No one has spent much time doubting a Phil Parker defense, and for good reason. The results have been there year after year, with Iowa finishing in the top 20 in total defense for the past five seasons and cracking the top five in three of those years. Even after a slight dip in 2024, the Hawkeyes bounced back into familiar territory, ranking No. 8 in scoring defense and No. 9 in total defense.
That track record is exactly why the conversation around this group is so simple heading into the season. Deshaun Lee and Jayden Montgomery were the two veterans asked to speak for the defense during BTN’s stop in Iowa City on its training camp tour, and neither one offered a complicated answer about what comes next.
"Live up to the standard."
Montgomery pointed to the fact that Iowa is replacing multiple key contributors from last season, which means there’s plenty of opportunity for new faces to grow into bigger roles. He also made it clear that the group knows the margin for error is thin. The plan is straightforward: take it day by day, improve every day, and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Lee’s message was even cleaner. For him, the challenge is simply meeting the level that has already been established in Iowa City.
That standard didn’t appear by accident. It was built by the players who came before them, and Lee’s point was that the current group has to honor that history.
The expectation inside the program is not to dwell on departures or lower outside expectations. It’s next man up, and the defense isn’t buying the idea that it has to take a step backward.
There are still questions, of course. The defensive line has some unknowns, and the secondary has several new pieces. But the linebackers and secondary have drawn praise throughout fall camp, and Iowa has also added several talented FCS transfers through the portal.
So while some outside voices are forecasting regression, the Hawkeyes don’t seem interested in playing along. The pieces may be different, but the message from the defense is the same: the standard is the standard, and this group believes it can live up to it.
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Iowas 2026 Defense Has 3 Players Who Could Define It
Iowas defense is heading into 2026 with the familiar expectation that Phil Parker will find answers, even as the personnel around him shifts. The Hawkeyes are staring at a group that will need to hold up on the back end and in the trenches, and a few names already stand out as the ones most likely to shape how sturdy this unit looks once the season gets going.
Zach Lutmer is expected to remain the top defensive back, while Iose Epenesa could be in line for a bigger role up front as his snaps grow on the line. Tyler Brown, the James Madison transfer at safety, also brings starting potential, giving Iowa another piece to sort into a defense that is still taking shape and still waiting to show exactly how far its rebuilt core can carry it. [Read more 🡒]
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Kirk Ferentz has long been cautious about putting true freshmen in that kind of spot, which is part of what makes Bessinger such an intriguing piece of the discussion. Even with limited playing time, he has done enough to get fans and analysts wondering how long Iowa can keep him on the sideline if he keeps flashing this kind of promise. For a program still searching for clarity under center, Bessinger has made the decision a lot more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Fall Camp Just Changed Two Jobs Fans Are Watching
Iowas August camp always has a way of sorting out the depth chart before anyone gets to the real games, and Kirk Ferentz offered a few early clues about where things are headed for 2026. Cael Winter appears lined up to take over at center, giving the Hawkeyes a clearer answer on the offensive line as camp continues to tighten the competition elsewhere.
The special teams jobs are still up for grabs, though, with both the kicker and punter spots unresolved as fall approaches. On the other side of the ball, defensive back Tyler Brown looks unlikely to be ready for the opener because of injury, while defensive lineman Kenneth Merrieweather is back on the practice field, a welcome sign for a defense that wants as much stability as possible before the season starts. [Read more 🡒]