The new Cy-Hawk Trophy that will make its debut at the Iowa/Iowa State football game at Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 8, 2012. (Source: Iowa Corn)

By Brendan Stiles

HawkeyeDrive.com

A new design for the Cy-Hawk Trophy was released this week by Iowa Corn following a 17-day voting period where Iowa and Iowa State fans could vote for one of three possible looks to the prize given to the winner of the annual football game.

After playing for a temporary trophy last September in Ames (a game Iowa State won 44-41 in triple overtime), the Hawkeyes and Cyclones will now play for a trophy that features a football, corn stalks and both schools’ mascots. The bottom part of the trophy shows both logos as well as engraved scores from past Iowa-Iowa State football games, much like the original trophy used up until 2010.

This all came about after a new design initially revealed last year by Iowa Corn (who became the new sponsor of the Cy-Hawk Series in 2011) received widespread negative publicity to the point that it was immediately replaced by the temporary trophy used last season.

The new trophy will make its debut on Sept. 8 at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa plays Iowa State in what is the Hawkeyes’ home opener for the 2012 season.

By Brendan Stiles

HawkeyeDrive.com

For the third straight year, Iowa saw a record six of its players selected in the NFL Draft after five more players were selected on Saturday between rounds 4-7.

Left tackle Riley Reiff was selected 23rd overall by the Detroit Lions on Thursday, but it took 109 picks before the second Hawkeye came off the board. With the 132nd overall pick, defensive tackle Mike Daniels was taken by the Green Bay Packers. It was the Packers’ second selection of an Iowa player in the last three years and Daniels was the fourth defensive lineman picked over the last two years.

Daniels said during a conference call with the Green Bay media the Packers were the only team he had an official visit with while he was in Indianapolis last February for the NFL Combine. Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers said they came away impressed with Daniels after they interviewed him.

“We think he’s an ‘all-football’ guy,” Capers said during a press conference in Green Bay on Saturday. “He brings a lot of energy. Very productive.

“He has very good quickness, a good motor. He’s playing hard all the time. We like what he’ll bring here to our front.”

A pair of Hawkeyes were then taken in the fifth round. The Washington Redskins used the 141st overall pick to take right guard Adam Gettis, who was the second Iowa offensive lineman to come off the board.

Fifteen selections later, the Cincinnati Bengals took cornerback Shaun Prater with the 156th overall pick. Prater is the fourth Iowa corner to be picked in the last five years.

During a press conference in Cincinnati on Saturday, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis praised Prater’s ability to play in coverage, citing that as a reason why they thought highly of him. He also believes Prater will be able to compete as a gunner on the Bengals’ special teams unit as well.

Prater revealed on a conference call with the Cincinnati media that he got a call from the city’s area code that initially hung out, thinking it was a prank call. When he saw the same number call again, he said he kept his fingers crossed.

“I looked up at the TV and it said the Bengals had the next pick and I saw that they needed a cornerback,” Prater said. “I just took a deep breath and just prayed to God that this was real.

“Now I have a chance to go prove myself.”

In the sixth round, wide receiver Marvin McNutt finally heard his name called when the Philadelphia Eagles picked Iowa’s record-shattering wideout with the 194th overall selection. McNutt goes to Philadelphia one year after the Eagles took former offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde with a fifth-round pick in 2011.

In an interview with philadelphiaeagles.com, McNutt said he describes himself as “a playmaker and a competitor.” To that point, he also said being taken as late as he was while numerous other receivers were being picked would make him even more competitive.

“It’s a competitive league in itself, so it’s going to be something to look at years back,” McNutt said. “But I definitely plan on improving and being a part of this Philly family and just basically make my way to the lineup.”

Eagles head coach Andy Reid said during a press conference in Philadelphia that his “inside source” on McNutt was defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, who is the father of Iowa cornerback Greg Castillo.

“I think what you’ll see with Marvin is a big, physical receiver with great hands, a good character kid, very strong to the ball,” Reid said. “He’s a smooth athlete who is big.”

The last Hawkeye taken in the 2012 draft was safety Jordan Bernstine, who joins Gettis in Washington after the Redskins selected him with the 217th overall pick. Bernstine became the second strong safety to be drafted in as many years after former safety Tyler Sash went to the New York Giants last year.

Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan told reporters in Washington on Saturday that he envisions Bernstine as a safety in the Redskins’ system.

In all, 18 players have been taken out of Iowa over the past three years.

2012 NFL DRAFT:

Round 1 (23rd overall) — Riley Reiff, OT, Detroit Lions

Round 4 (132nd overall) — Mike Daniels, DT, Green Bay Packers

Round 5 (141st overall) — Adam Gettis, OG, Washington Redskins

Round 5 (156th overall) — Shaun Prater, CB, Cincinnati Bengals

Round 6 (194th overall) — Marvin McNutt, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Round 7 (217th overall) — Jordan Bernstine, S, Washington Redskins

UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS:

Markus Zusevics, OT, New England Patriots

Broderick Binns, DE, Arizona Cardinals

Brad Herman, TE, New England Patriots

Eric Guthrie, P, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tyler Nielsen, LB, Minnesota Vikings

By Brendan Stiles

HawkeyeDrive.com

Former Iowa strong safety Jordan Bernstine was selected in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft, as the Washington Redskins took him with the 217th overall pick. Bernstine became the second Hawkeye selected by the Redskins in this year’s draft after they took former offensive lineman Adam Gettis in the fifth round.

He is also the sixth player from Iowa to be taken in this year’s draft, tying the record for most taken in one draft set each of the last two years.

Two years after breaking his ankle, Bernstine finally cracked the top of Iowa’s 2-deep, starting the last 11 games of the 2011 season. He compiled 83 of his 108 career tackles as a senior and also returned 30 kickoffs for 713 yards.

Last season, the Redskins went 5-11.

*Be sure to visit HawkeyeDrive.com later this evening for a full recap of Saturday’s NFL Draft action.

By Brendan Stiles

HawkeyeDrive.com

Former Iowa wide receiver Marvin McNutt was selected in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, as the Philadelphia Eagles took him with the 194th overall pick. McNutt became the fifth Hawkeye to be picked in this year’s draft and is also the second Hawkeye taken by Philadelphia in consecutive years after the Eagles drafted former offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde last year.

McNutt is the first Iowa wideout to be drafted since Kahlil Hill was picked in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

The St. Louis native had a monumental senior season, tying the single-season record of 82 receptions and setting new Iowa single-season marks with 1,315 yards receiving and 12 touchdown catches. McNutt also became the Hawkeyes’ all-time leader in career touchdown receptions (28) and receiving yards (2,861).

Last season, the Eagles went 8-8.

*Be sure to visit HawkeyeDrive.com later this evening for a full recap of Saturday’s NFL Draft action.

By Brendan Stiles

HawkeyeDrive.com

Former Iowa cornerback Shaun Prater was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, as the Cincinnati Bengals took him with the 156th overall pick. Prater is the second Hawkeye defensive player to get picked in this year’s draft and the fifth defensive back from Iowa to be drafted over the past five years, joining Tyler Sash (2011), Amari Spievey (2010), Bradley Fletcher (2009) and Charles Godfrey (2008).

Prater started 35 games at cornerback for Iowa over the course of the last three seasons. Over the course of his career, Prater broke up 19 passes, compiled 171 tackles (51 of which came in 2011), and recorded seven interceptions. He also forced four fumbles, all of which came last season.

Last season, the Bengals went 9-7 and lost to the Houston Texans in the wild card round of the NFL playoffs.

*Be sure to visit HawkeyeDrive.com later this evening for a full recap of Saturday’s NFL Draft action.

By Brendan Stiles

HawkeyeDrive.com

Former Iowa offensive guard Adam Gettis was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, as the Washington Redskins took him with the 141st overall pick. Gettis is the second offensive lineman to be taken in this year’s draft, joining first-round pick Riley Reiff.

After only being able to start two games in 2010 due to injuries, Gettis started all 13 games during the 2011 season at right guard. He also started one game as a sophomore during the 2009 season against UNI, filling in for an injured Julian Vandervelde.

Last season, the Redskins went 5-11.

*Be sure to visit HawkeyeDrive.com later this evening for a full recap of Saturday’s NFL Draft action.

By Brendan Stiles

HawkeyeDrive.com

Former Iowa defensive lineman Mike Daniels was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, as the Green Bay Packers took him with the 132nd overall pick. Daniels is the fourth defensive lineman to be drafted in the last two years after Adrian Clayborn, Christian Ballard and Karl Klug were all taken in last year’s draft. He’s also the first defensive player from Iowa taken in this year’s draft.

Daniels started 21 games at defensive tackle over the past two seasons, including all 13 games in 2011. As a senior, he recorded 67 tackles (13.5 for lost yardage) and nine sacks, five of which came late last season in games against Purdue and Oklahoma. For his career, Daniels had 123 tackles and 15.5 sacks.

Last season, the Packers went 15-1 and lost to the New York Giants in the divisional round of the playoffs.

*Be sure to visit HawkeyeDrive.com later this evening for a full recap of Saturday’s NFL Draft action.

By Brendan Stiles

HawkeyeDrive.com

Former Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff was selected 23rd overall in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions on Thursday. Reiff became the 19th first-round pick in school history and is the third first-round pick from Iowa in as many years.

The Parkston, S.D., native is also the third offensive lineman to be picked in the first round under head coach Kirk Ferentz, joining Robert Gallery (2004) and Bryan Bulaga (2010). Coincidentally, Bulaga was also the 23rd overall pick when the Green Bay Packers selected him two years ago.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said he was surprised to see Reiff still available when Detroit went on the clock.

“Big, strong, tough guy. Versatile,” Mayhew said to reporters during a press conference Thursday evening in Detroit. “We came into this draft thinking that we needed to add some young players to that group, and Riley certainly fits that mold.”

Reiff started 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2009, including three games at left tackle in place of an injured Bulaga. He then proceeded to start seven games at left guard and at right tackle in the Hawkeyes’ 24-14 win over Georgia Tech in the 2010 Orange Bowl. Reiff started every game at left tackle during each of the past two seasons for Iowa.

While Mayhew mentioned Reiff’s capabilities of playing four different positions on the offensive line, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz envisions Reiff as the team’s future left tackle. Currently, the Lions’ left tackle is Jeff Backus.

“It’s not very often that the second offensive lineman off the board goes off at No. 23 overall,” Schwartz said. “There usually off the board by then, so we were fortunate to be sit at 23 and still end up with a player that we liked.

“We’re not drafting a guy that’s a developmental player. He’s a very experienced player. He has played at a high level in the Big Ten and we were very fortunate to be able to get him where we were.”

*Be sure to visit HawkeyeDrive.com throughout the weekend as more Hawkeye players continue to get  picked in the 2012 NFL Draft.

By Brendan Stiles

HawkeyeDrive.com

Before spending my fall Saturdays covering Iowa football games for this site, one of the first things I do when I arrive in the press box is check the seating chart. For the one obvious reason, I check it so I know where I’m supposed to be sitting. Last season, the press box seating chart served an additional purpose for me.

Over the course of the 2011 season, I kept track of which NFL teams had scouts on hand at each of the Hawkeyes’ games. The purpose of this list is to give you all an idea of which teams might be worth keeping an eye on during this weekend’s draft as far as where some of the Hawkeye players in this year’s draft could potentially land.

This isn’t to say any NFL team not on this list won’t take any Iowa players. The other point that needs to be made is that for all we know, the scouts on hand at a given game could have been looking at someone playing for whoever the Hawkeyes’ opponent was on that given day. For example, there were six teams with scouts at Iowa’s game against Iowa State. One of them could have been at that game solely to scout an Iowa State player their team’s targeting. I don’t know.

What I do know is everything I’ve written below and thought would be interesting to share with the draft approaching.

A couple of tidbits on the list below: Iowa’s seating chart listed teams at every home game. Penn State and Purdue did not include NFL scouts on their press box seating charts, but that doesn’t mean NFL teams weren’t on hand at either game. The evening of the Insight Bowl, Fiesta Bowl representatives confirmed to HawkeyeDrive.com that NFL scouts were in the stadium, but since they weren’t seated in the press box at Sun Devil Stadium, there wasn’t a list of which teams were specifically on hand.

There was also one road game — Minnesota — were the seating chart listed four teams on hand, but didn’t specifically say which teams and only two of the four were actually in the press box.

I’ve listed the teams below in alphabetical order and also included some notes on each team:

Buffalo Bills — Sept. 10 at Iowa State

– The Bills were one of six teams on hand at Jack Trice Stadium when Iowa played Iowa State.

– 10 draft picks: 1st – 10th; 2nd – 41st; 3rd – 71st; 4th – 105th, 124th; 5th – 144th, 147th; 6th – 178th; 7th – 217th, 251st

– Last Hawkeye taken by Bills: OT Kyle Calloway, 2010, 7th round

– Team needs per NFL.com: OL, LB, CB, WR, QB

Cleveland Browns — Sept. 3 vs. Tennessee Tech, Oct. 29 at Minnesota

– The Browns were one of two teams at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played Tennessee Tech and one of two teams known to have been on hand at TCF Bank Stadium when Iowa played Minnesota. They are also one of five teams known to have scouted multiple Hawkeye games in 2011.

– 13 draft picks: 1st – 4th, 22nd; 2nd – 37th; 3rd – 67th; 4th – 100th, 118th; 5th – 139th, 160th; 6th – 204th, 205th; 7th – 211th, 245th, 247th

– Last Hawkeye taken by Browns: QB Mike Cilek, 1970, 6th round

– Team needs per NFL.com: RB, QB, OL, WR, CB, S

Dallas Cowboys — Sept. 24 vs. ULM

– The Cowboys were the only team on hand at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played ULM.

– 8 draft picks: 1st – 14th; 2nd – 45th; 3rd – 81st; 4th – 113th, 135th; 5th – 152nd; 6th – 186th; 7th – 222nd

– Last Hawkeye taken by Cowboys: OL Joe Levelis, 1984, 6th round

– Team needs per NFL.com: WR, CB, S, TE

Detroit Lions — Sept. 3 vs. Tennessee Tech

– The Lions were one of two teams at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played Tennessee Tech. They actually had two scouts on hand for this game and this was the only known instance in 2011 of a team having multiple scouts at a Hawkeye game.

– 7 draft picks: 1st – 23rd; 2nd – 54th; 3rd – 85th; 4th – 117th; 5th – 158th; 7th – 219th, 230th

– Last Hawkeye taken by Lions: CB Amari Spievey, 2010, 3rd round

– Team needs per NFL.com: CB, WR, RB, LB

Green Bay Packers — Oct. 22 vs. Indiana

– The Packers were one of four teams on hand at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played Indiana.

– 12 draft picks: 1st – 28th; 2nd – 59th; 3rd – 90th; 4th – 123rd, 132nd, 133rd; 5th – 163rd; 6th – 197th; 7th – 224th, 235th, 241st, 243rd

– Last Hawkeye taken by Packers: OT Bryan Bulaga, 2010, 1st round

– Team needs per NFL.com: S, CB, LB, DL, RB, OL, WR

Houston Texans — Sept. 10 at Iowa State

– The Texans were one of six teams at Jack Trice Stadium when Iowa played Iowa State.

– 8 draft picks: 1st – 26th; 2nd – 58th; 3rd – 76th; 4th – 99th, 121st; 5th – 161st; 6th – 195th; 7th – 233rd

– Last Hawkeye taken by Texans: None

– Team needs per NFL.com: OL, WR, LB, DL, CB

Kansas City Chiefs — Sept. 10 at Iowa State, Nov. 5 vs. Michigan

– The Chiefs were one of six teams at Jack Trice Stadium when Iowa played Iowa State and the only team at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played Michigan.

– 8 draft picks: 1st – 11th; 2nd – 44th; 3rd – 74th; 4th – 107th; 5th – 146th; 6th – 182nd; 7th – 218th, 238th

– Last Hawkeye taken by Chiefs: QB Ricky Stanzi, 2011, 5th round

– Team needs per NFL.com: OL, DL, RB, CB, S

Miami Dolphins — Sept. 17 vs. Pittsburgh

– The Dolphins were the only team at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played Pittsburgh. Also of note, Miami hired former Iowa offensive line coach Joe Philbin as its head coach this offseason and Philbin hired former Iowa offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe as the Dolphins’ wide receivers coach after O’Keefe resigned from his post at Iowa back on Feb. 3.

– 8 draft picks: 1st – 8th; 2nd – 42nd; 3rd – 72nd, 73rd; 4th – 103rd; 5th – 145th; 6th – 196th; 7th – 215th

– Last Hawkeye taken by Dolphins: LB A.J. Edds, 2010, 4th round

– Team needs per NFL.com: WR, QB, OL, DL, LB, CB

Minnesota Vikings — Oct. 15 vs. Northwestern, Oct. 22 vs. Indiana

– The Vikings were the only team at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played Northwestern and one of four teams at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played Indiana. They are also one of five teams known to have scouted multiple games and the only team known to have scouted consecutive Hawkeye games during the 2011 season.

– 10 draft picks: 1st – 3rd; 2nd – 35th; 3rd – 66th; 4th – 98th, 128th, 134th; 5th – 138th; 6th – 175th; 7th – 210th, 223rd

– Last Hawkeye taken by Vikings: DL Christian Ballard, 2011, 4th round

– Team needs per NFL.com: OL, CB, LB, DL, WR, RB

New Orleans Saints — Oct. 29 at Minnesota

– The Saints were one of the two teams known to have had scouts on hand at TCF Bank Stadium when Iowa played Minnesota.

– 5 draft picks: 3rd – 89th; 4th – 122nd; 5th – 162nd; 6th – 179th; 7th – 234th

– Last Hawkeye taken by Saints: TE Austin Wheatley, 2000, 5th round

– Team needs per NFL.com: CB, WR, LB

New York Giants — Sept. 10 at Iowa State

– The Giants were one of six teams on hand at Jack Trice Stadium when Iowa played Iowa State.

– 7 draft picks: 1st – 32nd; 2nd – 63th; 3rd – 94th; 4th – 127th, 131st; 6th – 201st; 7th – 239th

– Last Hawkeye taken by Giants: SS Tyler Sash, 2011, 6th round

– Team needs per NFL.com: WR, OL, DL, LB, TE, CB

New York Jets — Sept. 10 at Iowa State, Nov. 12 vs. Michigan State

– The Jets were one of six teams on hand at Jack Trice Stadium when Iowa played Iowa State and one of two teams at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played Michigan State. They are also one of the five teams known to have scouted multiple Hawkeye games in 2011.

– 10 draft picks: 1st – 16th; 2nd – 47th; 3rd – 77th; 5th – 154th; 6th – 187th, 202nd, 203rd; 7th – 232nd, 242nd, 244th

– Last Hawkeye taken by Jets: RB Shonn Greene, 2009, 3rd round

– Team needs per NFL.com: WR, OL, LB, CB, S

San Francisco 49ers — Oct. 22 vs. Indiana

– The 49ers were one of four teams at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played Indiana. One thing of note here is that San Francisco linebackers coach Ed Donatell is the father of current Iowa safety Tom Donatell.

– 7 draft picks: 1st – 30th; 2nd – 61st; 3rd – 92nd; 4th – 125th; 5th – 165th; 6th – 199th; 7th – 237th

– Last Hawkeye taken by 49ers: DB Merton Hanks, 1991, 5th round

– Team needs per NFL.com: OL, DL, CB, WR

Seattle Seahawks — Sept. 10 at Iowa State

– The Seahawks were one of six teams on hand at Jack Trice Stadium when Iowa played Iowa State.

– 6 draft picks: 1st – 12th; 2nd – 43rd; 3rd – 75th; 4th – 106th; 6th – 181st; 7th – 225th

– Last Hawkeye taken by Seahawks: TE Tony Jackson, 2005, 6th round

– Team needs per NFL.com: OL, DL, LB, CB, WR

Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Nov. 25 at Nebraska

– The Buccaneers were the only team on hand at Memorial Stadium when Iowa played Nebraska.

– 6 draft picks: 1st – 5th; 2nd – 36th; 3rd – 68th; 5th – 140th; 6th – 174th; 7th – 212th

– Last Hawkeye taken by Buccaneers: DE Adrian Clayborn, 2011, 1st round

– Team needs per NFL.com: RB, OL, LB, S, CB, TE

Tennessee Titans — Oct. 22 vs. Indiana, Nov. 12 vs. Michigan State

– The Titans were one of four teams at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played Indiana and one of two teams at Kinnick Stadium when Iowa played Michigan State. They were also one of five teams known to have scouted multiple Hawkeye games in 2011.

– 7 draft picks: 1st – 20th; 2nd – 52nd; 3rd – 82nd; 4th – 115th; 5th – 155th; 6th – 190th; 7th – 227th

– Last Hawkeye taken by Titans: DT Karl Klug, 2011, 5th round

– Team needs per NFL.com: CB, WR, DL

By Brendan Stiles

HawkeyeDrive.com

On Tuesday, the Iowa football program announced its 2012 Leadership Council, which consists of 15 current players.

This year’s group features five seniors, four juniors, two sophomores and three redshirt freshmen. The senior group includes two offensive players — quarterback James Vandenberg and center James Ferentz — and three defensive players — defensive lineman Steve Bigach and cornerbacks Micah Hyde and Greg Castillo.

The four juniors are linebacker James Morris, fullback Brad Rogers, offensive tackle Brett Van Sloten and long snapper Casey Kreiter. The duo of sophomores are both on the offensive side of the ball — wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley and offensive lineman Brandon Scherff.

As for the three redshirt freshmen, they are quarterback Jake Rudock, offensive lineman Austin Blythe and linebacker Quinton Alston.