Iowa Hawkeyes Offense Somehow Getting Even More Patriotic

The tight end committee is the hottest thing going in offensive football, thanks in large part to Stanford and the Patriots, and it sounds like the Iowa Hawkeyes feel they have a fine squad of their own.

It's worth noting former Patriots tight ends coach Brian Ferentz joined his dad's Iowa staff this year, and a season of coaching Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will have anybody excited about making the other team's little guys cover your team's big guys.

Greg Davis says he's "never had a tight end" like C.J. Fiedorowicz, touting the junior's size and athleticism while talking up Zach Derby and Ray Hamilton and others. All are able to "get big in the paint," says Davis, and it's really something to watch Greg Davis say this. He might be right, as his Texas teams hadn't had a big year by a tight end since Jermichael Finley's 575 yards in 2007.

The Hawkeyes plan to send their tight ends in motion and split them out wide at times, making more use of a corps that combined for only 394 yards last year. The Tony Moeaki tradition must be upheld, gentlemen.

Davis trusts senior quarterback James Vandenberg to distribute the ball to his various bigs, and with top receiver Marvin McNutt and top back Marcus Coker (as well as all other backs, pretty much) moving along, Iowa might be right to just start trotting out all of the tight ends all the time.

With former Pats offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien taking over Penn State, it could be a real golden era for Big Ten tight ends. There's nothing more exciting than a Big Ten tight ends golden era.

Follow @SBNationCFB

For more on Hawkeyes football, visit Iowa blog Black Heart Gold Pants, plus Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.

While we're here, let's watch some college football videos from SB Nation's new YouTube channel together: