Iowa’s offense heads into 2026 with a real shakeup at quarterback, but it’s not starting from scratch. Mark Gronowski’s departure leaves a major hole, yet the Hawkeyes do have a handful of proven pieces back to build around. The good news for Iowa is that some of its most important returning players are spread across the backfield, the passing game, and the offensive line.
Kamari Moulton looks like the player most ready to take over the spotlight. His career line - 27 games played, 281 carries, 1,444 yards, 10 touchdowns, plus 17 receptions for 109 receiving yards - tells part of the story, but his rise has been steady.
He handled sporadic work in 2023, lived in Kaleb Johnson’s shadow in 2024, and then led Iowa in rushing yards in 2025 with 878. Now the runway is clear for him to push toward a 1,000-yard season, especially with the offensive line in front of him.
The passing game has its own set of answers, starting with DJ Vonnahme. In 16 games, he has 29 catches for 434 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Iowa appears to have found a dependable weapon. Last season, Gronowski trusted him late in the year, and Vonnahme has already shown he can do damage down the sideline, work the seam, and create after the catch.
Up front, Kade Pieper is the kind of return that changes everything for a new quarterback. He has played in 25 games and started 13, and after passing on the NFL Draft, he’s back with a chance to build a season that could put him in first-round territory in 2027. With a young quarterback taking over, Pieper’s experience is as valuable as anything Iowa has on offense.
Reece Vander Zee is another name worth watching closely. Through 17 games, he has 29 receptions for 395 yards and 5 touchdowns, and the flashes have been obvious. His work on deep balls and contested catches stands out, and if he can stay healthy after some issues in 2025, he has the talent to become Iowa’s true No. 1 target.
Trevor Lauck rounds out the group and gives Iowa a critical piece at left tackle. He has appeared in 16 games and started 13, and his job will be especially important with a new, young quarterback stepping in. Lauck is the blindside protector Iowa needs, and like Pieper, he looks like another future NFL starter in the making.
In Other News...
Mark Gronowskis NFL Setback Just Put His Next Step In Doubt
Mark Gronowskis path to the NFL hit a rough patch this week when Miami moved on from the former South Dakota State and Iowa quarterback before the preseason got underway. For a player who built his reputation on production, toughness and dual-threat ability in college, the Dolphins decision was a reminder of how thin the margin can be once camp battles begin and a depth chart starts to harden.
Gronowski had arrived in Miami hoping to carve out a role, but his time there never gained much traction as the team sorted through its quarterback options. His next step is now up in the air, and while his college rsum still gives him a case to make with other NFL teams, the question is whether another club sees enough to bring him in and give him a fresh start. [Read more 🡒]
Ben McCollum Has Iowa Chasing Another Huge 2027 Recruiting Win
Ben McCollums first full recruiting push at Iowa is already giving the Hawkeyes a look at what the next wave could be. The program has landed a commitment from 2027 forward Keller Daugherty, a useful early building block as the staff works to establish itself with the class and show it can compete for elite talent right away.
The bigger test is still unfolding, with Iowa chasing multiple high-end targets and trying to turn early momentum into something even more meaningful. Jalen Davis has kept the Hawkeyes in the mix among his preferred schools and has an official visit on the schedule, while the pursuit of another top-tier 2027 prospect remains one to watch as McCollum keeps pressing for a signature recruiting win. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Wrestling Faces A Recruiting Problem It Can't Ignore
For a program built on championship standards and a reputation that once seemed to sell itself, the recruiting path has gotten noticeably bumpier in Iowa City. Iowa wrestling still carries the weight of 24 national titles, but the landscape around the sport has changed, and the Hawkeyes are running into a version of recruiting that is far less predictable than the one that powered their rise. Penn State has become the clearest example of that shift, stacking up elite talent in the 2027 class while Iowa has had to navigate a market where parity is real and high-end opportunities are spreading far beyond the old powers.
The concern for Iowa is not just losing one headline name, but the ripple effect that comes when top targets start to look elsewhere and the momentum turns. Expanded NIL opportunities have given recruits more options and more reasons to take a longer look at other programs, which makes every miss feel a little bigger for a team that has always measured itself against the very top of the sport. For a school that has long expected to be in the center of every major recruiting battle, the bigger question now is how quickly it can stop the slide and reassert itself with the next wave of elite prospects. [Read more 🡒]