Iowa's head coach Kirk Ferentz is on the hunt for a new offensive coordinator who values the Hawkeyes' ethos, aiming for an offense that scores more points but maintains balance. Ferentz clarified that his critical remarks on offensive stats and win/loss records were targeted at a former Big Ten coordinator, not current head coaches. He expressed a preference for high school recruiting over the transfer portal but did not rule out its use in the coming year. Iowa's recruiting director Tyler Barnes has been working to retain six roster players amidst the possibility of 1-2 entering the transfer portal after the bowl game. In contrast, Indiana University's football program, under coach Curt Cignetti, secured a commitment from four-star QB Tyler Cherry, as predicted by a @247Sports Crystal Ball. Cignetti is preparing for a roster overhaul with seven more transfers expected after the bowl games and has the administration's backing. He has plans to add complexity to IU's pass game next season and believes transfers, including Kurtis Rourke, will have to earn their place but will fit well. Hugh Freeze commented on prioritizing the 2024 class, stating a strategic approach to not chasing hard in the portal for immediate players.
Tyler Barnes on stay/go decisions: "We could've sat down and told them we need a decision by X date so we can go to the portal. But we want all these kids back... It's well worth investing the time to recruit these guys back before we even think about going out to the portal."
Tyler Barnes: "I have done nothing but recruit the 6 guys on our roster to come back," as it pertains to NCAA transfer portal activity. If they need to add someone later, they will.
Iowa recruiting director Tyler Barnes says he wouldn't be shocked if 1-2 current players pop in the transfer portal after the bowl game. (Deadline is Jan. 2.)
Kirk Ferentz: "We prefer to build our team through high school recruiting." But adds, "We may be active in the new year," in the transfer portal.
Kirk Ferentz says his comments the other day about offensive passing stats + poor win/loss record were not directed at anyone who has been a sitting head coach in the Big Ten. Says he was thinking about a former B1G coordinator.
Kirk Ferentz opens his signing day remarks saying he spoke to three people, not specifically candidates about the open offensive coordinator job.
Curt Cignetti said a lot during his #NSD news conference. Nothing quite so direct as this: https://t.co/zqEkJI8z3M via @indystar #iufb
Cignetti: "The administration here, they want football to win. So I've probably got a couple things the other coaches didn't, and they've got a guy who knows how to win. "It's pretty simple." #iufb
Cignetti affirms transfers will have to earn snaps, including Kurtis Rourke, but says "I fully expect him to be a great fit for us." #iufb
Cignetti not so subtly suggests there will be a lot more layer and complexity to IU's pass game next season than last. #iufb
Cignetti: "This roster's gonna look a lot different in January when the players come back." Suggests there will be seven more transfers announced after bowl games. #iufb
Hugh Freeze: "I wanted them (the 2024 class) to feel like they're the priority. So we didn't chase hard in the portal on everyone who could play."
We talked a lot about what Curt Cignetti would need to do to rebuild his roster following the coaching change. Now, on Signing Day, we look at some of the strategies he's used to do just that: https://t.co/iYV4bWKPmE via @indystar #iufb
IU coach Curt Cignetti is getting it DONE. And I wrote this a few hours before #iufb got Center Grove QB Tyler Cherry. My word, Cig. https://t.co/NhbUr1N54e
Fired in a @247Sports Crystal Ball prediction in favor of #Indiana for Greenwood (Ind.) Center Grove four-star QB Tyler Cherry: https://t.co/KkyCfmxdfh #IUFB
More points, but not *too many* more points. Kirk Ferentz explains what he's seeking from Iowa's next offensive coordinator. https://t.co/6ETDjeAi4F
Kirk Ferentz on OC candidates: New hire needs ‘appreciation’ for Hawkeyes (And he lobs some shade a couple of programs in the process) @TheAthleticCFB https://t.co/qdFkFb0bCw