You might be like me, in the fact that you most likely eat, sleep, and breathe Iowa Football. Unfortunately for you and I, college football will not begin another season for about 8 months or so. With that being said, it's never too early to get excited about Hawkeye football, or to attempt to project where those Hawks will be slotted come August camp.

 

QB

7 Spencer Petras OR

8 Alex Padilla

5 Joey Labas

 

It's too early to tell who will be under center in 2022. In past QB competitions under Ferentz, the "new kid" has overtaken the incumbent most of the time. Stanzi took over for JC6, Beathard unseated Rudock, and Stanley moved past Wiegers. Neither Petras nor Padilla were effective enough in 2021 to hold onto the job, or be a clear-cut favorite heading into 2022. My guess is that it's Petras' job to lose.

 

RB

25 Gavin Williams

4 Leshon Williams

 

Due to an injury to Ivory Kelly-Martin and a bowl opt-out from Tyler Goodson, the Williams brothers (not related, although that would be cool) were the top two tailbacks in the Citrus Bowl. Both are powerful runners with underrated speed. True freshman Kaleb Johnson could be next in line.

 

FB

38 Monte Pottebaum

40 Turner Pallissard

 

The top two fullbacks are back, which should aid a running attack that was lacking at times in 2021. Both are seniors, so we'll wait until 2023 to become concerned about team depth.

 

TE

84 Sam LaPorta

85 Luke Lachey

 

LaPorta's return is a welcome one for the offense. Iowa's leading receiver in 2021, along with his backup, sophomore Luke Lachey, will be big targets. Expect a lot of balls thrown to this group, no matter who's throwing to them.

 

WR-X

6 Keagan Johnson

14 Brody Brecht

WR-Z

89 Nico Ragaini

10 Arland Bruce IV

WR-Y

16 Charlie Jones

29 Jackson Ritter

 

The numbers may not suggest it due to poor QB play, but this group of wide receivers is a talented and reliable bunch. Keagan Johnson and Arland Bruce IV debuted as key cogs, and they should pair nicely with the returning experience of Jones and Ragaini. Ritter played a lot in the bowl game, so he figures to be the 5th guy.

 

LT

78 Mason Richman

74 David Davidkov

 

LG

73 Cody Ince

75 Josh Volk

 

C

63 Justin Britt

54 Matt Fagan

 

RG

77 Connor Colby

76 Tyler Elsbury OR

69 Tyler Endres

 

RT

56 Nick DeJong OR

79 Jack Plumb

 

The backup linemen are tough to predict, since Iowa did not have a lot of big blowouts in 2021, and as a result most of the projected 2nd teamers didn't play a lot. The starters should be fairly set, however, with the experienced Ince taking over for Kyler Schott at left guard, and Justin Britt sliding into center. A group that struggled mightily in 2021 showed a lot of improvement in the Citrus Bowl and is hopefully a sign of things to come.

 

DE

92 John Waggoner

98 Chris Reames

 

DT

99 Noah Shannon OR

91 Lukas Van Ness

 

DT

85 Logan Lee

94 Yahya Black OR

95 Logan Jones

 

DE

13 Joe Evans OR

45 Deontae Craig

-- Aaron Graves

 

Evans probably takes over for Zach VanValkenburg, although he did not play a lot of run downs last year, which makes me think Craig will push him for playing time. A lot of depth and talent at the tackle spots. Should be a fun group to watch once again.

 

WLB

44 Seth Benson

36 Mike Timm OR

46 Logan Klemp

 

MLB

31 Jack Campbell

34 Jay Harris

 

Leo/Cash

5 Jestin Jacobs

37 Kyler Fisher

 

Campbell, the nation's leading tackler, is back to wreck havoc on opposing offenses one more time. Seth Benson is also back after a great season as well. Dane Belton declared for the draft, and Iowa will miss his ball skills in pass coverage next season. Jacobs takes over, and it looks as if the Hawks will run more three linebacker sets this season. 

 

CB

27 Jermari Harris OR

22 Terry Roberts

7 Reggie Bracy

 

FS

30 Quinn Schulte OR

-- Xavier Nwankpa

15 Dallas Craddieth

 

SS

26 Kaevon Merriweather

29 Sebastian Castro

 

CB

33 Riley Moss

3 Cooper DeJean

 

A secondary that helped the Hawks lead the nation in interceptions returns oozing with talent. Moss returns after a stellar 2021 campaign that saw him win Big Ten DB of the year despite him missing games with a knee injury. Matt Hankins is gone after a great career, as is Jack Koerner. Both missed time with injury, and Jermari Harris and Quinn Schulte become the likely starters after replacing Hankins and Koerner in 2021. The amount of injuries this group dealt with in 2021 without missing a beat is astonishing, and the returnees make up one of the best position groups in college football.

 

K

1 Aaron Blom

96 Lucas Amaya

 

P

9 Tory Taylor

45 Nick Phelps

 

LS

39 Luke Elkin

97 Liam Reardon

 

KR

16 Charlie Jones

25 Gavin Williams

 

PR

16 Charlie Jones

3 Cooper DeJean

 

No surprise, the special teams unit was again dominate under Levar Woods. Kicker Caleb Shudak is gone, leaving a big question mark at the position. Blom was listed second on the depth chart all of last season, so he gets the first crack. Iowa has had a decade + of solid placekicking, so hopefully Blom fills those shoes without issue. Luke Elkin solidified Iowa's longsnapping position last year, and Charlie Jones is back as a top tier weapon in the return game. Oh, and not to mention, the best punter in America and Australia returns as well.

 

So, that's my best guess at the 2022 depth chart. Hit the comments with your thoughts, concerns, and your own projections and/or adjustments.