Iowa’s special teams are entering a reset in 2026, but the expectation in Iowa City hasn’t changed: this unit still has to be a difference-maker.
That’s the standard Kirk Ferentz has built for years, and it matters even more now that the Hawkeyes are replacing some major pieces. Drew Stevens is gone at kicker, Rhys Dakin is out at punter, Kaden Wetjen has moved on from his return-game heroics, and long-time special teams coach LeVar Woods is no longer there. That’s a lot of turnover for a group that has been one of Iowa’s most reliable weapons.
Even with the overhaul, the return game still has a chance to stay dangerous. The last season Iowa failed to score a touchdown on a punt or kick return was 2022, and the past three years have been a real surge in that area.
Zach Lutmer looks like the leading candidate to handle punt returns, and he’s shown the kind of natural playmaking ability that can turn one clean touch into six points. On kickoff returns, Nathan McNeil or Brevin Doll should get the first crack, and both bring the kind of straight-line speed that can stress a coverage unit fast.
Of course, there’s a flip side to all that change. A new coach and some scheme tweaks could leave Iowa exposed early, especially before everything settles in. Northern Illinois, Iowa State, or Northern Iowa could be the kind of teams that take advantage in the first three weeks, especially with nothing to lose and plenty of motivation to chase an upset.
At kicker, Iowa turned to the transfer portal and landed Eli Ozick from North Dakota State. He arrives with big-game experience from a program that was as big as it gets in the FCS, and last season he was nearly automatic: 16-for-18 on field goals and 62-for-62 on extra points. That kind of reliability should make him a natural fit, and with some early drives likely to stall, he could get a few confidence-building chances before Big Ten play ramps up.
The punting situation also has room to improve. Dakin’s numbers last season were solid enough - a 43.6-yard average - but only 18 of his 42 punts were downed inside the 20.
For Iowa, that’s not quite the standard. With the offense likely to have its rough patches again in 2026, field position is going to matter a lot, and the Hawkeyes need their punter to help set the defense up in favorable spots.
Chris Polizzi, the new special teams coordinator, inherits that job with clear priorities. Boston Everitt is the name to watch for the starting punter role, and his Aussie background makes him the expected front-runner. The bigger adjustment may come in the hidden details: limiting returns, cutting back on touchbacks, and consistently forcing opponents to start drives deep in their own territory.
In Other News...
Iowa Fans Should Watch These Offensive Sleepers Very Closely
The conversation around Iowas offense is already shifting toward the next wave, and there are a few young names worth keeping on the radar as the program looks ahead to 2026. Freshman quarterback Tradon Bessinger, running back Xavier Williams, receiver Dayton Howard, tight ends DJ Vonnahme and Addison Ostrenga, and offensive lineman Michael Myslinski all sit in that category of players whose paths to playing time could open if development continues the way Iowa hopes.
What makes the group interesting is the variety of ways each could fit. Williams and Howard bring the kind of skill-position upside fans tend to track first, while Vonnahme and Ostrenga give the tight end room more potential depth, and Myslinski could matter up front if the line needs more help. For Iowa, the bigger question is not just which of these players flashes, but which ones are ready when the opportunity finally arrives. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]