The Iowa Hawkeyes have been one of the most consistently respectable teams in college football under Kirk Ferentz, and they’ve also been a reliable producer of NFL Draft talent. In the 2024 cycle, that shouldn’t change. Here’s an early look at what the Hawkeyes have to offer.
Iowa Hawkeyes Roster and Depth Chart Changes
The Hawkeyes saw quite a bit of turnover this past offseason, headlined by the exodus of high-level talent through the 2023 NFL Draft. Lukas Van Ness and Jack Campbell leave the program as Round 1 picks, while Sam LaPorta and Riley Moss went on Day 2.
Past those premier contributors, the Hawkeyes also lost players like John Waggoner, Seth Benson, and Kaevon Merriweather on defense. They still return many valuable pieces, however, and on offense, their losses were less severe.
Iowa will enjoy the returns of playmakers like Kaleb Johnson and Luke Lachey, and there’s also been a change in the pecking order at QB, with Cade McNamara coming over from Michigan.
The hope is that McNamara will give Iowa the stability they sorely lacked at the most important position in 2023. But the story of the team’s trials should be similar in 2023. Defense will always be the Hawkeyes’ strong suit, and that’s evident with the amount of NFL Draft talent they have on that side of the ball.
Iowa Hawkeyes NFL Draft Prospects
Cade McNamara, QB
After losing his starting job at Michigan to J.J. McCarthy in 2022, Cade McNamara now takes his talents to Iowa, where he’ll be given a chance to resurrect his career. At 6’1″, 205 pounds, McNamara is more of a good college QB than an actual NFL Draft prospect, and his placement in Iowa’s suspect offense doesn’t generate optimism. But at the very least, McNamara’s competitive toughness could help earn him a place in an NFL camp.
Nico Ragaini, WR
If the Iowa passing offense will take a step up in 2023, sixth-year veteran Nico Ragaini could be a grateful beneficiary. Across the past four seasons, Ragaini has compiled 124 catches for 1,347 yards and four touchdowns. He’s been a quiet source of stability in the Hawkeyes’ offense, and although he doesn’t have elite traits at 6’0″, 190 pounds, he could be a name to watch next May as teams seek to fill their 90-man rosters.
Seth Anderson, WR
He’ll likely stay in college past his redshirt sophomore season, but Seth Anderson is a transfer addition worth keeping tabs on in Iowa’s offense. The 6’0″, 180-pound pass catcher amassed 42 catches for 612 yards and seven scores last year at Charleston Southern. He has the vertical ability and body control to be a much-needed big-play threat for the Hawkeyes … if they can consistently get him the ball.
Luke Lachey, TE
The son of former NFL All-Pro offensive tackle Jim Lachey, Luke Lachey could be the next man up in Iowa’s famed TE pipeline. The 6’6″, 253-pound Lachey racked up 28 catches for 398 yards and four touchdowns in 2022, despite being the second option at TE to Sam LaPorta and despite Iowa’s passing woes. Lachey is a smooth athlete at his size, with a dominating wingspan, and an increased target share could bring even more growth.
Erick All, TE
As it often is, Iowa’s TE room will once again be two-deep in 2023. Lachey is a 2024 NFL Draft prospect in waiting, and Michigan transfer Erick All has potential as well. The 6’5″, 250-pound senior put up 38 catches for 437 yards and two scores in 2021 before an injury sidelined him for most of 2022. All has good speed and run-after-catch ability for his size, and his chemistry with McNamara may also help him hit the ground running in Iowa City.
Mason Richman, OT
A four-star recruit several cycles ago, Mason Richman has visible raw talent on the field. At 6’6″, 312 pounds, he has good size and frame proportions, and he’s quick off the snap with a degree of corrective mobility. At this point, however, Richman still plays very uncontrolled with his technique, hand placement, and balance. A year of refinement in 2023, however, could help unlock new heights for the young blindside blocker.
Connor Colby, G
Connor Colby was a player whose athleticism stood out when watching Iowa’s roster in the summer months of 2022. That easy mobility in space once again popped in 2022, but the 6’6″, 311-pound blocker still has things to clean up if he wants to reach his 2024 NFL Draft ceiling. He doesn’t have great proportional length, and he’ll exacerbate the issue at times by playing too upright with his pads. More refinement is needed, but Colby has talent.
Rusty Feth, C
It remains to be seen where Rusty Feth will fall in the Hawkeyes’ lineup, but after seeing his career at Miami (OH), it’s not brash to think he could have a sizable role. Feth started all three games at guard in 2020 before serving as the RedHawks’ starting center for 25 consecutive games in 2021 and 2022. He’s not an overwhelming athlete in space, but his experience, football IQ, and alertness all show up in both phases.
Noah Shannon, DT
The Hawkeyes’ staff famously prefers to give veterans more opportunities, especially on the defensive line. Thus, fifth-year senior Noah Shannon should once again be a big part of the game plan. Shannon had a career year in 2022, putting up 8.5 tackles for loss to go along with two sacks.
At 6’0″, 295 pounds, he’s noticeably undersized at the position, but he compensates with good quickness, leverage, and a sense of urgency in pursuit.
Deontae Craig, DL
Last year, Lukas Van Ness made the leap from flashy rotational player to early-round NFL Draft pick. If you’re looking for another Iowa DL to potentially follow that trajectory in 2023, keep an eye on Deontae Craig.
Despite not being a full-time starter, Craig put up seven sacks and 10.5 TFLs in 2022. At 6’3″, 266 pounds, he has a long, dense frame that affords him extensive alignment versatility, and he has burst, bend, and power in his arsenal.
Logan Lee, DL
At 6’5″, 291 pounds, Logan Lee blends the line between edge rusher and defensive tackle and more often takes reps inside, especially on early downs. The senior had his best year in 2022, racking up eight TFLs and three sacks, as well as three pass deflections. His length is ultimately his best attribute, and while he’s not nearly as explosive or as dynamic as Van Ness was, every one-on-one battle with him is a grating war of attrition.
Joe Evans, EDGE
He likely won’t earn much NFL Draft consideration, but Joe Evans could be a UDFA target for some scheme-specific teams. He’s undersized as a designated pass rusher at 6’2″, 252 pounds, and he lacks the high-end burst and bend to compensate. But he is a high-motor defender who’s proven his mettle as a competitor with 18.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss across four seasons.
Nick Jackson, LB
The Hawkeyes lost Jack Campbell, Jestin Jacobs, and Seth Benson in the 2023 offseason. It’ll be a massive overhaul at LB, but Virginia transfer Nick Jackson should help keep the team afloat. Jackson, a dense and compact second-level defender at 6’0″, 237 pounds, has eclipsed 100 tackles for three straight seasons and has 10.5 sacks and 20 TFLs across his career. At Iowa, he’ll have a chance to uphold the team’s high positional standard.
Cooper DeJean, CB
Cooper DeJean is the runaway headliner of the Hawkeyes’ 2024 NFL Draft class, and he could ultimately follow in Van Ness’ footsteps as a first-round pick. At 6’1″, 207 pounds, DeJean has unique size for a CB, which he complements with startling short-area twitch and corrective mobility, stellar run support instincts and toughness, and next-level ball-hawking ability. He’s one of the best CB prospects in the 2024 cycle early on.
Jermari Harris, CB
Jermari Harris’ name has fallen under the radar after the senior missed all of 2022 with an injury. But people forget the 6’1″, 190-pound CB started the final six games of 2021 and amassed four interceptions and three deflections within that span. Harris has the length, athleticism, and playmaking chops to be an NFL Draft prospect, and now healthy, he’ll get a chance to prove it again in 2023 opposite DeJean.
Quinn Schulte, S
Once again, the Hawkeyes’ secondary is a potential treasure trove of NFL talent, and Quinn Schulte is another young prospect on the rise. The 6’1″, 209-pound safety accumulated 72 tackles, a pick, six deflections, and a half-TFL in 2022. Much like DeJean at CB, Schulte is a very complete player who has actionable coverage instincts and mobility, but he’s also versatile and very competent in run support, able to come downhill and encumber blocks.
Sebastian Castro, S
Rounding out the Iowa secondary is Sebastian Castro, a 5’11”, 205-pound dynamo who functioned as the team’s CASH defender. The CASH position is essentially a nickel DB, but at Iowa, that player is tasked with playing in support and attacking downhill more often. Castro takes pride in doing just that — hugging the line tight and surging into the backfield as an extra rusher. But he can also track passes vertically and force incompletions as well.
Tory Taylor, P
The Hawkeyes may ultimately have the honor of boasting the best punter prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. Tory Taylor was legitimately a reason Iowa won some of their games in 2022. His outing in a 7-3 win against South Dakota State, in particular, put a spotlight on his talents. The 6’4″, 232-pound Taylor has a big leg but also game-breaking accuracy. In that game, he downed seven punts inside the 20-yard line and five inside the 12.
Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule
- Week 1
BYE - Week 2
Sept. 2: vs. Utah State Aggies - Week 3
Sept. 9: at Iowa State Cyclones - Week 4
Sept. 16: vs. Western Michigan Broncos - Week 5
Sept. 23: at Penn State Nittany Lions - Week 6
Sept. 30: vs. Michigan State Spartans - Week 7
Oct. 7: vs. Purdue Boilermakers - Week 8
Oct. 14: at Wisconsin Badgers - Week 9
Oct. 21: vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers - Week 10
BYE - Week 11
Nov. 4: vs. Northwestern Wildcats - Week 12
Nov. 11: vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights - Week 13
Nov. 18: vs. Illinois Fighting Illini - Week 14
Nov. 25: at Nebraska Cornhuskers - Week 15
BYE