2023 Iowa Football Preview – Position Battles

Kirk Ferentz will tell you that every position on the football field is up for grabs in the month of August. That’s part of the job of a football coach, to provide motivation and inspire players to compete at the highest level.

The reality is there aren’t too many job that are really up for grabs as the Iowa football team entered fall camp. Cooper DeJean isn’t getting bucked out for the starting lineup as long as he’s healthy. Cade McNamara is Iowa’s starting quarterback. Logan Lee and Joe Evans are lining up with the first unit defensive line.

You get the picture.

However, we do have a few position battles that are worth discussing. Some are more interesting and important than others.

THE GUARD POSITIONS

Last year the right and left guard positions were kind of revolving doors for the Hawkeyes. They were looking for answers and frankly, never really quite finding them. I will say, Connor Colby moving from right tackle to left guard did kind of stabilize the left side. But, showing how much we know about that, Colby is listed second team heading into fall camp behind Nick DeJong, who has also bounced between guard and tackle.

On the other side there’s Beau Stephens, who started ten games last year at guard, is listed as the starter at right guard. He’s backed up by graduate transfer Rusty Feth. He was at Miami (OH) and started at guard and center there. He also played for Iowa offensive line coach George Barnett, so that probably helps him in potentially making an impact this season.

There’s also the possibility that they could look at a player like Tyler Elsbury or even Gennings Dunker. Last season, Elsbury played in ten games, making a pair of starts. Dunker is currently listed as the starter at right tackle, but could certainly transition at guard. He played in ten games last year, including starting at right guard in the Music City Bowl.

Lot of moving parts here and probably won’t be fully resolved until week three of fall camp.

THE RIGHT TACKLE

Honestly, there are two spots on the offensive line that seem set. One is the center position where Logan Jones heads into his second year as a starter. The other is left tackle, which will be handle by Mason Richman.

The right tackle position was a problem for Iowa last season. Coiby started until after the Ohio State game until he was replaced by Jack Plumb. Then it was DeJong there in the bowl game.

We head into fall camp with Ginnings Dunker as the starter and he’s backup by Dajion Parker, who transferred in and dealt with a knee issue into the spring. The fact that Iowa has Parker is why I mentioned Dunker at guard because the mantra from the Iowa coaches is the best five will start and there’s a potential that Parker might be in that group.

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

There isn’t much to say about his one. The fact is Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson are starting at the two linebacker positions. Both could play either middle linebacker or weakside. Iowa assistant defensive coordinator and linebacker coach, Seth Wallace, will have to figure out which spot fits both players best.

Jackson has a ton of experience and have averaged over 100 tackles in each of the last three seasons at Virginia. But, he hasn’t played in Iowa’s defense and that’s why they might want Higgins in the middle to make calls and adjustments early in the season.

WIDE RECEIVER

One final position that we will throw into the mix and that’s wide receiver. The two players who are going to be listed as starters: Nico Ragaini and Diante Vines, should be pretty secure in the idea that they will get significant snaps. Obviously, stronger feelings there towards Ragaini because of his level of experience, but Vines has made strides.

The mystery will be who are the next three wide receivers as far as playing time? It really doesn’t feel like Iowa will go beyond five players as far as a rotation among the group. Kaleb Brown will almost certainly be in that mix. He’s the transfer from Ohio State with big play potential and Iowa needs big play guys on the outside.

The other player who is likely to make that group could be Seth Anderson. The son of former NFL standout Willie “Flipper” Anderson, was hurt in the spring with a hamstring issue. Now he’s healthy and impressing in practice and the playing time arrow is moving up.

The third player will be an interesting competition. Could it be Alec Wick, who started earlier last season? What about a healthy Jacob Bostick? He has size and playmaking ability down the field. Or perhaps one of the true freshman will push for snaps by the end of fall camp.

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