The Iowa Hawkeyes did hold spring practice this year and they even had an open practice the last day. It was certainly overshadowed by the long Iowa basketball run in the NCAA tournament and then for me it always takes a backseat to the NFL draft. I really wish they would stop scheduling the open practice on the last day of the draft, some of us do want to watch that. I did go to the open practice, thank you to my phone for keeping me up to date on the draft for those few hours.
This Hawkeye team isn’t like most Ferentz era teams; there are only 11 seniors on the roster and only eight of them are scholarship players. In contrast, last season Iowa had 27 seniors. The difference between scholarship and non-scholarship is pretty convoluted at this point with NIL and Rev Share payments but either way, 11 seniors is unusual for a Ferentz team. That 11 also includes Mike Myslinski who hasn’t technically been granted his extra year yet so it may only be 10. They only took one transfer who was a one-year player, this team is really built to compete more in 2027 than in 2026, especially if most of their best NFL prospects come back in 2027, I’m looking at you Zach Lutmer, DJ Vonnahme, Trevor Lauck, and Kade Pieper.
About half of these seniors will play key roles; OT Jack Dotzler, CB Deshaun Lee, and LB Jayden Montgomery will start, unless Montgomery loses his spot. DTs Will Hubert and Luke Gaffney may not start but will be counted on heavily in the rotation given all the unknowns at DT. Transfer DT Brice Stevenson was the only one-year transfer player the Hawkeyes took this year, and he should also figure prominently in the rotation. TEs Addison Ostrenga and Zach Orthworth will play plenty but redshirt sophomore DJ Vonnahme will be the top player there. Landyn Van Kekerix should get some time at LB and will be a major special team’s guy. Walk-on WR Alex Eichman is the one senior who probably won’t figure in on game days.
Let’s take a look at where things stand a month after spring practice ended and couple of months before the team reports for fall camp. The depth chart is unofficial as the team doesn’t release a depth chart after spring anymore and won’t have an official one until the season is going to start.
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Starter: Jeremy Hecklinski (Soph) or Hank Brown (Jr)
Depth: Jimmy Sullivan (RS Fr), Ryan Fitzgerald (RS Fr), Tradon Bessinger (Fr)
Obviously, the biggest question heading into the 2026 season for the Hawkeyes is who is going to be the QB? Hecklinski and Brown are two guys who spent last season backing up Mark Gronowski and now they are vying for the starting job. OC Tim Lester liked both guys enough after last year for Iowa to forgo signing a QB in the transfer portal (they didn’t even seem to entertain the idea) and now one of them will start. Either way, the offense will look a bit different given neither one is going to be the runner Gronowski was last season. That may suit Lester just fine as he is looking for someone to run his Shanahan style offense and being a running QB is not a prerequisite to do that.
Hecklinski is the smaller QB at around 5’11 but he seems to play with a chip on his shoulder, maybe it’s his lack of height. He’s been described as a gunslinger in the Drew Tate mold; nothing gets Iowa fans more excited than comparing a QB to Tate (unless you know of another Brad Banks hiding somewhere). Brown is the more prototypical QB at 6’4 215 lbs. Brown has a big arm, but Hecklinski has the quicker release. Hecklinski has plenty of arm, don’t get me wrong, and he also has the confidence to throw a ball into a tight window, whether he should or not. Lester seems excited by Hecklinski and after watching Gronowski be a little too tentative last season to just let it rip, I feel the same way. Iowa needs a QB who’s willing to give his pass catchers a chance. The Hawkeyes finally have some pass catchers who can be playmakers and Hecklinski might just be the guy to ignite the offense.
Jimmy Sullivan is the scholarship redshirt freshman while Ryan Fitzgerald is the walk-on redshirt freshman. Both guys worked on their development during spring practice while neither are likely to put any pressure on Hecklinski or Brown for starting or backup job. The coaching staff awaits the arrival of Tradon Bessinger, a four-star recruit out of Utah who has all the size and stature you want in a QB and backed it all up with ridiculous high school stats. He should be the future of the position.
Running Back
Starter: Kamari Moulton (Jr)
The Rotation: LJ Phillips (Jr), Xavier Williams (Soph), Nathan McNeil (Soph)
Depth: Braedan Jackson (RS Fr), O’Lontae Dean (RS Fr), Brevin Doll (Soph)
This is arguably the deepest position on the roster (the LB group may beg to differ) and there is talent running very deep. Kamari Moulton is the most accomplished player in this offense and will be the most trusted, Ferentz loves a steady back. However, LJ Phillips is coming off a season where he ran for over 1900 yards at South Dakota. I don’t care if it happened at the FCS level, 1900 yards at any level is impressive. I listed Phillips, Williams and McNeil as the rotation because all four guys will be a part of the rotation, Iowa isn’t shy about using multiple backs and calling any one guy the backup feels disrespectful.
Williams stepped in early last year after Moulton got hurt and Terrell Washington was ineffective and he played well, until he got banged up. McNeil was a true freshman who ended up playing and never looked overwhelmed at any point. It’s possible he’s the most talented back of them all. Iowa has an embarrassment of riches at RB. Any of the top four players could be the starter and I’m not sure there’s much drop off from one to the next.
The coaches seem to love Braeden Jackson, the walk-on who is the son of former NFL RB Fred Jackson. His talent comes naturally but he put in the work during his redshirt year and the coaches sing his praises. He may not have the recruiting pedigree of others, but he’s worked his way into the conversation for getting some snaps. O’Lontae Dean was a guy they moved to RB last year when they had some injuries, he was at safety before. They recruited enough safeties out of the portal that it looks like Dean is staying at RB. Brevin Doll is one of the most impressive athletes you’ll ever see but he can’t seem to stay healthy long enough to make any headway at RB. Hopefully he will get healthy and maybe he becomes a kick returner next year.
Wide Receiver
Starters: Reece Vander Zee (Jr), Tony Diaz (Soph), Evan James (Soph)
Backups: Dayton Howard (Jr), KJ Parker (Soph), Jarriett Buie (Jr)
Depth: Terrence Smith (RS Fr), Xavier Stinson (Fr), Diondre Smith (Fr), Lance Beeghley (Soph)
The Hawkeyes haven’t had this much talent at WR in a long time, now they just need them to stay healthy and play up to their potential. Reece Vander Zee could have had a huge season last year with Mark Gronowski, but he was injured to start the year, and it set their chemistry back. By the end of the season, he was playing really well and now he might have a QB who’s more willing to give him a chance to make plays. He has the size and the skills to be a legitimate #1 WR, and this offense should put him in a position to do so.
Tony Diaz was a major get in the transfer portal and gives Iowa the perfect complementary skill set opposite Vander Zee. Diaz was looking great in spring ball until he got banged up and the Hawkeyes hope he can play with the reckless abandon he was showing in spring but also keep himself healthy. James was the other big transfer addition at WR, and he has all the skills necessary to be an excellent slot receiver. The two transfers have shown promise and hopefully they work out better than some previous transfer WRs who just never made a real impact.
Dayton Howard has started to show he’s a capable WR and his size gives him an advantage others don’t possess. With Diaz and James nursing injuries during the spring, KJ Parker stepped up and at the open practice he looked unstoppable. Now he needs to translate his practice ability to games, we’ve seen him shine in practice before. Jarriett Buie is a talented player who had some injuries last season and he’s looking to not get lost in the shuffle this year. Terrence Smith is a redshirt freshman who didn’t play last year but the coaches like. Xavier Stinson is a true freshman who enrolled early and participated in spring practice, he looks like he could play if needed. Assumedly, freshman Diondre Smith will redshirt, and transfer walk-on Lance Beeghley shouldn’t be needed.
Tight End
Starter: DJ Vonnahme (Soph)
Backups: Addison Ostrenga (Sr), Zach Ortwerth (Sr)
Depth: Mason Woods (RS Fr), Thomas Meyer (RS Fr), Michael Burt (Soph), Eli Johnson (RS Fr)
Iowa went into last season with Ostrenga and Ortwerth as the top TEs and then Ostrenga was lost for the season early and Ortwerth wasn’t the guy who stepped in to fill the void. DJ Vonnahme seemed to come out of nowhere and was fantastic. For a guy who was a walk-on and undersized, he played like a true weapon in the passing game and held up well as a blocker. It’s his job now and he looks like the next TJ Hockenson or Dallas Clark.
Ostrenga is coming off a torn Achilles injury and that’s never easy to come back from. That’s especially true at a skill position that requires pushing off not only for running routes but also for blocking. If he is healthy this season, he’s an added value but probably not a guy Iowa is counting on too much at this point. Ortwerth seemed to regress last year and hopefully he can rebound as a senior and play up to his potential.
Mason Woods is still undersized, which is understandable for a redshirt freshman, but that didn’t stop him from looking like a weapon in the spring. He isn’t going to be an every down type of player and probably won’t be asked to be in as a blocker, but they should try to get him the ball in the passing game. Thomas Meyer got thrown into the fire last year when some guys were banged up and he looks like he can play. Burt and Johnson are finding their way, there’s talent there. Iowa has good TEs, who would have thought.
Offensive Line
Starters: LT Trevor Lauck (Jr), LG Leighton Jones (Jr), C Kade Pieper (Jr), RG Lucas Allgeyer (RS Fr), RT Jack Dotzler (Sr)
Backups: OT Cannon Leonard (Jr), OG Trent Wilson (Soph), C Cael Winter (Jr), OG/C Mike Myslinski (Sr), OT Will Nolan (Soph)
Depth: OT Bodey McCaslin (Soph), OG Josh Janowski (Soph), The True Freshmen
Iowa’s offensive line lost three draft picks in C Logan Jones, RT Gennings Dunker, and LG Beau Stephens, and I’m not sure they miss a beat this year. LT Trevor Lauck started the year sharing reps with Jack Dotzler at LT but by the end of the season he was playing fantastic football. Dotzler was playing fine at LT and then at the end of the season he had to play some RT when Dunker was banged up, and he seemed to take to it well; it’s his job now. Kade Pieper will move from RG to C and while it’s a lot to ask for him to be as good a Logan Jones, there’s a distinct possibility he may end up being just as good or maybe better. Leighton Jones stepped in at LG last year when Beau Stephens was hurt and while Stephens made an All-American team, no one noticed a drop off when Jones stepped in. That’s not a knock on Stephens, Jones was just that good. The RG spot is the only question and Iowa played Lucas Allgeyer as a true freshman there just enough to get his feet wet but preserve his redshirt. I’m giving him the edge but there will be competition.
The backup spots might not be as defined this year as there are several guys who could move around and give depth. At OT the light bulb seems to have come on for Cannon Leonard, and he looks like the third OT. If they need a fill-in at either left or right tackle, I think Leonard is the guy. Will Nolan is a talented guy coming off some injury issues and Bodey McCaslin is another young guy, and they will likely compete to be the fourth OT. Trent Wilson is a transfer from James Madison who could be a player at OG and give Allgeyer a run for the starting spot. Cael Winter is the backup center who has some guard versatility. He was a walk-on who has really improved and impressed, the coaches feel good about him. Mike Myslinski is hoping for a sixth year after so many injuries early in his career. He can back up at any of the interior spots. Josh Janowski is another guy coming off a major injury and the coaches are happy he’s back. He’s a future center if he can stay healthy.
The freshman class is stacked. Iowa played Lucas Allgeyer last season as true freshman, and they are never afraid to get a guy some reps if they think it will help down the line. Allgeyer is a guy they hope might be an OT in the future. OT Carson Nielsen, OT Gene Riordon, OG Owen Linder, and OG/C Hudson Parliament all enrolled early and participated in spring practice, that’s great for their development. Colin Withers is the only incoming freshman who didn’t come early but he’s a player too.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Starters: DE Kenneth Merriweather (Jr), DE Iose Epenesa (RS Fr), DT Bryce Hawthorne (Jr), DT Will Hubert (Sr)
Backups: DE Joseph Anderson (Soph), DE Kahmari Brown (Jr), DT Devan Kennedy (Soph), DT Luke Gaffney (Sr)
Depth: DL Drew Campbell (Soph), DT Brice Stevenson (Sr), DT Emmanuel Olagbaju (Jr), Chima Chineke (Soph), DT Brad Fitzgibbon (RS Fr)
While QB may be the more high-profile question heading into the season, the defensive line is the one that will determine how good Iowa really is. Iowa has proven they can win with average to below average QB play, they haven’t had below average defensive line play in a long, long time. The Hawkeyes lost a ton of experience and will be counting on unproven guys across the entire defensive line. They should be fine at DE, but DT is a real question.
Kenneth Merriweather is a guy who has played some but never started. He looks like someone ready to step up and be a starter. He’s a fourth-year junior so he’s been in this defense long enough to understand his job. Iose Epenesa is the likely other starter after playing sparingly as a true freshman but making strides during bowl prep. He has the bloodlines and the motor to be a problem but he’s still just a redshirt freshman; it’s asking a lot of him to be the guy.
At DT this team has questions all over the place. Bryce Hawthorne is the one returner with actual experience, and he missed the spring with an injury. The other two guys who have played at the Big Ten level are seniors Will Hubert and Luke Gaffney, two walk-ons. Because of his experience it seems like Hubert might be the starter next to Hawthorne. He’s not the biggest guy and he’s not the most athletic but he’s going to give you all he can. Same goes for Gaffney, he’s going to be in the rotation.
Speaking of the rotation, both DE and DT will use a heavy rotation at least until some players show what they can and can’t handle. DE Joseph Anderson is a long, lean speed rusher who is looking for playing time. DE Kahmari Brown transferred from Elon and while he’s built the complete opposite of Anderson, he’s shorter and thicker, he’s also a guy who should bring speed off the edge. At DT, besides Gaffney, sophomore Devan Kennedy will hopefully give the Hawkeyes some good snaps inside.
Transfer DTs Emmanuel Olagbaju and Brice Stevenson will be fighting for playing time and either one could overtake anyone who isn’t Bryce Hawthorne. Drew Campbell is a young guy coming off an injury, but he looked good in the spring. He’s been a DE but was getting some time inside. He’s not a big guy but Iowa has used undersized DTs before so if he’s effective inside, he could play there. Chima Chineke is a guy still trying to find his place. DT Brad Fitzgibbon is a redshirt freshman who probably isn’t big enough to be a Big Ten DT yet, but he’s setting weight room records for the Hawkeyes already, so he has a chance to make his way up the depth chart, they can’t rule anyone out at DT.
Linebackers
Starters: WLB Jayden Montgomery (Sr), MLB Cam Buffington (Soph), LEO Derek Weisskopf (Soph)
Backups: Landyn Van Kekerix (Sr), Preston Ries (Soph), Nolan DeLong (Jr)
Depth: Burke Gautcher (RS Fr), Carson Cooney (RS Fr), Julian Manson (Fr), Billy Weivoda (Fr), Kasen Thomas (Fr)
The changing of the guard at LB starts this season. Cam Buffington is likely the new starter at MLB after last season’s less than stellar play at the position. Jayden Montgomery stepped in last season and was okay but Buffington is pushing him to the weakside for now. Buffington is a big, fast, physical LB in the mold of Jack Campbell and he should solidify the position. There will be growing pains given his lack of experience but that’s why they will keep Montgomery on the field with him to help.
Montgomery is an undersized player who wins with his intelligence and understanding of his opponents. He can be overmatched physically which is why I think his hold on the weakside LB job could be tenuous at best. Given the issues with the DT position up front, Iowa may need someone with more size than Montgomery to hold up against the run. The Hawkeyes cross train their LBs so they can fill multiple positions, so Derek Weisskopf is listed as a LEO LB (that’s just Iowa’s designation for the strongside LB). They play their CASH player more, but Weisskopf will be the third LB when needed and he could push Montgomery off the field if he can handle the weakside.
Landyn Van Kekerix is the other senior and he’s been a great special team’s guy and could probably fill any LB spot if needed. Nolan DeLong is a walk-on LB who has also played a lot of special teams and has performed well enough to be in the conversation for playing time. Preston Ries is a freak athlete who is in the same class as Buffington and Weisskopf and would likely be in contention for a starting job if he could stay healthy. If he can be on the field this season, he could be a major playmaker for this defense.
Iowa has been stacking LBs for a few years now. Buffington, Ries, and Weisskopf all came in three years ago. The next season it was Burke Gautcher and Carson Cooney, two guys who are patiently waiting their turn and trying to make an impression on special teams. Iowa followed that up with an impressive incoming freshmen class of Julian Manson, Billy Wievoda, and Kasen Thomas. Manson and Wievoda were on campus for spring ball while Thomas comes in over the summer. Manson and Thomas were four-star recruits, so Iowa’s LB crew is going to be good for years to come.
Defensive Back
Starters: CB Deshaun Lee (Sr), CB Jaylen Watson (Jr), CASH Jacob Wallace (RS Fr), SS Tyler Brown (Jr), FS Zach Lutmer (Jr)
Backups: CB Rashad Godfrey Jr. (Soph), S Anthony Hawkins (Soph), CB Darion Jones (Fr), CASH Marcello Vitti (Fr), S Kyler Gerardy (Soph)
Depth: S Ty Hudkins (Jr), S Cody Haddad (RS Fr), S Xavier Styles (Soph), DB Ronnie Hill (Fr)
The Hawkeyes one saving grace on defense might just be a very good secondary. Phil Parker always gets his secondary to play well but this group has depth like we haven’t seen before. It all revolves around Zach Lutmer who could play any of the five positions and probably will at some point during the season. He’s going to be the starting FS because it’s the spot where Iowa looks the weakest if it’s not him and he can set the defensive backfield alignment from there. He might be the best CB on the team, he’s definitely the best CASH player and he’s the best safety too, everyone else is just filling the positions around him.
At CB, senior Deshaun Lee will look to have the type of break out senior year others have had, just look at TJ Hall last season. It’s been a bumpy ride at times for Lee but he’s a talented player with plenty of experience. Jaylen Watson looks like the other starter at CB but he’s going to have to hold off some tough competition from a few guys to hold down that job. Jacob Wallace would likely be pushing for that CB spot as a Phil Parker favorite, but it looks like he’s going to be the CASH player this season. Transfer SS Tyler Brown was brought in from James Madison and while he isn’t the biggest guy, he plays with a physical style that should fit the defense very well.
The versatility of Lutmer and Wallace will make the backup positions less defined. CB Rashad Godfrey is probably the first guy off the bench, and he could step in at CB or CASH. The first safety off the bench is most likely to be Anthony Hawkins, the sophomore transfer. Two true freshmen could see the field, CB Darion Jones and CASH/S Marcello Vitti. Phil Parker has never been afraid to play freshmen and both Jones and Vitti were here for spring practice. Kyler Gerardy has been around a few years and could help at safety if needed.
Ty Hudkins was a transfer last year who was hurt most of the season and hasn’t really had much of an opportunity. Xavier Styles and Cody Haddad are transfers in this season who are young developing safeties. Ronnie Hill will be a true freshman looking to find his place, given the sheer amount of safeties, I would advise Hill to work out at CB.
Special Teams
I normally don’t talk about the specialists too much but there will be an overhaul with both kicker and punter, and the Hawkeyes have a new special team’s coach. Long-time special team’s coordinator LeVar Woods left for Michigan St., and he took punter Rhys Dakin with him. Dakin was fine but he was far from a special punter. K Drew Stevens also graduated so there will be a new kicker, a new punter, and Chris Polizzi has taken over the special team’s coordinator job. The Hawkeyes got transfer K Eli Ozick from North Dakota St. to compete with holdover Caden Buhr. Ozick has game experience that Buhr doesn’t have because he backed up Drew Stevens. They also got two new punters to compete. Australian Boston Everitt who is an incoming freshman and former Simpson punter Tanner Philpott who will be a junior. Everitt may have the stronger leg, but Philpott has actually played in a football game, so he’s got that going for him. Should be an interesting competition at punter.
Losing Kaden Wetjen is no small problem. He was the two-time Returner of the Year in college football so those are big shoes to fill. Zach Lutmer is a dynamic player who will get a shot to return punts. Iowa has a plethora of RBs they can turn to for the kickoff return job and it would be great to see a guy like Brevin Doll get healthy and have a chance at that job. However, guys like Nathan McNeil or Braeden Jackson may be worth a look. WR KJ Parker or some of the freshmen like Terrence Smith or Xavier Stinson might be a guy too. The team isn’t hurting for options at returner but after having Wetjen for the last couple of years after having Cooper Dejean, not many guys have reps there and just about anyone is going to look average after those guys.
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