Iowa Football: Top News As Hawkeyes Release Depth Chart Ahead Of Massive Show-Down

Iowa has released its depth chart for the showdown against Troy.

IOWA CITY, Iowa—Kirk Ferentz and his team are looking to bounce back against a struggling Troy squad. The Hawkeyes are focused on addressing their offensive issues and regaining confidence after a second-half collapse against Iowa State. Fortunately for Iowa, they are healthy and expect some consistency. Here are a few notes as the game approaches.

Saturday’s nonconference regular season finale against Troy marks the first-ever matchup between the two programs. It’s the annual Harvest Kickoff Gold Game, coinciding with Family Weekend at Kinnick Stadium, where fans are encouraged to wear gold.

Iowa’s defense boasts a remarkable streak of allowing fewer than 400 yards for 30 consecutive games—the longest active streak in the nation. They’ve held opponents to 14 points or fewer in 20 of their last 29 games and have kept 10 teams from scoring a touchdown since the beginning of the 2022 season.

The Hawkeyes have a remarkable record of 158-8-1 when allowing 10 points or fewer since 1970 and an all-time record of 391-59-19 under the same conditions. Since the beginning of the 2015 season, Iowa is 72-3 when in the lead by eight points at any time during a game.

So far in the first two weeks of 2024, the Hawkeyes are averaging 29.5 points and 397.5 yards of total offense, ranking 74th and 68th nationally, respectively.

Senior linebacker Jay Higgins recorded 11 tackles and an interception against Iowa State. This marked his 12th career game with 10 or more tackles and his second career interception. The Indianapolis native leads the team with 18 tackles, averaging nine tackles per game, which is third in the Big Ten.

As Saturday’s game against the Trojans approaches, here’s the current status of Iowa’s depth chart.

Quarterback

Starter: Cade McNamara
Backup: Brendan Sullivan
3rd String: Marco Lainez

Comments: McNamara began the game against Iowa State strong, completing seven of his first eight passes. However, the performance declined significantly thereafter. Iowa’s passing offense struggled during the last three quarters, with McNamara completing just six of his final 21 attempts for only 27 yards. There were several missed reads and hesitations that contributed to the difficulties in the passing game. After the game, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz confirmed that McNamara will remain the starter.

“Football involves momentum and momentum shifts, and they’ve played strong defense since Coach Campbell and Coach Heacock arrived. They made it challenging for us, and we may have missed some opportunities due to misreads or other mistakes. That’s part of the game, and we’ll need to deal with it.

As I’ve mentioned before, he’s still working his way back to game shape and mode, and he’s putting in the effort. I believe he’ll come through.”

Running Back

Starter: Kaleb Johnson
No. 2: Kamari Moulton
Depth: Leshon Williams, Jaziun Patterson, TJ Washington, Max White, and Xavier Williams

Comments: Johnson has emerged as the player many believed he could become. The Ohio native possesses an NFL running back physique and is starting to find his rhythm on the field. Despite struggles in Iowa’s passing offense, Johnson proved to be a challenge for the Cyclones throughout most of the game. He finished with 25 carries for 187 yards and two touchdowns, including a 54-yard run and several other explosive plays that put Iowa in advantageous positions.

“Absolutely, and that’s part of football. He’s performed well for us over the past two years, but he’s currently playing at a much higher level,” Ferentz stated. “It’s about maturity; his focus has improved, and he’s practicing better. His experience is paying off. He’s been here for a couple of years, has worked hard to enhance his skills, and it shows on the field. He made some impressive plays today, which is encouraging. We need to continue to refine everything and make it all work together.”

FB: Hayden Large
Backup: Eli Miller

Wide Receiver

1. Reece Vander Zee
2. Jarriett Buie

1. Kaden Wetjen
2. Kaleb Brown

1. Jacob Gill
2. TJ Washington

Comments: The Hawkeyes’ wide receivers didn’t have their best performance, but it wasn’t entirely their fault. A positive note is that Jacob Gill appears to be a valuable find from the transfer portal, leading the group with four receptions for 47 yards, including 23 yards after the catch. He brings a distinct skill set and speed that sets him apart from the other receivers.

Kaleb Brown made his return this past weekend after serving a one-game suspension against Illinois State. He played 11 snaps and was targeted once, which resulted in an underthrown ball by McNamara. I anticipate he will continue to progress and become more involved as the season unfolds.

Reece Vander Zee has significant potential at the X receiver position, but as a true freshman, he’ll need to navigate the challenges of college football. He possesses the size and skills to contribute effectively when Iowa looks to stretch the field vertically. TJ Washington will also see continued action with various schemes.

Tight End