If You Build It, They Will Come

Here's the initial list of players with Iowa Connections in the NFL in 2022. Only one team is starting the year at zero, which I assume they are having discussions about in the background.   UPDATE #1: Shaun Huls is the Director of Performance with the Cleveland Browns and is from LeMars This blog is official rooting for a Green Bay / Baltimore Super Bowl.  At the other end of the spectrum, we do not root for bad things to happen to teams, but we do implore the Washington Commanders to consider resigning Ross Piersbacher to address their lack of Iowa Connections. Overall, 101 connections this year (105 last year).  We will add a few as the season progresses.  Kelechi Osemele is meeting with the Bears, Amara Darboh often becomes a filler WR as the injuries pile up, etc.   Of course, blog favorite David Johnson is out there as well.  We'll assuming waiting for the right opportunity.  Note: Coaches in  italics, New in bold Iowa Hawkeyes : 5...

 Here's how the teams rosters were filled with Iowa Connections this season: Coaches in italics C.J. Beathard 7 - Jacksonville :  C.J. Beathard  / Mekhi Sargent / Coy Cronk (Iowa),  Darrell Bevell,  Brian Schneider  (ISU),  Chris Ash  (Drake),  Anthony Schlegel  (Cedar Rapids) 7 - Denver :  Noah Fant  / Josey Jewell / Michael Ojemudia / Shaun Beyer / Barrington Wade (Iowa), Eric Saubert (Drake), Rico Gafford (Iowa Western) 6 - Buffalo : Ike Boettger /  AJ Epenesa  / Micah Hyde (Iowa), AJ Klein (ISU), Spencer Brown (UNI), Matt Haack (W. Des Moines) 6 - Green Bay :  Jerry Montgomery,  Jack Heflin (Iowa), Allen Lazard / Steven Wirtel (ISU),  Ryan Mahaffey  (UNI), Dominique Dafney (W. Des Moines ) 6 - Kansas City : Austin Blythe / Ben Niemann / Anthony Hitchens/Josh Jackson (Iowa),  Brendan Daly  (Drake), Daurice Fountain (UNI) 5 - Detroit :      T.J. Hockenson / ...

Here's the final list of players with Iowa Connections in the NFL in 2020.  For shame Dallas, New Orleans, Atlanta and Carolina.  I mean 3/4 NFC West teams had 0 Iowa Connections (the one team that did won the Super Bowl, think about that!) Note: Coaches in italics Iowa Hawkeyes : 46 Iowa State Cyclones : 15 Northern Iowa Panthers : 8 Iowa Western Community College : 3 Drake Bulldogs : 2 Ellsworth Community College : 2 Des Moines : 3 Iowa City : 1 Ames : 1 Cedar Falls : 1 Marion : 1 Johnston : 1 5 - Green Bay : Christian Kirksey, Josh Jackson , Jerry Montgomery (Iowa), Allen Lazard (ISU), Dominique Dafney (W. Des Moines) 5 - New England :    Carl Davis, James Ferentz, Ross Reynolds (Iowa), Xavier Williams (UNI), Nick Caley (ISU) 5 - Chicago : David Montgomery,  Jay Rodgers  (ISU), James Daniels /  Mark DeLeone  (Iowa),  Mike Furrey  (UNI) 4 - Buffalo : Ike Boettger /  AJ Epenesa  / Micah Hyde (Iowa), AJ Klein (IS...