The names most Iowa fans will have circled for Saturday’s open fall practice are obvious enough: the quarterback battle, the new wide receivers and the rest of the headline stuff. But these sessions have a way of creating their own buzz, and sometimes the real movement comes from the players tucked a little deeper on the roster.
That’s where four Hawkeyes stand out as worth tracking.
Cael Winter is one of the quieter names that keeps coming up around the program, and there’s a reason for that. The Waukee native has spent the offseason working at center and right guard, and he’s been turning heads along the way.
Iowa’s offensive line room has been reshaped under George Barnett, and there’s a strong sense of confidence in that group even after losing three starters from last year’s team. Winter has the kind of tools that make him hard to overlook, and while it’s still unclear exactly where he fits in the rotation, he’s made his case impossible to ignore.
On the defensive side, Darion Jones is the kind of player whose name could be a lot more familiar before long. The 6-foot-1 freshman was a playmaker everywhere in high school - offense, defense and special teams - and he’s beginning to learn what it takes to play defensive back at this level.
Iowa’s track record at the position speaks for itself, and Jones fits that mold. He enrolled early, flashed during the spring game and now gets another chance to show why he was viewed as the crown jewel of the ’26 recruiting class.
Evan James also deserves a close look, even with all the attention going to Tony Diaz. James brought real production with him from Furman, where he led the team last season with 65 receptions, 796 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns, seven of them through the air.
He also ran the ball seven times for 72 yards and a score, and he found the end zone at least once in six games. Tim Lester has already said James can help this season, while also stressing that the wideout needed time in the weight room.
James went through spring practice with Iowa, though he was held out of the only open practice. If he starts stacking up catches on Saturday, he’ll get noticed fast.
Then there’s Emmanuel Olagbaju, a big body with real intrigue in the middle of the defensive line. The Minnesota native spent one season at North Dakota, where he posted 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks, and he originally committed to UConn out of the transfer portal before Iowa stepped in.
At 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds, he brings the kind of size the Hawkeyes want in the trenches, along with a sub 4.9 40-yard dash and a physical edge when the play gets messy. Iowa is looking for answers up front, and if Olagbaju can flash enough against a strong offensive line, he could work his way into the mix.
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Caitlin Clarks New Nike Shoe Has An Iowa Tribute Fans Will Notice
Caitlin Clarks first signature shoe is already turning into one of the more watched launches in basketball, and the latest look is the one Hawkeyes fans will probably circle first. Ahead of the Nike Caitlin 1s official rollout on Oct. 1, Clark has shown off 10 colorways of the shoe, and the newest one leans directly into her Iowa roots with a design nod that tracks back to her college days and the shooting flair that helped make her a star in Iowa City.
The Iowa version is expected to show up in one of Clarks next games, either against the Dallas Wings or the Atlanta Dream, giving fans an on-court look before the shoe hits stores. It is another reminder that Nike and Clark are building this signature line with personal touches front and center, even as the exact release timing for this particular colorway remains a little less clear. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Fans Get Their First Real Read On A Pivotal Position Battle
Iowa fans will get their first real look at the 2026 team on Aug. 15, when Kids Day at Kinnick opens the door for a public preview ahead of the season. The annual event includes an open practice beginning at 11 a.m. CT, along with autograph sessions before practice, giving supporters and media a chance to size up a roster still taking shape.
The biggest draw figures to be the quarterback battle between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski, a competition that could shape everything else on offense. There will also be fresh eyes on new receivers Tony Diaz and Evan James, plus the kind of first-year players who can turn a routine August workout into an early indicator of who is ready to contribute when the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]