Iowa’s Week 1 depth chart for its season opener against Northern Illinois does more than answer a few lineup questions. It shows how much the Hawkeyes have changed their approach to the transfer portal.
For a program that has often been more cautious than most about dipping into the portal, Iowa and Kirk Ferentz clearly spent this offseason looking for players who could step in right away. That shift is visible all over the two-deep as the Hawkeyes begin the 2026 season.
The quarterback battle is still hanging over the opener, but there’s no shortage of movement elsewhere. Iowa has several transfers positioned to play major roles, and a few are already listed among the starters.
On the offensive line, Trent Wilson is on the depth chart as the backup at left guard behind Leighton Jones. Wilson arrived from James Madison and gives Iowa another portal addition in the trenches.
At receiver, Evan James has earned a first-string spot in Iowa’s slot role. The Furman transfer is listed ahead of KJ Parker. Tony Diaz, who came over from UT-Rio Grande Valley, is also starting at wide receiver opposite Reece Vander Zee after what the program viewed as a strong camp.
The backfield also features a portal name with a big track record. L.J.
Phillips Jr., the former South Dakota runner who led the FCS in rushing last year and piled up nearly 2,000 yards, is listed behind Kamari Moulton at running back. He’ll still be part of the mix this season.
On defense, Iowa’s portal haul shows up in the front seven and especially in the secondary. Kahmari Brown, a transfer from Elon, is listed behind Kenneth Merrieweather at defensive end. Bryce Hawthorne, who came from South Dakota State, is positioned in the middle of the defensive line and should rotate with Devan Kennedy and Luke Gaffney.
The most obvious portal impact may be at safety. Anthony Hawkins, who transferred from Villanova, is listed as a starter next to Zach Lutmer.
Xavier Styles, the Robert Morris transfer, is behind Hawkins, while Ty Hudkins, who came from Purdue, is backing up Lutmer. Hudkins becomes part of the safety mix after Lutmer had to move there because of Tyler Brown’s injury.
Two other transfer quarterbacks, Jeremy Hecklinski from Wake Forest and Hank Brown from Auburn, were already part of Iowa’s roster before the 2025 season.
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