Asked this week if attrition has taken a toll on his team, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz downplayed the notion.
He said they have plenty of players. He focused his answer on two players who played (Alex Kanellis and Ryan Bain) and left the program. Kanellis was forced to retire from the sport after recurring problems with headaches. Unhappy with playing time, Bain transfered to Kent State.
He's right, but his answer didn't take potential, continuity and overall health of the program into account.
That said, however, outside of the 2005 recruiting class, the attrition hasn't been horrible.
Here's what I have for the 2004-06 classes, what should be the guts of the football team.
2006 CLASS
17 freshman recruits on Signing Day
1 transfer (Bryon Gattas)
16 freshmen remaining on team
LEFT: Amari Spievey
2005 CLASS
21 freshman recruits on Signing Day
1 transfer (Marshal Yanda)
12 freshmen remaining on team
LEFT: Kalvin Bailey, Ryan Bain, Justin Collins, Justin Edwards, Vernon Jackson, Alex Kanellis, Corey Robertson, B.J. Travers, Marcus Wilson
2004 CLASS
20 freshman recruits on Signing Day
1 transfer (Walner Belleus)
15 freshmen remaining on team
LEFT: Ted Bentler, Lucas Cox, Shonn Greene, Kyle Williams, Ettore Ewen
RECRUITING FIGURES
58 freshman signees
43 remain
15 departed
(Does not include Julian Smith)
REASONS
Spievey – grades (Iowa Central)
Bailey – grades (NIACC)
Bain – playing time (Kent State)
Collins – homesick?
Edwards – playing time
Jackson – injury
Ewen - injury
Kanellis – injury
Robertson – grades
Travers – playing time?
Wilson -- grades
Bentler – transferred to Army
Cox – playing time?
Greene – grades
Williams – DNQ
The 2003 class, the class that would be fifth-year seniors, also lost a lot. It should be noted that this class contributed some true freshmen who were major players and completed their eligibility (Drew Tate, Scott Chandler). Here's the breakdown.
Chris Brevi - injury
George Eshareturi - playing time (Rutgers)
Tyler Fanucchi - playing time (Sacramento State)
Herb Grigsby - dismissed
Clint Huntrods - dismissed
A.J. Johnson - dismissed
Richard Kitrell - departed
Eric McCollom - playing time (Newberry)
Khaliq Price - departed
James Townsend - playing time (Rutgers)
Alex Willcox - injured (student assistant coach)
Jonathan Zanders - injured, departed
I'm not sure how to count Johnson and Townsend. They both played as true freshmen. Before Townsend left, he said he planned to take a redshirt.
No judgment here. I'm not sure if this is even a lot. Every team loses a certain percentage of players. I do know the 2005 class, that's a lot. I wanted to submit the names and numbers for your consideration.