Iowa’s special teams didn’t just survive its Week 1 reset - it flashed the kind of juice that had Hawkeye fans exhaling fast.
That was the biggest question coming out of a offseason that stripped the unit down to the studs. LeVar Woods, the longtime coordinator and recruiting force, left to join Pat Fitzgerald’s new staff at Michigan State, and Iowa had to rebuild from there.
Chris Polizzi was promoted from within, and the roster turnover kept piling up: Rhys Dakin transferred to Michigan State, Drew Stevens headed to the NFL, and Kaden Wetjen also left for the NFL. For a program that has long leaned on special teams as a strength, the uncertainty was real.
Against Northern Illinois, though, the new-look group answered.
Iowa cycled through several players on punt return duty, including Zach Lutmer, Reece Vander Zee, and transfer wide receiver Evan James. Then James turned the game on its head late in the third quarter, fielding a punt at the 23-yard line and racing 77 yards for a touchdown.
Former Hawkeye Kaden Wetjen noticed immediately.
"Approved 🔥🔥🔥
- Kaden Wetjen (@WetjenKaden) September 5, 2026"
Wetjen’s reaction carried extra weight because he knows exactly what that kind of play looks like. Cooper DeJean and Wetjen were the last two standout punt returners in Iowa City, and Wetjen set the program record for career return touchdowns last season.
He was also the only two-time Jet Award winner. So when he watched James break loose for a score, the endorsement mattered.
James finished with 108 punt return yards and that touchdown, a strong opening statement for a job that remains up for grabs as Iowa keeps sorting out who will handle punts and kicks. The Hawkeyes also rebuilt other parts of the unit with transfer punter Tanner Philpott and transfer kicker Eliz Ozick, and Saturday’s showing suggested the overhaul may not have left the group nearly as vulnerable as it first looked.
For Iowa, the best part of Week 1 was simple: the special teams no longer look like a problem. With James emerging as a real option, the Hawkeyes may have found another transfer portal hit where they least needed the drama.
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 🡒]
Iowa Keeps One Big Week 2 Decision Alive Before Iowa State
Iowas official Week 2 depth chart keeps the most interesting quarterback question intact heading into the Iowa State game. Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are still both listed as starters, which means the Hawkeyes are carrying the competition forward for at least another week while leaving the rest of the offense largely unchanged. Theres also continuity up front on both the offensive and defensive lines, a sign the staff is comfortable with the foundation even as one of the teams biggest decisions remains open.
Elsewhere on the chart, Kamari Moulton sits atop the running back spot with backups behind him, while L.J. Phillips Jr. is absent because of a lower-body injury. Tight end is listed with four players in starter or backup roles, giving Iowa some flexibility there, and Evan James shows up as the backup punt returner behind Reece Vander Zee. But all the attention still circles back to quarterback, where Iowa has made clear it is not ready to close the book before facing its in-state rival. [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 🡒]