Don't Go McNutts---yet...

Photo Courtesy of Press Citizen

Marvin McNutt-- already a cool name in itself-- is making an even bigger name for himself on Iowa Football's most recent depth charts released on Tuesday...but not at quarterback.

McNutt, recruited as a quarterback, found himself buried on the depth chart the past couple of seasons behind Jake Christensen and the up and coming Ricky Stanzi. During the middle of the season coaches decided to experiment with the idea of converting him to wide receiver, a decision that is apparently paying off after he has recently bumped Iowa's leading receiver the past two seasons, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, to second string.

What people might not realize is that McNutt was not your typical Division I football recruit coming in. He had a number of offers from many smaller Division I schools, and offers in football from schools such as Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Missouri. At 6'4'' 215 pounds, he's got the size and speed for a mobile quarterback that could present defenses lots of problems, but he also has the tools to pose defenses a number of problems at a receiver as well.

While I'm excited to hear McNutt is thriving at his new position, I don't think fans should rush to any kind of judgement. Be excited but don't go McNutts. Here's a few reasons why:

• Don't go McNutts because while DJK may be "struggling" which caused his recent demotion, only the coaches REALLY know how he is performing. They might have demoted him to make a point that, while he may be Iowa's leading returner at wide receiver, he has to earn every second of playing time.


• Be excited because depth at wide receiver was one of the question marks heading into spring ball, with the emergence of McNutt, that question mark can begin to be erased.


• Don't go McNutts because he only has one career reception and has very little experience against Big Ten defenses...facing your own team's defense is one thing, facing some of the nation's best defenses is a whole new ball game.


• Be excited because I've always believed this guy has all the talent in the world, just has never had a chance to showcase it. Trey Stross gets injured often and its hard saying how incoming heralded recruit, Kennan Davis, can or will performa as a freshman...enter McNutt, and pray to the good Lord that he's as good in real games, as he is in spring practice.

Those are just a few reasons. Take the news of McNutt's emergence for what it's worth. It's great news don't get me wrong...but there is a long time between now and the opening kickoff of the season. Don't let any Pat Harty newspaper articles ratting on DJK, or saying how McNutt might be the second coming of Larry Fitzgerald cause you to rush to any judgements on either him or McNutt. Paaallleeeeeassssseee....

Let's just hope this quarterback-converted-wide receiver goes a little better then the last time it was tried. Cough-JasonManson-Cough... (For those of you who don't know who he is, or how that went---well lets just say I have just as many receptions, yards and touchdowns at the Division I level as he did...)