Iowa Football 2024 Position Primer: Defensive Backs, Diving Into The Linebacker Room.

Losing DeJean is a tough blow for the Hawkeyes, but retaining Sebastian Castro was crucial.

Castro has become one of the top slot cornerbacks in the country, continuing Iowa’s legacy of producing outstanding players at the CASH position.

Last season, Castro was named a Pro Football Focus (PFF) All-American and was Iowa’s highest-rated defensive player with a PFF grade of 91.2, making him one of the best players in the nation.

ESPN recently listed Castro as a potential ‘sleeper’ pick for the 2025 Draft. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound hard-hitter is one of Iowa’s most versatile defensive assets and is poised to make even more progress this season.

“He’s not Cooper [DeJean] to me, but he’s a really good player overall,” said an AFC scouting director who has analyzed the 2025 cornerback class. “He’s quick, tackles well in the open field, and is never out of position.”

“Castro plays in the box, the slot, and even at safety,” wrote ESPN’s Matt Miller. “He has excellent read-and-react skills and toughness. He broke up eight passes last season and didn’t allow a touchdown reception in coverage.”

This fall, Castro recorded 61 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, 11 pass breakups, three interceptions, and one interception returned for a touchdown, establishing himself as the go-to playmaker in Iowa’s secondary.

Castro will once again play a key role for the Iowa defense this season.

In the Hawkeyes’ 4-2-5 defensive scheme, which features five defensive backs for increased speed, Castro has been an ideal fit and may be the best player to fill the CASH role since it was introduced at Iowa.

Although Castro could have entered the NFL Draft after last season, he chose to return and lead the Iowa defense for another year. He was instrumental in several crucial moments last season, helping the Hawkeyes secure victories, and Iowa will rely on him to repeat that performance to achieve their defensive goals.

X-Factor: Jermari Harris

There are several potential x-factors for Iowa in the secondary, but Jermari Harris stands out as the key one.

Harris’ career at Iowa has been marked by ups and downs. He had a standout season in 2021 with four pass deflections and four interceptions, making him one of Iowa’s top cornerbacks. The 2021 secondary, featuring Riley Moss, Matt Hankins, Dane Belton, and Kaevon Merriweather, was a strong group, and Harris excelled in it.

His notable performance came in the Citrus Bowl loss to Kentucky, where he recorded six tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception.

Harris missed the 2022 season due to injury and was suspended for the start of the 2023 season due to his involvement in a gambling probe. Pro Football Focus rates Harris’ 2021 performance higher than his 2023 season, especially in coverage, though he was more effective against the run in 2023. Receivers had a higher completion rate and more touchdowns against Harris in 2023, though he also had more pass breakups.

With Cooper DeJean gone this season and Harris having limited experience as CB1, this is his opportunity to step up as the top cornerback. Harris is confident and capable when at his best, and this is his chance to prove himself as the primary shutdown corner, supported by John Nestor, Deshaun Lee, and TJ Hall. Iowa will face some strong passing offenses this year, so Harris must perform at his best in his final season.

“I’ve loved watching Jermari grow throughout his career,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Three years ago, he developed into not just a good player but also a strong leader. He’s taken on a lot of responsibility and has been active in mentoring younger players.”

Biggest Question Mark: Who wins CB2 job?

Rising sophomore John Nestor is currently listed as the starting cornerback opposite Harris in the pre-fall camp depth chart. While this position is still subject to change, Nestor holds the spot for now.

It’s also noteworthy that Nestor is listed as the backup CASH behind Castro.

Lee and Hall have more defensive experience than Nestor. Lee logged 434 defensive snaps last season, while Hall, despite being a true freshman last year, was involved but struggled with injuries.

However, Iowa values Nestor’s playmaking ability and consistency. He has been reliable since joining the team, never having missed time due to injury, and has consistently fought for playing time, including on special teams.

It appears Iowa will proceed with Nestor as the starting cornerback alongside Harris, but Lee and Hall still have the opportunity to compete for a spot. Additionally, Iowa plans to utilize more than just two cornerbacks throughout the season.

New names to know

Although they were on the roster last season, it’s important to highlight them here as they weren’t mentioned previously.

Koen Entringer is a backup strong safety for Iowa, having made a name for himself on special teams last year and showing significant progress behind the starters during practice. Zach Lutmer, the backup free safety, has also been emerging as a promising player in Iowa’s secondary. The Central Lyon product displays impressive athleticism, instincts, and the ability to make impactful plays.

They are poised to be key contributors moving forward.

In the 2024 class, Iowa added cornerbacks Rashad Godfrey and Jaylen Watson.

Godfrey, standing 6-foot-2, possesses the size and length that fit the Big Ten profile, making him a strong candidate for early playing time. Watson, though smaller, impressed with his 4.4 speed at Iowa’s summer camp, is agile with his hips, and has solid ball skills from his high school wide receiver experience.

Of the two, Godfrey is expected to compete for snaps early due to his physicality and build, while Watson will likely need more development but has undeniable speed.

Securing Godfrey was crucial as he received offers from Oregon State, Kansas State, and Louisville after committing to Iowa but chose to stay with the Hawkeyes. His performance against top receivers in Florida suggests he has an edge coming from the Sunshine State.

Additionally, Iowa has welcomed a strong walk-on class at the safety position, led by Kyler Gerardy.

Depth Chart

LC: John Nestor

Backup: TJ Hall

RC: Jermari Harris

Backup: Deshaun Lee

FS: Quinn Schulte

Backup: Zach Lutmer

SS: Xavier Nwankpa

Backup: Koen Entringer

Reasonable Expectations

247Sports has ranked Iowa’s defensive backs as the No. 2 group in the Big Ten, trailing only Ohio State, heading into this season.

“Iowa’s secondary remains largely intact from last season, with the only notable loss being First Team All-American and second-round NFL Draft pick Cooper DeJean. Castro, who earned Third Team All-American honors in 2023, is expected to take on a larger role as the top defensive back for the Hawkeyes. His versatility allows him to cover multiple areas on the field. Nwankpa, a former five-star recruit, is anticipated to elevate his game to All-Big Ten status. Iowa allowed the fourth-lowest opponent passer rating in the FBS last season and retains nearly the entire secondary unit.”

The impressive passer rating numbers suggest that there’s potential for even greater performance this year with most of the key players returning. While the safety and CASH positions are strong, there are concerns about the cornerback spots.

There is strong internal confidence in this group’s ability to perform well, but it remains to be seen on the field. One area for improvement this season is generating turnovers, particularly interceptions.

Last season, Iowa ranked seventh in the Big Ten for interceptions after being among the leaders in that category in previous years. The Hawkeyes are focused on creating disruptions and forcing turnovers in the secondary, aiming to enhance this aspect of their game this season.