Iowa’s first official depth chart of the 2026 season brought a few surprises, and not all of them were the kind the Hawkeyes wanted. Before a snap has even been played at Kinnick, two transfers who were expected to help right away are already on the sideline.
The good news is that Iowa enters the opener against Northern Illinois mostly healthy. The bad news: projected starting safety Tyler Brown and offensive lineman Trent Wilson were both tagged “out,” trimming the depth chart in two important spots.
Brown, a transfer from James Madison, spent the offseason in the mix for a starting job in the secondary but has not been on the field since spring because of a soft tissue injury. He missed all of fall camp, and after Ferentz had called him “iffy” for week one, he was left off the first depth chart entirely. With Brown unavailable, Zach Lutmer is set to start at free safety, Anthony Hawkins gets the nod at strong safety, and Jacob Wallace moves into the starting CASH role.
Brown arrives in Iowa with a strong résumé from last season at James Madison, where he recorded 80 total tackles, including five tackles for loss, along with six passes defended. The Hawkeyes have depth in the secondary, but that group is getting tested right away.
Wilson’s situation hits the offensive line. Iowa brought him in from James Madison as part of an offseason effort to add both experience and versatility up front, and he had been projected to compete for a starting role.
Last season, he logged 382 total snaps at left and right guard for the Dukes. He’s now listed as out with an undisclosed injury, though the expectation is that he could be back next week.
That timing matters for Iowa, which is also sorting out the line with Kade Pieper moving to right guard and Leighton Jones claiming the starting left guard job out of camp. Wilson’s absence doesn’t remove him from the picture for long, but it does leave the Hawkeyes thinner than they expected heading into Saturday - and possibly in better shape for the Iowa State game at Kinnick Stadium under the lights.
In Other News...
Iowa Small-School Football Has Another Week 2 Problem
Another pair of Week 2 matchups has fallen off the Iowa high school football schedule, adding to an already uneasy start for several small-school programs across the state. West Central Community Schools and Don Bosco both announced on their official Facebook accounts that their game would not be played, and an eight-player matchup between Meskwaki Settlement and Gladbrook-Reinbeck was also canceled.
For Iowa football fans, the bigger concern is the pattern behind the cancellations, not just the empty slot on this weeks slate. Several programs around the state have chosen not to field varsity teams this season, a reminder of how fragile the small-school landscape can be and how quickly a normal Friday night can turn into another unexpected open date. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Freshman Marcello Vitti Just Forced His Way Onto The Radar
Iowas first depth chart of the season offered an early glimpse at which newcomers have already earned the staffs trust, and true freshman defensive back Marcello Vitti stood out immediately. He was the only freshman listed on either side of the ball, landing as the backup strong safety while also being penciled in for special teams work.
For a program that tends to ease younger players into the mix, that is a meaningful nod before the opener even arrives. Kirk Ferentz and Phil Parker have both spoken positively about Vittis progress in practice and the way he fits into the defensive scheme, which suggests his role could grow quickly if he keeps pushing the right buttons. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas First Depth Chart Leaves Two Big Week 1 Questions
Iowas first depth chart for the 2026 season arrived with plenty of the expected moving parts for an opener, but it also cleared up a few things before Northern Illinois comes to town. The Hawks have identified starting roles for transfer wide receivers Tony Diaz and Evan James, settled on the offensive line configuration and even mapped out Zach Lutmers defensive job, giving the roster at least some early clarity as camp turns into game-week prep.
The biggest unknowns, though, are still right in the middle of the offense and on the kicking unit. Quarterback remains undecided with Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski both listed as starters, and the choice of Caden Buhr as the opening kicker adds another layer of intrigue to a depth chart that otherwise looks like a first draft of Iowas plan rather than a final answer. For a team that usually values order and certainty, those two Week 1 questions stand out. [Read more 🡒]