As Iowa gears up for its ReliaQuest Bowl clash against No. 14 Vanderbilt, there’s a quiet but compelling storyline brewing in Iowa City - the battle for the Hawkeyes’ next starting quarterback. With veteran signal-caller Mark Gronowski set to take his final snaps in black and gold, the focus is already shifting to 2026, and all signs point to a two-man showdown between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff have made it clear they’re not aggressively targeting quarterbacks in the transfer portal - a rare stance in today’s college football landscape, where quarterback movement is as common as bowl season drama. That decision speaks volumes. It suggests confidence in the talent already on campus, and more specifically, in the potential of the young arms developing behind the scenes.
Gronowski, the graduate transfer from South Dakota State, gave Iowa a steady hand this season. But with his college career wrapping up, the Hawkeyes will turn to a group of returners that includes Hecklinski, Brown, Jimmy Sullivan, Ryan Fitzgerald, and incoming four-star freshman Tradon Bessinger. Still, it’s Hecklinski and Brown who have separated themselves in what’s shaping up to be a fascinating quarterback competition heading into spring ball.
Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester has had a front-row seat to the development of both quarterbacks. With Gronowski getting a week off early in bowl prep, Lester took the opportunity to flood Hecklinski and Brown with reps - giving each quarterback the chance to lead, make mistakes, and grow.
“They’ve been doing good,” Lester said. “They’ve been getting reps at different looks they haven’t always seen.
None of them have played a lot of game reps, so we gave them a ton. I kind of front-loaded each one of them different practices - gave one a ton of reps one day, the other the next - just so they could get into a rhythm.
That matters as a quarterback.”
What Lester saw was encouraging, if not definitive. Both quarterbacks had their ups and downs, but the extra reps gave them a chance to show flashes of what they could become in year two of the offense.
“They both had hot and cold days,” Lester admitted. “But it’s going to be exciting for me to have someone in year two in the offense.
That makes a big difference. They made some checks, did some things we haven’t even done in Kinnick yet.
They’re starting to see it. The game’s slowing down for them.”
Lester didn’t shy away from acknowledging how close the competition is. Brown, who had the early edge thanks to his time in the system, was the initial backup. But as the season progressed, Hecklinski started to close the gap - and maybe even took a slight lead.
“Early on, Hank was the backup. He was here longer and knew what he was doing,” Lester said.
“We hadn’t seen a lot of Heck. But he’s really getting comfortable within the offense.
As the DVO (Daily Video Observation) sessions happened, I thought Heck was making a couple more plays. It was close - the whole time it was close.
I’m excited for spring.”
Both quarterbacks will get equal reps this spring, and the coaching staff will let the competition play out. There’s no rush to name a starter now - not when both players have shown they’re capable of leading the offense.
So what kind of quarterbacks are they?
Let’s start with Hecklinski. Lester described him as a bit of a gunslinger - a quarterback who believes he can fit the ball into any window. That confidence can be a double-edged sword, but it’s also the kind of trait you want in a playmaker.
“He’s an interesting bird,” Lester said with a grin. “He’s like a gunslinger.
There’s not a window he doesn’t think he can throw through. He’s made some unbelievable throws this season.
He’s got a lot of pitches - I compare him to Greg Maddux. He can layer a ball, sidearm it, throw from every slot.
Maybe not the fastball like the rest of the Braves pitchers back then, but he does some really unique things.”
Lester also praised Hecklinski’s football IQ and his ability to manipulate defenses with his eyes - a skill that’s often the difference between good and great quarterbacks. But there’s still work to be done.
Hecklinski came from a system where he rarely, if ever, lined up under center. That’s been an adjustment.
“He needs reps under center,” Lester said. “I don’t know if he ever took a snap from under center before he got here.
That was a little nerve-wracking at first. But he’s calmed down.
You get him in the gun, and he’s a better athlete than you think. I’m excited about his growth.”
As for Brown, Lester sees a big-armed quarterback who’s starting to put the pieces together. The focus with Brown has been on mechanics - specifically, playing with better knee bend to improve his base and accuracy.
“He’s tall. I tell him, ‘Play like you’re 5-11,’” Lester said.
“When he has a loaded base, he’s got a ton of arm whip. A couple guys who came to practice last week were commenting on how strong his arm is.”
Brown has been coachable, doing exactly what’s asked of him. And now that he’s more comfortable with the playbook, he’s able to focus on the finer details of quarterbacking - like footwork, timing, and adjusting when the defense changes the picture.
“I think he’s throwing the ball better now than he ever has,” Lester said. “He’s got enough mind space left to think about all the little things I’m telling him - like, ‘Hey, bend your knees.’
Before, he was just trying to remember the play and the checks. Now the ball’s coming out faster, and it’s going where he wants it to go.”
So, what does this all mean for Iowa?
In a college football world where teams often scramble to find their next quarterback via the transfer portal, the Hawkeyes are taking a different route - betting on development, continuity, and the guys already in the room. Hecklinski and Brown may not have game experience yet, but they’ve got tools, they’ve got time, and now they’ve got a wide-open runway heading into spring.
The ReliaQuest Bowl may be the end of one quarterback’s journey, but it’s also the beginning of a new chapter for Iowa football - one that will be written by whoever seizes the moment this offseason.