Kirk Ferentz and Iowa finally put a first game-week depth chart on paper, and the biggest answer fans were hunting for never came. At quarterback, the Hawkeyes are still splitting the job between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski, leaving the Week 1 starter unresolved as the season opener approaches.
That uncertainty sits at the center of everything Iowa is building right now. The depth chart suggests both quarterbacks are in line to play, and with a soft non-conference schedule, there should be enough room for both to see meaningful snaps. Behind them, Jimmy Sullivan and freshman Tradon Bessinger are also names to keep an eye on if the staff decides to expand the rotation.
The backfield, at least, comes with a little more clarity. Kamari Moulton is listed as the starter ahead of L.J.
Phillips, which fits with the role he established last year. Together, they give Iowa a strong one-two punch.
Nathan McNeil is not in the two deep, but he earned attention during Kids’ Day as an elusive, dependable option on passing downs and remains a player worth watching.
What stands out most on offense is the depth at receiver and tight end. Iowa begins the year healthy, and that alone matters.
Portal additions Tony Diaz and Evan James are positioned to make an immediate impact, while the tight end room brings the kind of depth an inexperienced quarterback can lean on. That group gives the offense a built-in safety valve.
Up front, Iowa’s defensive line looks like one of the biggest overhauls on the roster. It was the most heavily targeted area in the portal this offseason, and the headliner is freak athlete Kahmari Brown. Portal transfer Bryce Hawthorne from 2025 appears to have settled in as well, and Iose Epenesa enters his second year with a chance to take another step.
At linebacker, the Hawkeyes sound comfortable with their options. Coaches have said they’re deep there, with seven or eight capable players allowing for rotation. Jacob Wallace, now in his second year, has worked his way into the starting lineup at Cash, and Jaden Montgomery is a leader in the group.
Special teams brings its own set of answers. Caden Buhr is the starting kicker, Boston Everitt from Melbourne, Australia is handling punting duties, and Zach Lutmer is the expected punt returner.
Brevin Doll, an RB on offense, gets the kick return job, and that choice clearly has some juice behind it. He’s described as a track speedster, faster than Kaden Wetjen.
The offensive line keeps some continuity, too. Iowa brings back starters Trevor Lauck and Kade Pieper, while the rest of the unit is made up of reliable backups. Cael Winter, now a fourth-year player, is moving to center.
On the back end, the defensive backs and safeties are being pointed to as a strength for 2026. Zach Lutmer and Deshaun Lee are the names providing leadership there as Iowa works through the rest of camp with its biggest question still unanswered.
In Other News...
Two Undrafted Hawkeyes Just Pulled Off What Few Rookies Do
NFL roster cutdowns took a toll on former Iowa players this week, with 13 Hawkeyes seeing their pro dreams reshuffled and four rookies among those released. For a program that prides itself on sending disciplined, ready-made pros into the league, it was a reminder of how quickly the NFL can turn even a solid summer into a difficult numbers game.
Amid that churn, two undrafted Hawkeyes found a way to stick. Hayden Large carved out a place with the Chicago Bears after fighting back from a serious injury, earning his spot mainly as a fourth tight end and special teams piece, while Xavier Nwankpa made enough noise in preseason with the Kansas City Chiefs to secure a role in their secondary. For Iowa, it is the kind of early pro success that reinforces the depth of its pipeline, even as the rest of the cutdown news brought plenty of disappointment. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Real Test Might Be Happening Far From The Field
Indianas recent rise has college football programs everywhere rethinking what it takes to break through, and Iowa has a reason to pay close attention. The Hawkeyes have a championship history of their own, and the program still has the kind of defensive identity and institutional stability that can keep it in the conversation. But in todays game, the path to something bigger than conference respectability is shaped as much by roster building as by what happens on Saturdays.
Beth Goetz has become a key figure in that bigger picture, because Iowas next leap may depend on whether the department can match ambition with the resources to support it. NIL funding and recruiting strategy now sit right alongside coaching and player development as part of the job, and that is where the real test begins for Iowa. Winning a first national championship would require more than tradition and toughness, and the question is whether the Hawkeyes can assemble the modern machinery to make it possible. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas First Depth Chart Reveals A Real Kirk Ferentz Shift
Iowas Week 1 depth chart for the opener against Northern Illinois offered the clearest sign yet that Kirk Ferentz is leaning into the transfer portal in a way the Hawkeyes havent always done. Several newcomers landed in important spots right away, with Trent Wilson listed at left guard and Evan James and Tony Diaz showing up at wide receiver, an area where Iowa has long been eager for more reliable production.
The changes were not limited to the offense, either. L.J. Phillips Jr. appears as a backup at running back, while defensive newcomers such as Kahmari Brown and Anthony Hawkins are in the mix as starters or backups, underscoring how quickly the roster is being reshaped. For a program that has often built through continuity and development, the first chart of the season points to a more immediate reliance on portal help, and that will be worth watching once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]