Iowa Football Roster Reset: Who is back, who left, and who is on the way (2024)

Returning:Cade McNamara (Gr.) and Marco Lainez III (R-FR),

Newcomers:Brendan Sullivan (R-Jr., Northwestern) and James Resar (Fr.)

Departure:Deacon Hill (Transfer Portal)

Commentary:There was hope last season that Iowa's offense would be in a better place with the addition of Cade McNamara, though it was clear that McNamara was struggling with injury early in the season, and ultimately, his season was ended due to injury. Iowa was then forced to put Deacon Hill at quarterback, and Hill struggled throughout the year, despite Iowa winning 10 games. Hill entered the portal after spring ball and the Hawkeyes landed a pledge from Northwestern transfer quarterback Brendan Sullivan, who will compete for the starting spot in 2024 and be the favorite to win the job in 2025. McNamara is expected to be full-go in June, though Sullivan gives Iowa a proven insurance policy as McNamara fights his way back from injury and the two will compete for the starting job. Lainez is a year away from competing for the starting spot, but this year will be key for his development. Iowa brings in an intriguing four-star signal-caller in James Resar, who is one of the fastest quarterbacks Iowa has had in the Kirk Ferentz era. New Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester is the one running the show in the quarterback room.

Returning:Leshon Williams (R-Sr.), Kaleb Johnson (Jr.), Jaziun Patterson (R-So.), Kamari Moulton (R-Fr.), and Terrell Washington Jr. (R-Fr.)

Newcomers:Xavier Williams (Fr.) and Brevin Doll (Fr.)

Departure:N/A

Commentary:One of the deepest rooms on the Iowa roster is running backs. Iowa returns six running backs who got snaps last season, including five who had snaps in meaningful games. Williams and Johnson seem to be the frontrunners to take most of the snaps this season while there could be a battle for the third spot with Patterson and Moulton. Washington had also taken snaps at wide receiver with his versatility and pass-catching experience dating back to high school. Ladell Betts likes to use the running back by committee approach and Iowa has a lot of depth in this room to use. Iowa will also bring in two promising freshmen in Xavier Williams and Brevin Doll, who are a classic thunder and lightning duo.

Returning:Kaleb Brown (Jr.), Seth Anderson (R-So.), Kaden Wetjen (R-Sr.), Alec Wick (R-Jr.), Jarriett Buie (R-Fr.), Dayton Howard (R-Fr.), and Alex Mota (R-Fr.)

Newcomers: Jacob Gill (Northwestern),Reece Vander Zee (Fr.) and KJ Parker (Fr.)

Departure:Nico Ragaini (UDFA - Washington Commanders),Jacob Bostick (Texas A&M), and Diante Vines (Old Dominion)

Commentary:One of the main questions with this Iowa roster is the wide receiver room. Brown is the most proven wide receiver returning, while Anderson showed promise last season, but was limited towards the end of the season. Bostick leaving Iowa City was a bit of a surprise given the increased role he would've had this season.The Hawkeyes added Northwestern transfer Jacob Gill, who provides Big Ten experience on the perimeter of the Iowa offense.Wetjen has received a lot of high praise this spring in Lester's new-look offense. Iowa also has a talented group of young receivers that could take a big leap forward this fall. Iowa also seems to want one more wide receiver via the transfer portal.

Returning:Luke Lachey (Gr.), Hayden Large (Gr.), Addison Ostrenga (Jr.), Johnny Pascuzzi (R-Jr.), Zach Ortwerth (So.), and Grant Leeper (R-Fr.)

Newcomers:Gavin Hoffman (Fr. Spring Enrollee) and Michael Burt (Fr.)

Departure:Erick All (4th round pick - Cincinatti Bengals), Steven Stilianos (UDFA - Tennessee Titans), and Cael Vanderbush (Transfer Portal)

Commentary:Iowa's tight end room remains in a good spot even with losing All. Lachey returning for a fifth year was significant as he will be the face of Iowa's offense in the passing game on top of his leadership. Ostrenga showed what he could do as the primary tight end option for Iowa last season and seems to be the perfect fit at the No. 2 spot behind Lachey. The question remains who will take over that third spot. I could see it being Ortwerth, but Pascuzzi is also in the conversation. Abdul Hodge is bringing in a lot of young talent, too, with the freshman class.

Returning:Nick DeJong (Gr.), Logan Jones (R-Sr.), Tyler Elsbury (R-Sr.), Mason Richman (R-Sr.), Connor Colby (Sr.), Gennings Dunker (R-Jr.), Beau Stephens (R-Jr.), Jack Dotzler (R-So.), Trevor Lauck (R-Fr.), Leighton Jones (R-Fr.), Kade Pieper (R-Fr.), and Cannon Leonard (R-Fr.)

Newcomers: Cade Borud (R-So. North Dakota),Cody Fox (Fr.), Will Nolan (Fr.), Bodey McCaslin (Fr.), and Josh Janowski (Fr. - Spring Enrollee)

Departure:Rusty Feth (UDFA - Cincinatti Bengals)

Commentary:Iowa returns a lot of experience on the offensive line. This may be Kirk Ferentz's most experienced offensive line group in years, and this unit's performance this season will play a big role in how the offense can perform. The one question mark for this offensive line will be at the tackle positions behind Dunker and Richman. Losing Kadyn Proctor back to Alabama stung, but there is still a lot of internal confidence with this position group going into 2024. George Barnett has also recruited a lot of promising talent in the 2023 and 2024 recruiting classes.

Returning:Deontae Craig (Gr.), Ethan Hurkett (R-Sr.), Yahya Black (Gr.), Aaron Graves (Jr.), Max Llewellyn (R-Jr.), Jeremiah Pittman (R-Jr.), Jeffrey Bowie (R-Jr.), Luke Gaffney (R-So.), Will Hubert (R-So.), Brian Allen (R-So.), Caden Crawford (R-So.), Kenneth Merriweather (R-Fr.), Chase Brackney (R-Fr.), and Maddux Borcherding-Johnson (R-Fr.).

Newcomers:Drew Campbell (Fr.), Chima Chineke (Fr.), Devan Kennedy (Fr.), and Joseph Anderson (Fr.)

Departure:Logan Lee (Pittsburgh Steelers - 5th round pick), Joe Evans (UDFA - Baltimore Ravens), and Noah Shannon (UDFA - Las Vegas Raiders)

Commentary:The defensive line may have the most question marks on the defensive side of the ball for Iowa. Still, there is a lot of experience coming back on the edge, and there is reason to believe that Craig and Hurkett can make a big step forward along with promising younger players in Llewellyn and Allen. On the interior, Iowa will be led by Graves and Black, while Pittman has shown promise as the third option. Bowie, Hubert, and Gaffney are three names to watch for more interior depth, while Iowa has also looked into the portal for proven interior defensive linemen.

Returning:Jay Higgins (Gr.), Nick Jackson (Gr.), Kyler Fisher (Gr.), Jaden Harrell (R-Jr.), Zach Twedt (R-Jr.), Karson Sharar (R-Jr.), Jaxon Rexroth (R-Jr.), Landyn Van Kekerix (R-So.), Jayden Montgomery (R-So.), Nolan DeLong (R-Fr.), and Ben Kueter (R-Fr.)

Newcomers:Preston Ries (Fr.), Derek Weisskopf (Fr.), and Cam Buffington (Fr.)

Departure:N/A

Commentary:Iowa will return one of the most experienced linebacker duos in the country in Higgins and Jackson, along with retaining Fisher in the third spot. Iowa also has a bevy of talent in the backup roles who will be candidates to start in the next year. If there is one position group that Iowa is not worried about, it's the linebacker unit. Seth Wallace has a lot of depth here.

Returning:Jermari Harris (Gr.), TJ Hall (Jr.), Deavin Hilson (R-Jr.), Deshaun Lee (R-So.), John Nestor (So.), Kahlil Tate (R-Fr.), and Teegan Davis (R-Fr.)

Newcomers:Rashad Godfrey (Fr.) and Jaylen Watson (Fr.)

Departure:Cooper DeJean (2nd round pick - Philadelphia Eagles)

Commentary:Losing DeJean stings, but the Hawkeyes were able to retain Harris, and there is a strong trio of promising cornerbacks in Lee, Hall, and Nestor. Lee and Hall have the most playing experience of the three, but Nestor has made his way up the depth chart since arriving on campus last summer and he's going to be a factor in the room. Getting Harris back in the fold was important. Hilson can also be a strong fifth piece at cornerback for Iowa.

Returning:Sebastian Castro (Gr.), Quinn Schulte (Gr.), Xavier Nwankpa (Jr.), Kael Kolarik (R-So.), Koen Entringer (So.), Aidan Hall (R-Fr.), and Zach Lutmer (R-Fr.)

Newcomers:A number of walk-ons in the 2024 class

Departure:N/A

Commentary:While he is listed as Iowa's CASH, Castro can also fill in at one of the safety spots. He has a chance to be one of the top defensive backs in college football for a second straight season. Schulte and Nwankpa will be in their second year starting together on the backend of the defense. Entringer says he expects to be healthy at the start of the season, but we'll see if that's the case. Kolarik and Lutmer were working as the backup safeties in the spring game. Iowa also brings in a talented group of preferred walk-ons in the 2024 class at the safety position.

Returning:Luke Elkin (Longsnapper - Sr.) and Drew Stevens (Kicker - Jr.)

Newcomers:Rhys Dakin (Punter - Fr.) and Tripp Woody (Kicker - Fr.)

Departure:Tory Taylor (4th round pick - Chicago Bears)

Commentary:Iowa will be without Tory Taylor this season, but went down to Australia again to get his replacement in Rhys Daking, who has a strong foot. Stevens will return as one of the top kickers in the Big Ten with a reliable longsnapper in Elkin. Iowa has a talented special teams group, but there are still some questions with the loss of Taylor.