Iowa’s quarterback battle is still hanging in the air, but one of the clearest windows into it came from the other side of the ball.
At Big Ten Media Days, Zach Lutmer offered a firsthand look at what the Hawkeyes’ defense has seen from Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown during spring work. And if anyone on the roster is equipped to spot the differences, it’s Lutmer, Iowa’s star defensive back and one of the veterans in that unit.
His read was straightforward: the two quarterbacks are not the same player.
“I would say they are both different quarterbacks, and you are thinking different things at times when they are in there." Hank is a super relaxed, calm dude.
He gets the job done. He's going to go out and throw the deep ball now.
He has put that into his game. He's shown it throughout the spring.
"And Jeremy's the same way. He's always been that guy that's going to throw it deep, and he's going to make plays on his feet when he needs to.They've both given us challenges through the spring, and it's super fun to see the battle and how close it is," Lutmer said about Iowa's quarterback competition.
The most notable part of Lutmer’s comments was the way he framed Brown. The deep ball was the first trait he brought up, and that’s not the first thing many people would have attached to Brown before spring.
That makes Brown’s development in that area a real point of interest, especially if he’s added another layer to his game.
Lutmer’s comments on Hecklinski pointed to something else entirely: movement. He described Hecklinski as a quarterback who can make plays with his legs when the pocket breaks down, and that kind of ability helped lift Iowa’s offense last year.
So where does that leave the race? Still tight, still unresolved, and still interesting enough that the defense is talking about it in detail. If there’s a slight edge right now, it sounds like Hecklinski’s ability to hurt defenses both through the air and on the ground may give him the inside track, even if only by a hair.
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For a program that has long prized toughness and role clarity, Diaz fits the profile of a player who could matter quickly in the offense next season. Ferentz put him in rare company by linking that drive to some of the most recognizable names in Hawkeye history, which says plenty about the impression Diaz has already made and why his place in the receiver room is becoming one of the more interesting storylines to watch. [Read more 🡒]