Iowa Football Preview: The Defensive Backs

Much like the linebacker group, the Iowa defensive backfield will benefit from players returning for one more season. That, along with a talented group of players who have continue to rise up the ranks, gives the Hawkeyes one of the deeps position groups in the Big Ten.

Essentially, everyone of consequence from the secondary in 2023 is back, minus Cooper DeJean. Obviously that is a huge loss. DeJean was an All American and second round NFL Draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, but he also missed the last four games of the year with a broken leg so Iowa was able to adjust.

Quinn Schulte and Jemari Harris were two players who decided to return for one more year. Schulte continues to be the leader on the back end of the defense and the player everyone looks to when it comes to where they need for each play. Harris is a very experienced and talented cornerback.

There is also a rising star in Xavier Nwanikpa, who seems poised for a breakout year, even though he might end up sharing time with Sebastian Castro when Iowa is in a conventional 4-3 defense.

Bottom line, this is a deep and talented group of players in the defensive backfield. A strong two deep across the board.

LC: John Nestor (SO), TJ Hall (JR)

RC: Jermari Harris (GR), Deshaun Lee (SO)

SS: Xavier Nwankpa (JR), Koen Entringer (SO)

FS: Quinn Schulte (GR), Zach Lutmer (rFR)

THE BIG QUESTION

How does this all shake out at cornerback?

Heading into fall camp it certainly felt like while there was a two deep, it feels like it’s a pretty wide open race for those two starting jobs. After all, Harris and Lee has started multiple games and Hall and Nestor have played quite a few snaps.

Nestor is certainly a player on the rise. He has the trust of Phil Parker and that says a lot. This might be surprising to say, but of the four, I think he has the highest leg up in the race to be a starter. One thing to remember about Hall is that last year he was hurt basically what felt like the entire season. But, when he was healthy in the past, Hall showed plenty of promise.

One thing to remember is that Parker isn’t always married to keeping his players on one side or the other, so that could open the door for Hall to move to the other side or maybe Lee jumps over to the left side? Lee was a starter part of last season and did a nice job. Finally, Harris is a steady and solid player who looked solid last year once he returned to the field of play.

Bottom line, fall camp will decide who starts, as it should be, and this race will be a competitive one.

What about the future?

Like the linebacker position, the future will be on full display after this year. Schulte and Harris are gone for sure. If Castro pops back to strong safety, he’s gone too. There’s also a chance that Nwankpa could jump to the NFL if he has a strong year.

One thing that is clear talking to Parker, he’s very high on the potential of Entringer and Lutmer. He was singing their praises on our recent podcast with him and he would love to figure out a way to get them on the field more this year. Couple those two with Nestor and Lee, along with another year from Hall and keep an eye on true freshman Jaylen Watson. Parker is high on his first year player.

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