Iowa’s fall camp is less about mystery and more about sorting out a few key answers before the Hawkeyes head toward 2026. Kirk Ferentz’s program never gives away much this time of year, so even the smallest hints out of camp matter. And this month, a handful of position battles and personnel shifts will tell a lot about what Iowa wants to be.
Start with the backfield, where Kamari Moulton is clearly the lead back. The real question is how heavy the workload gets.
Iowa rode Kaleb Johnson as a true bell cow in 2024, but things changed after that. Last year, six different players had at least 28 carries, and with Mark Gronowski and Jaziun Patterson gone, Iowa has to replace 230 carries.
Moulton handled a team-high 170 carries last season. The question now is whether he pushes into the 200-carry range or whether the Hawkeyes spread it around more with L.J.
Phillips Jr., Xavier Williams, and Nathan McNeil. The sense here is that Iowa may lean more toward the latter, especially if Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown isn’t taking off as often as Gronowski did in 2024.
That quarterback battle may end up shaping everything else about the offense. Tim Lester has shown he’ll build around the quarterback instead of forcing the quarterback into a rigid system, and that flexibility has helped him in his two years at Iowa.
If Hecklinski wins the job, Iowa could look more like a shotgun-heavy team with quick throws, pre-snap option reads, and more motion, similar to 2025. If Brown comes out on top, the offense could shift closer to the 2024 version, with more snaps under center, a more pro-style feel, and heavier use of zone blocking schemes.
Up front and on defense, the biggest concern is the defensive line. That’s the area that has the most pressure on it to make this group truly great.
It’s unusual for Iowa to have that kind of uncertainty there, especially with so many veterans scattered across the roster. Behind that line, the linebacker group led by Jayden Montgomery looks built to rotate through bodies and settle on the right blend of size, speed, and experience.
That unit doesn’t need to carry the whole defense; it just needs to be steady.
The secondary, though, is the part of this defense that stands out the most. It has the kind of talent that could carry the whole unit.
Zach Lutmer is the obvious headliner, but Deshaun Lee brings steady production at cornerback. The biggest camp storyline there is how Anthony Hawkins and Tyler Brown, both transfer portal safeties with starting experience, settle in.
If they gain confidence quickly, Iowa’s secondary could end up in elite territory.
Special teams may be the most uncomfortable question of all. Iowa has lived at an elite level there for the last decade, but that may not be the case in 2026. The Hawkeyes have a new returner, punter, kicker, and special teams coordinator, which means the growing pains are coming.
Ferentz has always made special teams a priority, and Iowa is expected to devote plenty of time and resources to the unit early in camp. The Hawkeyes need to sort out blocking issues on kicks, coverage problems on returns, and the search for a new returner now, not later. Waiting to fix those things once games begin would be a dangerous way to handle it, and special teams could end up being the kind of issue that hurts Iowa badly if it isn’t cleaned up during August.
In Other News...
Iowa's Week 1 Offense Is Taking Shape Around Two Big Battles
Iowas offense offered a more encouraging look in an open practice, with the passing game and the run game both showing clearer definition as the Hawkeyes continue sorting out their Week 1 plans. The structure around the unit is starting to come into focus, with Kamari Moulton positioned to lead the backfield and DJ Vonnahme lined up as the primary tight end, while the offensive line appears set to lean on veterans Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck, even as Cael Winter pushes for a role at guard.
The bigger questions are still centered on how the Hawkeyes want to distribute the work once the games count. Moulton could share carries with L.J. Phillips Jr., and the way Iowa fills out its receiving group will help define just how much flexibility the offense has early on. If the offense keeps building off the progress shown in practice, the next layer of clarity should come quickly once the staff settles the pecking order. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Is Giving Traveling Hawkeyes Fans A Better Road Game Experience
For Iowa fans who make the trek to road games, the program is looking to turn the pregame routine into more of an event. The Hawkeyes are rolling out Hawkeye Huddles, free pep rallies staged before away games that are designed to give traveling supporters a familiar gathering place and a little extra energy before kickoff.
The events will include refreshments, door prizes, entertainment and appearances from team mascots and spirit squads, with fans required to register in advance. Iowa has already laid out a schedule of locations and dates for the 2026 season, making it a small but meaningful attempt to reward the people who follow the Hawkeyes far from home. [Read more 🡒]