Iowa’s defense keeps finding ways to stockpile quality defensive backs, and now the latest question is which one claims the open spot at second cornerback.
A few pieces are already taking shape in the Hawkeyes’ secondary. Tyler Brown and Anthony Hawkins are lined up to handle the safety jobs, while Zach Lutmer will keep moving around as Iowa’s CASH hybrid, bouncing between corner, safety and linebacker duties. Deshaun Lee is set at one corner spot, but there will be formations and personnel groupings where Iowa needs another defender to line up opposite him when Lutmer shifts elsewhere.
That makes the competition for the other cornerback role the one worth watching.
Jaylen Watson looks like the front-runner. The third-year defensive back from Detroit has the most experience of the group, and that matters in an Iowa program that has long valued players who already know the system and can be trusted on the field. Watson has appeared in 23 games over his first two seasons and last year finished with 20 tackles and a pass deflection.
If Watson slips, Rashad Godfrey Jr. is positioned to be next in line. The Florida native played in 13 games in 2025 after not seeing the field in 2024, and at 6-foot-0 he brings a little more length than Watson.
Then there’s Alex Mota, who has been around the program longer than any of the other candidates. The fourth-year Iowa native has only played in five games in his career, but at 6-foot-195 pounds he fits the Hawkeyes’ cornerback profile and remains a name to watch.
Jacob Wallace is another player worth keeping on the radar. He got into three games as a freshman last year and recorded five tackles. He may still be a year or two away from truly pushing for the job, but if camp breaks his way and the door opens, he’s at least in the conversation.
In Other News...
Iowa Just Got A Huge Recruiting Boost In The Post
Iowas push to rebuild its front line has taken on added urgency, and the Hawkeyes have landed in the thick of one of the more important recruitments in the 2027 class. Khalia Hartwell, a highly regarded center, has drawn serious interest from Iowa as the program looks to add size after recent roster departures, and she now has official visits lined up as the Hawkeyes continue to sell her on the fit and the opportunity.
For an Iowa staff trying to keep pace in the recruiting race, getting Hartwell on campus is a meaningful step. She has become one of the more watched post prospects in the class, and her upcoming visits will give Iowa a chance to make its case against two other prominent programs still in the mix. How that trip goes could go a long way toward showing just how far the Hawkeyes have come in this pursuit. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa's Special Teams Overhaul Puts New Kicker Under An Immediate Spotlight
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Ozick arrives with some real college experience already on his resume after transferring from North Dakota State, and Iowa is clearly counting on him to help steady a group that lost key pieces all over the field. Even with several transfer additions lining up to fill other jobs, a few spots are still unsettled, which makes this overhaul feel less like a routine summer shuffle and more like an early test of how quickly the Hawkeyes can rebuild one of their most scrutinized units. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Lands In A Massive Recruiting Battle For Elite 2027 Guard
Iowa has put itself in the mix for one of the countrys top 2027 guards, as Jalen Davis trimmed his list to 10 schools and included the Hawkeyes among the finalists. The Bremerton High School standout from Washington has drawn national attention with his play and summer production, and Iowa now has a real chance to make an impression as the recruiting process moves into a more serious stage.
Davis is set to take several visits, with Iowa on the calendar for Oct. 3 after he already made a stop at Washington. For the Hawkeyes, landing a player of his caliber would mean holding their own in a crowded battle against some prominent programs, and this kind of early traction matters when a prospects profile is already rising so quickly. [Read more 🡒]