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This incredible stat proves just how well Iowa produces NFL-caliber talent

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

When you think of B1G programs that produce the most NFL talent, your mind automatically shifts to Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. Teams like Nebraska and Michigan State might enter into your thoughts, too.

Not many would likely associated Iowa and NFL football. While the Hawkeyes have been a pillar of consistency under Kirk Ferentz, they’re not always in the national spotlight and given the credit that perhaps they deserve.

That includes the NFL-caliber talent Ferentz and his staff are producing. But one stat is impossible to ignore, and it shows just how well Iowa develops professional-level talent over time.

According to statistics from Big Ten Network, 89 percent of Iowa’s senior starters over the last 16 seasons have signed an NFL contract. For those bad at math — like me — that means that nine out of every 10 senior starters at Iowa are going to sign with a team at the next level.

Pretty incredible.

What makes that statistic even more spectacular is the level of recruiting talent Iowa brings in every year. The Hawkeyes typically sign a roster full of 3- and 2-star players, with the occasional 4- and 5-star guy.

So yeah, Ferentz and his staff is pretty darn good at producing talent, even if the Hawkeyes aren’t landing the best recruiting classes every single season. In today’s game, this type of individual progress is almost unheard of, especially when it’s happening so consistently during such an extended period of time.

Ferentz doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB