The most Iowa thing about Iowa’s Week 2 depth chart is that it feels completely on brand. The Hawkeyes released the official chart for Saturday’s showdown with Iowa State, and once again, the program’s stubborn commitment to doing things its own way is front and center. That mindset comes with some clear positives, but it also leaves a few questions hanging.
Up front, though, there’s a lot to like. Iowa’s offensive line returns Trevor Lauck, Leighton Jones, Cael Winter, Kade Pieper, and Jack Dotzler, giving the Hawkeyes the kind of continuity every team wants and every opponent hates to see. Injuries can wreck an offensive line in a hurry, but Iowa enters Week 2 with its biggest strength intact.
The defensive front looks just as steady. After a strong performance against Northern Illinois, Kenneth Merrieweather, Will Hubert, Bryce Hawthorne, and Iose Epenesa are all still in place along the line. That continuity matters even more with an athletic quarterback in Jaylen Raynor headed to town, since keeping things contained up front will be key when plays break down and the script changes.
The quarterback situation, meanwhile, remains exactly where it was. Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are both still listed as starters, and that is not exactly a shock. It also means Iowa is still not putting the competition to bed, even if a clearer answer would have made things simpler.
There is a benefit to keeping both names there, though. Brown and Hecklinski did not run dramatically different offenses in Week 1, but the dual listing still forces Iowa State’s staff to prepare for more than one possibility and spend valuable practice time on it.
The depth chart also brings some less encouraging news. L.J.
Phillips Jr. is not listed after leaving Iowa’s Week 1 game in the first half with a lower-body injury, and that is not a great sign. Even so, Iowa does appear to have options.
Kamari Moulton sits at the top, with Xavier Williams or Nathan McNeil listed behind him, which suggests Tim Lester has trust in both backs.
At tight end, Iowa is clearly loaded. DJ Vonnahme and Addison Ostrengta are both listed as starters, with Thomas Meyer and Zach Ortwerth as the second-string options. That gives the Hawkeyes four tight ends who can block, catch, and create matchup problems, which is about as Iowa as it gets at the position.
There is also one small wrinkle on special teams. Evan James, whose 77-yard punt return touchdown came later in the game after things were already decided, is listed as the backup punt returner behind Reece Vander Zee.
That feels like his production is being shortchanged a bit. The return was explosive, and if the best possible result is what matters, it is fair to wonder why that play is not carrying more weight.
In Other News...
Iowa Just Sent A Telling Message Before The Cy-Hawk Game
Iowa heads into the Cy-Hawk game with a depth chart that says plenty about how the Hawkeyes are approaching Week 2. The most notable detail is the quarterback spot, where Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are both listed with an OR designation, a sign the staff is keeping the door open to shared playing time as it sorts through the position. At running back, the backfield will be thinner than expected with L.J. Phillips Jr. out because of a high-ankle sprain, leaving Nathan McNeil and Xavier Williams as the main options behind him.
There was also a small wrinkle on special teams that stood out after Week 1. Evan James, who had the kind of punt return performance that usually earns a bigger role, is still listed behind Reece Vander Zee on the depth chart. For a rivalry game that often turns on field position and a few timely snaps, those decisions suggest Iowa is still calibrating key spots even as the rivalry week pressure ramps up. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Backfield Suddenly Faces Pressure Before A Huge Iowa State Test
Iowas win over Northern Illinois came with a cost that could shape the next week of preparation, especially in the backfield. Offensive linemen Cael Winter and Kade Pieper both dealt with heat-related issues during the game, and running back L.J. Phillips Jr. came away with a high-ankle sprain that is expected to keep him out against Iowa State.
The Hawkeyes have built enough depth at running back to absorb the loss, but the timing is still less than ideal with a rivalry test looming. Any reshuffling behind the line will only add to the challenge of getting the offense settled before a matchup that already carries plenty of pressure for both sides. [Read more 🡒]
Ben McCollum Is Building Something Iowa Fans Will Want To Watch
Ben McCollum is still early in his Iowa tenure, but the recruiting trail already shows what kind of roster he wants to build. The Hawkeyes have lined up visits from two highly regarded 2028 prospects, with Bentley Lusakueno planning an official trip to Iowa and Cole Kelly set for an unofficial stop. Both are versatile enough to fit what McCollum appears to value, and both bring skill sets that could mesh well with the current roster and the offensive system he is trying to put in place.
Lusakueno, ranked No. 6 in the 2028 class, gives Iowa a chance to sell itself to one of the premier young players in the country, while Kelly, ranked No. 34, adds another promising option to the board. For a program trying to show momentum under a new coach, the chance to get those players on campus matters, and so does the broader picture of whether Iowa can turn early interest into something lasting. [Read more 🡒]