Defense
This team has a lot of new faces up front and at LB, but there are a number of returning players with significant playing time in the secondary. Not having spring practice and having a fall camp that has been less than typical means they may be sorting some stuff out on the fly. I’m still a bit uncertain of what we will see from the defensive line but there is one constant I can count on when it comes to Iowa’s defense, Phil Parker. I’ve learned that no matter what kind of turnover the Hawkeyes are facing, never underestimate Phil Parker.
Defensive Line
Defensive End Starters: Chauncy Golston (Sr), John Waggoner (Soph)
Golston is the one known commodity at DE for the Hawkeyes. He started last year opposite AJ Epenesa and he’s a solid player. However, he needs to be more than solid for this Hawkeye squad because they need a top pass rusher and he’s the best bet. Golston could really improve his draft position with an excellent senior year and he would really improve the Hawkeye defense too. It will be interesting to see if he can raise his game. At this point, John Waggoner is the best guess as the other starter at DE. He was a backup last season and while a guy like Joe Evans plays there too, Evans is more of a pass rush specialist than full-time DE. Waggoner is not guaranteed the spot by any means and there was talk during the spring that the coaching staff was going to try him inside at DT and try Logan Lee outside at DE, that could still be the plan but at this point it’s hard to say.
Defensive End Backups: Zach VanValkenburg (Sr), Joe Evans (Soph), Logan Lee (RS Fr) Matt Lorbeck (Sr)
I’m listing four backups because I truly don’t even know who the second starter is going to be and these guys can all be in the rotation so it could be any of them. VanValkenburg was a transfer last season and as a senior he has a lot of playing time in his career. He is versatile enough to play both inside and outside and that might make him better suited as a backup but his experience could give him a shot at starting. Evans isn’t likely to be a starting DE simply because he lacks the size to play on running downs and he’s mostly a pass rushing specialist. He fills that role quite well and he should continue to do so as he develops physically. Logan Lee is an intriguing piece on the d-line. As a true freshman last season, he practiced at DT and earned quite a bit of praise from the coaching staff. He was originally a TE recruit who also was a two-time state wresting champ in high school so he’s a very athletic player. I really like the idea of playing him at DE and seeing what he could do. Matt Lorbeck is a transfer from Northern Illinois who had planned on redshirting as a graduate transfer and then using his one season of eligibility next year. However, when the NCAA basically made this season a freebie due to COVID-19 Lorbeck’s plans changed. He will be in the mix this year and he has plenty of experience from his time at NIU.
DE Depth: Taajhir McCall (RS Fr), Chris Reames (RS Fr), Deontae Craig (Fr), Lukas Van Ness (Fr), Ethan Hurkett (Fr)
McCall and Reames redshirted last year and they still have some developing to do before they will be major players at DE but there is a potential there for both of them. Craig is a true freshman who could break through as a pass rushing specialist given his talent level. Van Ness and Hurkett are true freshman likely to redshirt this season.
Defensive Tackle Starters: Daviyon Nixon (Jr), Jack Heflin (Sr)
It’s been a while since Iowa had two big DTs at the same time, usually the team looks more like last year’s squad with a big man (Cedrick Lattimore) and a smaller, quick guy (Brady Reiff). Nixon was a backup last year and he’s looks ready to break out at one spot. He played well last season and he’s a beast at 6’3 and over 300 lbs. He has the potential to be more of a playmaker on the inside than Lattimore was he just has to show it this season. The team was looking at having Austin Schulte step into the Reiff role until Heflin transferred in from Northern Illinois. It’s possible Kirk Ferentz and Phil Parker will be more comfortable starting a known commodity in Schulte, who is a senior, he’s earned their trust with hard work. However, Heflin started at Northern Illinois and the Iowa coaching staff is quite familiar with him. They wouldn’t have taken him as a transfer if they didn’t think he was worth it and I think his talent eventually wins the job. Heflin would actually make Nixon the “little” DT since he’s 6’4 315 lbs. He should be a monster on the inside and with both Nixon and Heflin at DT this defense will be tough to run on and should be strong up the middle.
Defensive Tackle Backups: Austin Schulte (Sr), Noah Shannon (Soph)
Schulte is a senior who has paid his dues and given his all to this team his entire career and while he may not end up being a starter, he will play plenty. Iowa’s coaching staff places a lot of importance on trusting a player to do what he’s supposed to do and be where he’s supposed to be and Schulte does those things. Shannon is still a developing player and it may be his inconsistency that holds him back a bit. These two are the smaller DTs who play the game a bit differently than Nixon and Heflin but Iowa likes to mix and match their DTs so both of these guys will get in a rotation and give the defense some different looks. You will also see Zach VanValkenburg get some snaps inside so there is some good depth here.
DT Depth: Dalles Jacobus (Sr), Jake Karchinski (RS Fr), Yahya Black (Fr), Isaiah Bruce (Fr), Logan Jones (Fr)
Jacobus is a senior walk-on who could possibly see some time based on the trust the coaches have in a senior who’s put in his time. Karchinski redshirted last year so he could bulk up and he’s still in that process. Black, Bruce and Jones are all true freshmen who need some time to develop and mature physically. There is some speculation that Black doesn’t remain on the defensive line and moves over to the offensive side but so far that’s still just speculation. I don’t know if the coaches plan on playing Bruce or Jones but I have seen Jones in person and while he isn’t DT big, that kid is well put together.
Linebacker
Starters: LEO Nick Niemann (Sr), MLB Jack Campbell (Soph), WLB Barrington Wade (Sr)
Niemann is the LEO linebacker, which in Iowa vernacular, is the strongside LB. He plays the position well and he is a multi-year starter. He is the most reliable player at the position overall and the coaching staff trusts him. If for some reason Jack Campbell doesn’t take to the MLB position like they hope I would guess they will turn to Niemann first. They are looking to get their best lineup out there which would be Campbell playing the middle so Niemann can stay at LEO.
Campbell became the de-facto starting MLB when Dillon Doyle transferred this summer after the whole situation with his dad, former strength coach Chris Doyle, led to him leaving. Campbell would have been Doyle’s competition for the MLB spot but it’s his now. He’s a talented kid with very little experience but he’s the best bet for now. Part of the reason he’s the best bet is the fact there really isn’t a true MLB prospect among the rest of the depth chart. That’s also why Niemann might be the next best option.
Djimon Colbert would have been the starter at weakside LB but he is opting out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns. Whatever his reason is, he is making the best choice for himself and the team will deal with his absence. Barrington Wade is the most likely to step in for Colbert for now. Wade is a senior who was earning more playing time last season and he can handle the job. Truthfully, the Hawkeyes will probably look to use more two LB schemes along with the CASH position which will limit LB snaps overall. It’s possible Wade plays along side Niemann with Campbell going to the bench in those alignments if only because Campbell lacks experience. Iowa has a number of combinations it can use at LB and Phil Parker will likely scheme based on matchups.
Backups: Seth Benson (Soph), Jestin Jacobs (RS Fr)
Benson has been a solid young player with some potential and he’s going to get a chance to play some more snaps now as he moves up the depth chart. It will be interesting to see if he can steal some time from Wade or Campbell based on matchups. Jacobs redshirted last year as he was recovering from an injury and he needed some time to bulk up. He should be an excellent addition as a very athletic LB added to the mix. I can see Phil Parker playing different combinations of two or three LBs out of his top five guys based on the team they are playing and how much he wants to use the CASH position.
Depth: Logan Klemp (So), Yahweh Jeudy (RS Fr), Jay Higgins (Fr)
The depth at LB has taken a few hits over the years with some transfers leaving Klemp, Jeudy and Higgins as young guys looking to make a move. Klemp has a little more time in and Jeudy and Higgins are still focused on physical development and contributing however they can. There are only two seniors in Niemann and Wade but they are likely to play a lot so there will be open playing time moving forward.
Defensive Backs
CASH Starter: Dane Belton (Soph)
Amani Hooker started the CASH position for the Hawkeyes two years ago and it worked well because he was just the versatile talent needed to inhabit it. Last year, the team tried DJ Johnson at the position and he failed to be the same player. Then after going away from it for a few games true freshman Dane Belton stepped into the spot and proved a worthy successor to Hooker. Now as a sophomore Belton will fill the position again unless the team needs him more at strong safety. I think Belton will be the CASH most of the time simply because Iowa has more options at strong safety than they do here. It takes a unique talent to play here and until another young player shows they can handle it; Belton might be the only player able to do it. I’m not listing a backup because right now, I don’t know if there is one.
Safety Starters: FS Jack Koerner (Jr), SS Kaevon Merriweather (Soph)
Merriweather started the first game last year at FS and promptly got injured and was replaced by Koerner. By the time Merriweather returned healthy Koerner had established himself as the starter and Merriweather never regained his spot. Koerner was a walk-on who knows what to do and where to be and he follows a long line of walk-on safeties to become starters and earn a scholarship for Iowa under Phil Parker. Koerner had an accident on a lake this summer but one positive of starting the season even later is Koerner has had plenty of time to heal up and he should be ready to go. Merriweather at least has some starting experience at safety which is more than I can say for the rest of the depth chart. He may be better suited at FS but he can handle SS and he gives the back end of the defense two guys who can cover deep and come up in run support. The versatility of both of these guys should pay off for the Hawkeyes in coverage.
Safety Backups: Sabastian Castro (RS Fr), Dallas Craddieth (Soph)
These two players are talented guys that are easy to be excited about. I really like Castro and I think he gives Merriweather some real competition at SS. He had excellent high school film and he looks the part. He could truly be an option at SS or CASH but for now, his inexperience leaves him as the backup. Craddieth was a highly rated prospect coming in a few years ago who hasn’t put it together yet. However, Iowa has had some late bloomers on the defensive side of the ball before so I’m not counting Craddieth out.
Depth: Henry Marchese (Jr), Reggie Bracy (Fr)
Bracy is a good, young talent coming in this year as a freshman and he may have the talent to play safety or even the CASH and coaches like him a lot. Marchese is still on the roster and has moved back and forth from WR to DB, probably more than once. He isn’t seeing the field on defense.
Cornerbacks
Starters: Matt Hankins (Sr), Julius Brents (Soph) or Riley Moss (Jr)
Matt Hankins is a senior and the Hawkeyes would really appreciate it if he would break out and have a huge year this season. He’s started for the last couple of seasons when healthy but has taken a backseat to guys like Josh Jackson and Michael Ojemudia. Those two guys made the NFL so that’s understandable but there were times before those two seasons that people expected Hankins to the top guy, expectations abound for Hankins. He is a talented player who needs to stay healthy and find the consistency to be a playmaker for this defense. The other CB spot will be a dogfight between Julius Brents and Riley Moss unless Brents becomes a guy Phil Parker wants to try out at the CASH. Both of these guys fought injuries last season but Brents sat out enough to retain his redshirt. They both played as true freshmen two years ago and the potential was evident in both of them. Both of them will get playing time and given recent history they will both start when Hankins gets banged up at some point.
Backups: Terry Roberts (Soph), Jermari Harris (RS Fr)
Roberts stepped last season as a backup when there were injuries and ineffectiveness and played fairly well in limited duty. He’s the fourth CB behind Hankins, Brents and Moss and that’s about where I would want him to be. He’s a developing player but for now he’s best in a limited role. Harris was a true freshman last season who played in a couple of games so the coaches saw something in him. There’s talent there, he just isn’t ready yet.
Depth: AJ Lawson (Fr), Daraun McKinney (RS Fr), Brendan Deasfernandes (Fr)
There is some good, young talent coming up and considering Iowa only has one senior at the CB position there are going to be some battles for playing time over the next several years. Lawson looks the part of a great athlete playing CB. McKinney was a quiet Phil Parker addition late in his recruiting class, that’s usually a good sign. And Deasfernandes was that guy in this latest recruiting class, more good news.
Punter
Ryan Gersonde (Jr) is going to try to have a healthy season in his fourth year with the Hawkeyes and finally be the starting punter. If he can’t stay healthy or is ineffective there is a 23-year old Australian rules football player, Tory Taylor (Fr), who came in this season and might steal the job. Taylor is a novice but he’s a big kid with a big leg, apparently. The other punter on the roster is Nick Phelps (Soph), he’s originally from Iowa and transferred in after being the backup punter at North Dakota St. for a year. Hopefully one of these guys is good.
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