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College football rankings: Post-spring Top 25 – Clemson, Alabama vie for top spot

By Cody Williams

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 01: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes passes during the 2019 Outback Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 01: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes passes during the 2019 Outback Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
  • Notable Losses: Noah Fant, T.J. Hockensen, Amani Hooker, Jack Hockaday, Anthony Nelson, Jake Gervase, Nick Easley, Parker Hesse
  • Notable Returners: Nate Stanley, Brandon Smith, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, A.J. Epenesa, Michael Ojemudia, Mekhi Sargent, Toren Young
  • 2019 Recruiting Class Ranking: 40th

Nate Stanley is returning for his third season as the starting quarterback of the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2019, which is obviously terrific news for the offense. Stanley is just 23 touchdown tosses away from setting the school record and will enter the upcoming college football season as one of the most underrated passers in the sport. This all bodes well for him and his team, but there are some questions that Iowa, on the whole, will have to answer in 2019.

For starters, perhaps Stanley’s two most consistent and biggest weapons in the passing game, tight ends Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson, will no longer be suiting up for the Hawkeyes as they head to the NFL Draft. While the offense does have some returning pass-catchers like Ihmir Smith-Marsette that showed flashes last season, losing two elite tight ends is something that is going to be hard to contend with.

On the opposite side of the ball, the defensive unit for Iowa does have one stalwart returning in A.J. Epenesa on the line. However, the group as a whole returns just four starters from last season, which means that they could have some growing pains in that regard. There is talent, to be sure, but there is a distinct lack of experience that will undoubtedly be something to keep an eye on for this team.

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