Iowa is heading into fall camp with a defensive line that looks promising on paper and still has plenty to prove once the pads come on.
That’s not the usual place the Hawkeyes like to be. But the 2026 group has some uncertainty around it, especially up front, where replacing Ethan Hurkett, Max Llewellyn, and others is easier said than done. The roster has talent, but a lot of it is still waiting for real game reps to back up the hype.
At Big Ten Media Days, tight end Addison Ostrenga pointed to a few defensive linemen who have already made an impression on him in practice.
"Kenneth Merrieweather has stepped up this offseason as a leader. Iose Epenesa does a great job. Joe Anderson, all those guys compete hard, and it's fun to go against them every week.
The biggest concern with this group is pretty clear: pass rush. Iowa has bodies there, but this is still an unproven unit when it comes to getting after Big Ten quarterbacks.
Talent is one thing. Showing it against top offensive tackles is another.
There is, though, a possible upside to that. If Iowa really does have two of the best offensive linemen in the Big Ten in Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck, then those daily battles could sharpen the defensive line fast. Iron sharpens iron, and that kind of work can turn promising players into much more dangerous pass rushers.
The safer bet for this defense is what it does in the run game. Under Phil Parker, Iowa’s front is built on gap integrity and everyone doing their job. That gives the Hawkeyes a chance to control the line of scrimmage, force teams into obvious passing situations, and let the pressure package do the rest.
That’s where interior linemen Brice Stevenson and Bryce Hawthorne come in. They should be able to stay fresh, absorb blocks, and free up the linebackers to finish plays.
So the pass rush remains the question mark. But if Iowa’s run defense does what it’s built to do, the sacks may still come - especially on third-and-long and other obvious passing downs.
In Other News...
Tavion Banks Just Put Iowas Frontcourt Situation Back In Play
A Colorado federal judges ruling this week has opened the door for a new round of roster math across college basketball, and Iowa is already feeling the ripple effects in its frontcourt. The injunction requires the NCAA to grant an extra year of eligibility to players from the 2022 high school class who finished their eligibility in the 2025-26 season, which puts Tavion Banks in position to come back for one more year after what had seemed like the end of his college run.
Banks has shown appreciation for Iowa and coach Ben McCollum, but his future now sits in a more complicated place than it did a few days ago. His recruitment is open, and the ruling has effectively put his next move back on the table, leaving the Hawkeyes with another roster decision to monitor as the offseason unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Still Has One Linebacker Battle Fans Cannot Ignore
One of Iowas quiet offseason questions still carries plenty of weight heading toward the 2026 season: who lines up next to Jayden Montgomery at linebacker? Montgomery looks set for a starting role, but the Hawkeyes are still sorting out the other spot, and that competition has the feel of something that could shape how the defense comes together once camp gets going.
Cam Buffington has put himself in the conversation with a strong spring, while Preston Ries, Landyn Van Kekerix and Derek Weisskopf remain viable options as the picture develops. Montgomery has also made clear this could be more fluid than a simple two-man race, with multiple players potentially seeing the field depending on the defensive scheme and other factors, which leaves Iowa with a decision that may not be fully settled anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti Just Framed Iowas 2025 Season In A Painful Way
Curt Cignetti did Iowa a favor and a disservice at the same time when he called the Hawkeyes one of the most underrated teams in the country last season. It was a compliment rooted in reality, because Iowa finished 9-4, picked up major individual recognition with Logan Jones making the All-Big Ten first team, and saw its offensive line take home the Joe Moore Award. It was also a reminder that this program spent much of the year living on the edge, with close losses to ranked opponents and the kind of uneven injury luck that can tilt a season.
Mark Gronowskis injury loomed over that run, and it is part of why the conversation around Iowa now feels a little uneasy despite the hardware and respect that came in 2025. The Hawkeyes head into 2026 with only 10 returning starters and a schedule that offers little margin for error, which makes Cignettis framing sting a bit more than it should. Iowa was better than many people realized last fall, but repeating that formula may be a much tougher ask. [Read more 🡒]