Iowa’s opener against Northern Illinois should give the Hawkeyes a clean first look at a roster with plenty of new faces, and a few names are positioned to jump out right away.
The biggest one may be tight end DJ Vonnahme. With Iowa still sorting through a quarterback battle, a dependable target like Vonnahme gives the offense a clear place to lean.
He was already coming on strong late last season, and offensive coordinator Tim Lester appears ready to make him a centerpiece of the passing game. That could mean work all over the formation - down the seam, in the screen game, and from the slot.
The expectation here is that the quarterbacks will find him early and often, with as many as 10 targets in play as he carries over his 2025 momentum.
Lester’s track record in season openers also points toward a familiar Iowa script. In his first two years as offensive coordinator, his teams opened with rushing totals of 241 and 310 yards.
He has shown he’ll keep feeding the ground game if it’s working, and Northern Illinois looks like the kind of opponent that could invite that approach. Iowa’s backfield gives him plenty to work with, too.
Kamari Moulton leads a deep group that also includes L.J. Phillips Jr., Xavier Williams, and Nathan McNeil, and all four should get at least five touches.
With Iowa’s offensive line expected to control the matchup, especially as the second half wears on and the heat becomes a factor, there should be room for everyone to get involved.
On the other side of the ball, the secondary shuffle could end up helping Iowa more than hurting it. Zach Lutmer is back at safety, where he’s more comfortable, and that move opens snaps for younger cornerbacks.
Even with those changes, this group should have a chance to make plays. Iowa’s edge in the trenches should force Northern Illinois into longer passing downs, and that sets up a defense featuring Lutmer, Anthony Hawkins, and the veteran Deshaun Lee to create turnovers.
That mix of a featured tight end, a deep run game, and an opportunistic defense is the shape of Iowa’s first test in Kinnick Stadium.
In Other News...
Trevor Laucks Mindset Should Fire Up Iowa Fans
Trevor Lauck heads into the season with plenty of buzz around him, and for good reason. After earning a starting role last year, the Iowa offensive lineman has already picked up preseason recognition as a First-Team All-Big Ten selection and a spot on the Outland Trophy watch list, which says plenty about how he is viewed heading into the fall. Off the field, he has also linked up with Caseys in an NIL deal, adding another layer to a profile that is growing fast.
For Iowa, what stands out most is the mindset. Lauck is not treating the attention like an endpoint, and the work he has emphasized is the sort Hawkeyes fans tend to appreciate: sharpening fundamentals, staying consistent, and building on what he showed a year ago. If he carries that approach into the season, he could become one of the defining pieces up front for a team that always puts a premium on line play. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Faces Extra Opener Uncertainty Thanks To NIU's Quarterback Battle
The opener on the calendar already carries the usual first-week uncertainty, and now Iowa has a little more of it on the Northern Illinois side of the equation. The Huskies are still sorting through their quarterback competition, with senior Jalen Macon, junior Taron Dickens and sophomore Brady Davidson all in the mix, which means the Hawkeyes are preparing for more than one possible look when the two teams line up.
Interim coach Rob Harley said the choice will come down to what the quarterbacks show in practice, while also noting the group has handled the battle with a positive attitude. For Iowa, that means the scouting report for week one remains a moving target, with Hank Brown or Jeremy Hecklinski set to start at quarterback on the other sideline and the final shape of Northern Illinois offense still not fully settled. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa's Offensive Line May Have Found The Boost Fans Needed
Iowa has made a notable tweak up front as it tries to get the offensive line settled for the upcoming season, moving former walk-on Cael Winter into the starting center role while preseason All-American Kade Pieper shifts over to guard. It is the kind of adjustment that can matter a great deal in Iowa City, where line play is often the foundation of everything the offense wants to do.
Kirk Ferentz has pointed to Winters growth, consistency and maturity as reasons for the change, and he said the lineman looks more comfortable working at center. The move gives Iowa a chance to maximize the five-man groups effectiveness, but the real test will come once the season starts and the reshuffled unit has to prove it can turn those practice reps into steady production. [Read more 🡒]