Iowa’s 2026 offense has no shortage of names that already sit near the top of the depth chart, but the more interesting story might be the players tucked just behind them. The Hawkeyes have a few backups and under-the-radar options who could carve out real roles if things break their way.
At quarterback, the battle is centered on Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown, but the sleeper here is Tradon Bessinger. The four-star freshman may not be the likeliest player to win immediate snaps, especially with Kirk Ferentz and a true freshman coming into a quarterback competition, but he’s the one waiting in the wings.
Bessinger arrives with real production behind him: 10,000 passing yards in high school, along with 127 touchdowns and only 21 interceptions. If Iowa is looking for a long-term answer, he could be the name to watch in 2027.
The backfield has a similar setup. Kamari Moulton is the lead back, and L.J.
Phillips, the FCS leading rusher in 2025, is already drawing attention. Still, Xavier Williams has a case to be part of the mix.
He played in 10 games last season and finished with 49 carries for 285 yards and three touchdowns. That works out to nearly six yards per carry, and at 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds, he has the build to handle Big Ten football.
Williams may not be the headliner, but he looks capable of taking a few series a game and giving Iowa useful snaps.
Wide receiver is another spot where the obvious names are Reece Vander Zee, Tony Diaz, and Evan James. But Dayton Howard brings something different.
At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, he’s Iowa’s biggest receiver, and even though his career totals sit at just 12 catches for 153 yards, his size gives him a chance to matter in the red zone. With a new quarterback in the mix, those kinds of targets can become valuable fast.
Howard may not pile up numbers, but he could show up when the field shrinks.
Tight end is less of a mystery. DJ Vonnahme is clearly the guy for Iowa there.
Still, Addison Ostrenga shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s back after an Achilles injury and already has a body of work that matters: 48 receptions for 320 yards and three touchdowns in his career.
His hands have already proven reliable, and that gives him a path to staying involved.
On the offensive line, the sleeper is Michael Myslinski. Injuries are part of the deal up front, and Iowa has a veteran option ready if needed. Myslinski was recently granted his sixth year of eligibility, and that kind of experience can be huge in Iowa’s system if he’s called into action.
In Other News...
Iowa Already Faces A March Question Ben McCollum Must Answer
Iowas place in ESPNs updated bracketology says plenty about where Ben McCollums first Hawkeyes team stands in the national picture. Projected as a No. 10 seed in the South Region against Miami, Iowa is sitting in that uneasy middle ground where a promising start is enough to keep the conversation going, but not enough to make anyone comfortable yet. McCollum has a returning roster to work with, and the offseason additions of guard TyReek Coleman and center Andrew McKeever give the group more pieces to lean on as the season starts to take shape.
The bigger question for Iowa is the one that comes with being listed among the last four byes, because bubble teams rarely get the luxury of coasting into March. McCollum will have to prove quickly that this roster can handle the pressure that comes with those close calls, especially once the schedule tightens and the margin for error shrinks. For now, the Hawkeyes are in the mix, but the path from projected tournament team to a secure one is still being written. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Gets A Huge Sign Its O-Line Standard Isnt Slipping
Kade Piepers move from right guard to center already had the feel of an important transition for Iowa, and the preseason honors now attached to it only sharpen the focus. After starting all 13 games last season, Pieper has been named a preseason All-American by several outlets, including Walter Camp, On3, Athlon Sports and the Associated Press, a sign that the Hawkeyes offensive line standard remains where it usually is: high enough to draw national notice before a snap has been played.
For Iowa, this is less about a summer honor than a reminder that the line room still carries real expectations. Pieper is trying to turn last seasons success into even more value at center, where the responsibilities change but the spotlight gets brighter, and the next step matters for both the Hawkeyes and his NFL draft outlook. The praise is already in place, but the real test comes when the new role starts to reveal just how seamless that adjustment can be. [Read more 🡒]
Dallas Clark Just Strengthened Iowas Claim To Tight End U
Iowas reputation as Tight End U just picked up another notable boost with Dallas Clark joining the 12-member selection committee for the John Mackey Award, the honor given annually to the nations top tight end. Clark remains one of the programs defining names at the position, a consensus All-American who helped set the standard in Iowa City before moving on to a first-round NFL career that included a Super Bowl ring and a Pro Bowl nod.
The committee itself is stocked with former NFL players, award winners and other football professionals, which only adds to the prestige of Clarks new role. For Hawkeye fans, it is another reminder of how deeply Iowas tight end lineage runs, and how often the programs best players continue shaping the conversation around the position long after their college careers end. [Read more 🡒]