For the first time in a while, Iowa has a little real buzz around its passing-game targets. That’s the shift heading into 2026, and it starts with the idea that the Hawkeyes may finally have enough pieces in place to make the air game matter more.
The biggest reason for the optimism is simple: the talent is there at wide receiver and tight end with Tony Diaz and DJ Vonnahme. But those two can’t carry it by themselves. Iowa still needs a veteran wideout to emerge and help push the offense forward.
That’s where the rest of the room comes in, and there are a few names worth watching. Some have flashed.
Some have dealt with injuries. Some have had trouble stacking consistent production.
The question now is which one turns promise into something steadier.
Reece Vander Zee is still one of the more intriguing options. His Iowa debut was hard to miss, with two touchdowns in his first game for the Hawkeyes.
Since then, the momentum has cooled some, and injuries were part of the story in 2025. Across his two seasons in Iowa City, Vander Zee has 29 catches for 395 yards and five scores, even though he has been a starter when healthy.
At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he brings the kind of frame that can win contested balls, and if he can stay on the field this year, there’s real room for his role to grow.
Evan James arrives with a different kind of profile, and the production follows him. He put up 65 receptions for 796 yards and seven touchdowns last season, working mostly from the slot.
At 5-foot-10, he’s built to use quickness against slower defenders, and he looks like a fit for touches on quick screens, jet sweeps and fast throws that let him work after the catch. That kind of weapon has been missing for Iowa, which is why James has a clear opening.
Dayton Howard is another name that could matter in 2026. He’s Iowa’s tallest receiver at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, and that size alone gives him a chance to become a red-zone option.
Over the last two seasons, Howard has caught 12 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. The next step is whether he can turn that into a bigger, more reliable role.
Then there’s Jarriett Buie, who has barely had a chance to build momentum. He caught nine passes for 94 yards in 2024, then did not appear in 2025. That leaves the obvious question hanging over him now: was it a fit issue, a matter of trust, or is 2026 the year he finally gets a larger opportunity?
In Other News...
Iowa Just Got A Huge Recruiting Boost In The Post
Iowas push to rebuild its frontcourt is already taking shape on the recruiting trail, and the Hawkeyes have put themselves in the mix for one of the top bigs in the 2027 class. Khalia Hartwell, a highly regarded center prospect, has official visits lined up to Iowa, Georgia, and Virginia Tech, a sign that the Hawkeyes are being taken seriously as they look to add much-needed size after recent roster departures.
For Iowa, the appeal is obvious. Landing a center of Hartwells caliber would give the program a cornerstone piece in the post and a much-needed boost for the future, especially with the Hawkeyes trying to shore up a key area of need. The visit schedule will go a long way in showing whether Iowa can turn that early momentum into something more concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Xavier Nwankpa Just Added More Buzz To His Chiefs Push
Xavier Nwankpas path into the NFL started with a disappointment in the 2026 draft, but it has quickly turned into a real opportunity in Kansas City. Signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, the former Iowa defensive back has made enough of an impression during summer practices to keep himself in the mix as the roster starts to take shape, and the timing helps him. Kansas Citys secondary has seen departures and still needs bodies and competition, which opens the door for a player trying to force his way onto the back end of the depth chart.
Nwankpa has also given the Chiefs something useful beyond his work in the secondary, showing up on special teams and adding the kind of physical play that coaches notice in camp. A well-timed legal hit in practice only added to the buzz around his push for a roster spot, the sort of moment that can stand out when a young defender is trying to separate himself in a crowded summer battle. For Iowa fans, it is another reminder that even without draft-day headlines, Nwankpa is still giving himself a chance to stick. [Read more 🡒]