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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Well-documented issues related to Iowa’s offense have led to difficult conversations and significant challenges for wide receivers coach Kelton Copeland relating to his interactions with parents and future recruits.

Despite an uptick the past two games, Iowa’s offense still ranks near the nation’s bottom in yards per game (262.8, 129th), total first downs (128, 129th) and scoring (17.2 points per game, 125th). Those numbers also spill over into the passing game in yards per game (159.2, 120th) and completion percentage (55.2, 114th). The Hawkeyes (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) remain competitive because of their defense, but their style of play doesn’t appeal to some receivers who want more targets and touches than what the offensive structure allows.

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“It really is a challenge recruiting receivers here,” said Copeland, who is in his sixth year at Iowa. “There’s a mantra or like this kind of this hidden message of Iowa receivers, if you come to Iowa all you’re going to do is block, and ‘They line up in 12 personnel and 22 personnel. They only put one receiver on the field,’ which anybody who’s really paying attention, that really knows football, knows that is not the case.

“We’ve been a very balanced offensive attack, and I don’t see that changing.”

Iowa’s attrition at wide receiver began last fall when three players, including former starter Tyrone Tracy Jr., hit the transfer portal. Multiple receivers sat out with injuries during spring practice, and Charlie Jones left Iowa for Purdue in June. In training camp, five receivers were injured, and Arland Bruce IV was the only scholarship receiver available during Iowa’s first two games. It limited the Hawkeyes’ alignments and production.

For the past three seasons, a three-receiver set (11 personnel) has become the Hawkeyes’ primary grouping. This year, it has shifted to a two-receiver, two-tight end (12) formation because of the constant swirl of injuries. Still, Iowa has lined up with three receivers about 20 percent of its offensive snaps this year, down from about 40 percent last year.

“The challenges with the numbers, health-wise, and things like that, obviously, kind of set us back a little bit,” Copeland said. “But as far as production, we’re still here. We’re still ready to produce.”

Getting that message across to prospects is difficult because several competitors have used Iowa’s woes against it on the recruiting trail. It has led Copeland to tighten up his message rather than try to fight against the numbers.

“The truth will set you free, right? I just address it right out of the gate,” Copeland said. “If you’re the type of guy that’s driven by stats, touches, targets, highlights, (those) types of accolades, personal awards, this ain’t the place for you. It’s just not. Because, quite frankly, you’re probably not going to get the targets that you think you should get.

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“Whether you’re deserving of it or not, every receiver thinks that he’s open every play; that’s just the nature of our position. We think we’re open every play; we should get the ball every play. Obviously, that’s not the case. But a good receiver, that’s how he thinks, right? So, if you’re that kind of young man, that is built that way, that’s taught that way, that’s raised that way, that’s probably not the place for you.”

It does limit the pool of potential prospects, and those numbers have shown up in the past two recruiting classes. Last year, Iowa signed one wide receiver — Chicagoland prospect Jacob Bostick — and has just one commit in the upcoming class. The departures in 2021 hurt, but only Jones’ absence was damaging, in production and perception. Through nine games, Iowa’s receivers have 104 total targets while Jones has 119 by himself.

Copeland, who joined the program in 2017, declined to talk about Jones specifically and discussed only the current players. He said some of his greatest challenges come from dealing with players’ parents. He relayed a situation last year in early December when he spoke with the parents of two Iowa receivers about why their sons weren’t getting the ball enough.

“I’ll give you a quick story,” Copeland said. “Big Ten championship week last year, we’re getting ready to play Michigan, a really good opponent, obviously a big game. The first time in my career that I coached for a Big Ten championship. So, in my mind, it was a big opportunity.

“I get a call from two parents wanting to talk to me about why their son isn’t touching the ball more and getting more opportunities. So, I spent 40 minutes out of my Big Ten championship Wednesday evening talking to these parents about why their son’s not getting more opportunities, versus me trying to do everything I can to make sure we’re successful for the Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan. So again, things like that that have happened over the years.”

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Iowa’s reputation for churning out NFL tight ends also has worked against the receivers’ room, Copeland said. George Kittle is one of the NFL’s best players at his position, and Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson were first-round picks in 2019. Current Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta leads Big Ten tight ends in receptions and yards and ranks third and fourth, respectively, in both categories nationally.

“This is Tight End U literally for reason,” Copeland said. “You have to love the game of football, and you have to love playing the game with your teammates first and foremost. If you can’t check those two things off the list, then it’s probably not going to work out. So that has been my message to individual recruits. And more importantly, quite frankly, since we’re on the subject, my message to parents has been quite the same.”

Copeland also has dealt with questions inside and outside the program about sophomore receiver Keagan Johnson, who has played only 14 snaps this season because of a hamstring pull and other health-related issues. Copeland strongly defended his young protege, who was only the second Iowa receiver in 20 years to average 19 yards per catch on at least 15 receptions last season.

“The biggest message that I have for people, being the media, fans or even people inside of our building, is you can’t judge one young man’s situation next to another,” Copeland said. “His process is his process; we don’t know what’s going on inside of his body or what’s actually happening. I do know this, though: This young man wants to play football more than anybody else wants him to. So, he’s doing everything he can to get back on the field.

“I don’t want to be negative, but you caught me on a good day because I’m being as honest as I can. Quite frankly, you can’t hold that against a young man. I feel like there’s certain people out there that are trying to hold it against this young man and hold him to the fire because they haven’t seen him this season. I know for a fact that this young man is doing everything he can to get back on the field. Hopefully, he will get back on the field this season. If not, so be it. So be it. It’s the way God chose it to be.”

(Top photo: Matthew Holst / Getty Images)

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