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can this defense keep the streak going ?

r_desihawk

r_desihawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
2,729
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When I look at the guys penciled in at DL and LB, it seems like the scoring defense streak (giving up fewer than 20 points per game for 10 straight seasons) ends this year. 3 returning starters in total on D, zero star power unless we squint and imagine lutmer is cooper dejean.

But then i think back to last year. hurkett, graves, hawthorne, llll at DL with harrell and sharar at LB kind of had me thinking they would get gashed every game but somehow despite the fairly tough schedule they held up.

Are we just hoping for magic or do we actually have some horses?
 
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HawkAlum2002

HawkAlum2002

All-Conference
Oct 18, 2017
458
1,028
93
As long as we run the clock on offense and punt well, our defense will always have the built in advantage of keeping the score low if they don't give up big plays and "bend but don't break". It really is complimentary football.
 
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JerseyCityHawk

JerseyCityHawk

All-Conference
Jul 6, 2025
1,147
1,874
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r_desihawk said:
When I look at the guys penciled in at DL and LB, it seems like the scoring defense streak (giving up fewer than 20 points per game for 10 straight seasons) ends this year. 3 returning starters in total on D, zero star power unless we squint and imagine lutmer is cooper dejean.

But then i think back to last year. hurkett, graves, hawthorne, llll at DL with harrell and sharar at LB kind of had me thinking they would get gashed every game but somehow despite the fairly tough schedule they held up.

Are we just hoping for magic or do we actually have some horses?
Click to expand...
Absolutely with Parker and Bell running the show we are in good hands
 
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85Bears

85Bears

All-American
Aug 31, 2019
5,303
5,418
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Why hasn’t Aaron Graves returned ? Several other nfl cuts have went back to their college team. nil Money, another chance to be drafted next year.
 
K

Kceasthawk@77

All-American
Feb 2, 2005
3,376
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85Bears said:
Why hasn’t Aaron Graves returned ? Several other nfl cuts have went back to their college team. nil Money, another chance to be drafted next year.
Click to expand...
Maybe he's getting on with his life. Has his degree, married and has a new born son......
 
K

Kceasthawk@77

All-American
Feb 2, 2005
3,376
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85Bears said:
Doubt he makes 500k- million a year in what ever line of work he’s in. Good way to provide security for the family.
Click to expand...
Maybe. And maybe he's given all he wants to the game already. Some guys think ab out their long term health both physically and mentally when they have a family already. Don't really know what his thoughts are right now. But there's more to life than football and the paycheck.especially if you can't enjoy your life when your done playing.
 
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B

BHoppy

All-Conference
Jun 26, 2001
1,252
1,087
113
Kceasthawk@77 said:
Maybe. And maybe he's given all he wants to the game already. Some guys think ab out their long term health both physically and mentally when they have a family already. Don't really know what his thoughts are right now. But there's more to life than football and the paycheck.especially if you can't enjoy your life when your done playing.
Click to expand...
He is still with Baltimore and signed a contract and has an agent.

Former Iowa defensive lineman Aaron Graves signed a three-year, $3,135,000 undrafted free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens on May 1, 2026. The deal includes a $35,000 signing bonus, $60,000 in total guarantees, and an average annual salary of $1,045,000. [1, 2, 3]
Contract Breakdown
    • Total Value: $3,135,000
    • Guaranteed Money: $60,000
    • Signing Bonus: $35,000
    • Average Salary: $1,045,000

    • Yearly Details (2026–2028)
 
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K

Kceasthawk@77

All-American
Feb 2, 2005
3,376
6,189
113
BHoppy said:
He is still with Baltimore and signed a contract and has an agent.

Former Iowa defensive lineman Aaron Graves signed a three-year, $3,135,000 undrafted free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens on May 1, 2026. The deal includes a $35,000 signing bonus, $60,000 in total guarantees, and an average annual salary of $1,045,000. [1, 2, 3]
Contract Breakdown
    • Total Value: $3,135,000
    • Guaranteed Money: $60,000
    • Signing Bonus: $35,000
    • Average Salary: $1,045,000

    • Yearly Details (2026–2028)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the update Bhoppy. I had no idea and was just responding to questions as to why he wasn't back at Iowa. Hopefully he gets some PT and realizes his goals in football.
 
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85Bears

85Bears

All-American
Aug 31, 2019
5,303
5,418
108
Aaron Graves signed a 3-year, $3,135,000 undrafted free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens that includes $60,000 in total guaranteed money and a $35,000 signing bonus. The remaining balance of his multi-year base salary is non-guaranteed, meaning the vast majority of his deal depends on making the roster.
 
P

Passing Is For COMMIES

Senior
Oct 30, 2023
424
846
93
85Bears said:
Why hasn’t Aaron Graves returned ? Several other nfl cuts have went back to their college team. nil Money, another chance to be drafted next year.
Click to expand...
NFL cuts can’t come back. Once you sign a contract, even a UDFA one, you’re out.

A couple announced they were returning but the judge clarified her decision stating that anyone who signed a professional contract cannot return.
 
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P

Passing Is For COMMIES

Senior
Oct 30, 2023
424
846
93
r_desihawk said:
When I look at the guys penciled in at DL and LB, it seems like the scoring defense streak (giving up fewer than 20 points per game for 10 straight seasons) ends this year. 3 returning starters in total on D, zero star power unless we squint and imagine lutmer is cooper dejean.

But then i think back to last year. hurkett, graves, hawthorne, llll at DL with harrell and sharar at LB kind of had me thinking they would get gashed every game but somehow despite the fairly tough schedule they held up.

Are we just hoping for magic or do we actually have some horses?
Click to expand...
This is our lowest returning starter count since 2012, which isn’t promising.

But we saw plenty of the new starters last year. Wallace, Buffington, Hawthorne, Godfrey, little Eppy, and Merrieweather all look ready to me. Tyler Brown from JMU also looks good to me. I think they’ll be fine. As everyone has noted, the other DT spot and overall DL depth are the concern, but I do think everything will be fine.
 
Last edited:
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Fight4Iowa

Fight4Iowa

Junior
Nov 25, 2025
272
383
63
Probably, but it might be inflated because our weak non-con. It'll be interesting to see how we fare in the B1G. The system is tried and tested for about two decades now so I don't know why anyone would think otherwise. We recruit and develop players for our defensive system and the track record speaks for itself.
 
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R

Ripcord

Junior
Aug 30, 2016
280
384
63
Fight4Iowa said:
Probably, but it might be inflated because our weak non-con. It'll be interesting to see how we fare in the B1G. The system is tried and tested for about two decades now so I don't know why anyone would think otherwise. We recruit and develop players for our defensive system and the track record speaks for itself.
Click to expand...
yes, I would say that the #22 ranking is largely due to the respect that KF and Phil Parker and Company have earned in how they reload quite well every year. I mean, with so few returning starters, how else could they rank us so high except because they know how consistently our program reinvents itself every year?

But I keep hearing the year 2012 mentioned, and it worries me. 2012 is just a very bad memory. Nothing much went right that year.
 
JerseyCityHawk

JerseyCityHawk

All-Conference
Jul 6, 2025
1,147
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I am still shocked he didn’t get drafted as he was a stud on the line… whomever gets him (hopefully) is getting a grand deal… hard nosed and perfect size and can move for how big he is (AKA… INT against Wisconsin that was nearly a pick 6 but a half yard short of pay-dirt
 
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