recruit Wants To Hear

The NFL Combine is wrapping up in Indianapolis, the NFL network has turned this event into "American Idol" for football players.  The 2011 class of fresh meat trying to make a positive impression with every scout, General Manager, Head Coach and owner.  Of course they do it in all the traditional ways like the Wonderlic test, the standing broad jump, the vertical jump and the 40 yard dash.  By the end of this event we know the way every player farts, sneezes, sleeps, belches and if he picks his nose and eats it.  Okay that might be a bit much but you get the picture that if teams are going to invest a draft pick on a player that are going to know him inside and out.

This morning on 1460 KXNO,  Matt Bowen from the National Football Post told me and Tim Fisher that NFL scouts and General Managers seldom worry about the readiness of Hawkeye players.

"NFL scouts tell me that Iowa players at the combine are traditionally like a 2nd year guy in the NFL.  They are prepared, they are smart and they are well coached" said Bowen.  "This preparation gives Iowa players a leg up on a good number of other athletes at the combine."


Matt Bowen

 Now Bowen might be a little biased considering he is a former Hawkeye.  However he is now a journalist and if you follow him on twitter you know that he loves to break down the game and evaluate talent.  Sure he played for Kirk Ferentz but it doesn't benefit him today to talk up Iowa players.

In today's non-stop recruiting wars, Bowen's words are like the pot of gold at the end of the black and gold rainbow.  Every high school kid has dreams of being an NFL star and if they hear they are better prepared for the next level at Iowa, all the more reason to become a Hawk.

Every school tells a recruit that they offer the fast track to the NFL.  Those of us around the game know there is no such thing, but after talking to Bowen today it's clear at least one schoolj, those who are good enough to play are prepared enough to play.

KXNO Radio
National Football Post
Matt Bowen on Twitter
Hawkeye Football