IOWA CITY — Kirk Ferentz said the March 26 depth chart “doesn't mean much” when he spoke to reporters during the second week of spring practice.
“You never know what August 31st will be like,” said Ferentz, who will begin his 26th season as Iowa State's head football coach in 2024.
We know a little more about May 2nd than March 26th. Iowa State's 15 spring practices have been completed, meaning 15 opportunities for the coaching staff to evaluate players. Portal departure is out of the way. (The deadline for admission to the portal was Tuesday.)
However, other variables remain. Players currently in the portal still have time to commit, and Iowa has some portal needs (particularly at quarterback). Given that Iowa currently has 87 scholarships, roster attrition (or at least a change in status) still has to occur.
And there will be a four-month offseason between now and the start of the season. A lot can (and probably will) change leading up to and during fall camp.
With those disclaimers in mind, here are The Gazette's 2024 Hawkeye depth chart projections for spring and beyond.
offense
quarterback
- Cade McNamara
- TBD Transfer Portal Quarterback or Marco Lainez
Quarterback is the Hawkeyes' most pressing need in the transfer portal. Iowa State's 2024 roster is down to three quarterbacks. Two are freshmen and the other is recovering from knee surgery.
run back
- Leshon Williams
- caleb johnson
- Kamari Moulton
Kamari Moulton's performance in the first-team offense during last month's spring open practice (splitting duties with Caleb Johnson while Leshon Williams was out) shows the redshirt freshman's rapid rise. This was the latest sign of.
fullback
- Rusty VanWetzinga
- Eli Miller or Hayden Large
Iowa State's fullback usage may look different in Tim Lester's offense, but Rusty VanWetzinga appears to be the top option when there is a fullback on the field.
tight end
- Luke Lachey
- addison ostrenga
Despite losing fourth-round NFL pick Eric Orr and undrafted free agent Steven Stilianos, tight end appears to be a strength once again for the Iowa offense in 2024.
wide receiver
- Seth Anderson
- Jarriet Bouillet
The University of Iowa's spring open practice showed how useful Kaden Wetchen can be in Tim Lester's offensive scheme. The Williamsburg native appears to be at least the No. 3 wide receiver in the state of Iowa, and there's a good case to be made for one of the top two spots.
left tackle
- mason richman
- jack dotzler
Mason Richman enters the 2024 season with a rare level of experience as he enters his fourth year as Iowa's starting left tackle.
left guard
- Tyler Ellsbury or Beau Stevens
- Cade Piper
The addition of former North Dakota center Cade Bold via the transfer portal could allow Tyler Ellsbury to compete for the starting guard spot. Bo Stevens and Nick DeJong are also strong candidates.
center
Iowa has the benefit of added depth behind center Logan Jones. Bord was the starting center for North Dakota last year, which had the highest batting average in the FCS conference at over .500.
right guard
- conor colby
- Leighton Jones
Connor Colby, like Richman, will be entering his fourth season as a starter on the Hawkeyes' offense. He has played more than 2,000 career snaps on the offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus.
right tackle
- jennings dunker
- nick dejong
Repeating Solon Beef Days Hay Bale Toss champion Jennings Dunker has the potential to perform at the All-Big Ten level in 2024 if he stays healthy. DeJong, on the other hand, could realistically play four different positions on the offensive line depending on Iowa State's needs.
defense
defense end
- Ethan Harkett
- Max Llewellyn
With Joe Evans no longer eligible (and in the NFL), Ethan Harkett is expected to take the starter role opposite Deonte Craig. Evans was the only Iowa defensive lineman to record more tackles than Harkett, who recorded six tackles in 2023.
defensive tackle
- yahya black
- Luke Gaffney, Jeff Bowie, Will Hubert, etc.
- Aaron Graves
- Jeremiah Pittman
The big question before spring practice was who would step up to the position after the obvious one-two three of Yahya Black, Aaron Graves and Jeremiah Pittman. Walk-on and former Linn-Mar standout Luke Gaffney could be part of the answer.
middle linebacker
Jay Higgins had the difficult task of succeeding Butkus Award winner Jack Campbell last year, but he exceeded expectations. Higgins totaled 171 tackles in a season, tying a program record.
weakside linebacker
- nick jackson
- Carson Schaller
Nick Jackson's return was a bit of an unexpected (and very welcome) surprise for the Hawkeyes after the NCAA granted him a sixth season of eligibility waivers. He needs 114 more tackles by 2024 to break the NCAA career total tackle record.
leo linebacker
- Kyler Fisher
- jackson rexroth
Iowa also has the luxury of having a veteran linebacker, as Kyler Fisher has decided to return for his sixth and final season of eligibility. According to PFF, Fisher has 1,279 career snaps.
cash safety
- Sebastian Castro
- john nester
Sebastian Castro showed significant improvement from 2022 to 2023, making him one of the best defensive backs in Iowa heading into the 2024 season. It wouldn't be surprising to see him moved to strong safety when Iowa isn't using the cash position.
corner back
- jamali harris
- devin hilson
- Jon Nester or Deshaun Lee
- TJ Hall
Jon Nester, Deshaun Lee, and TJ Hall all appear to be candidates for the first-team cornerback position opposite Jamari Harris. Nester had an impressive spring, drawing comparisons to former Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Riley Moss.
strong safety
- Xavier Nwankpa
- Zach Lutmer or Kael Kolarik
Former five-star recruit Xavier Nwankpa is in his third season with the Hawkeyes. He had one interception, two pass breakups and two tackles for a loss in his first full season as a starter.
free safety
- Quinn Schulte
- park entry ringer
Quinn Schulte's return for his sixth and final year of eligibility was a big win for the secondary. He recorded one interception and four pass breakups, but was described by his teammates as a “coach on the field.”
special teams
kicker
Drew Stevens experienced some adversity at the end of last season, going 5-for-10 in November. But before that month, Stevens had won 29 of 34 games in his career.
panter
It wouldn't be fair to expect Reece Dakin to become 'Tori Taylor 2.0' any time soon, but the fellow Australian has plenty of potential to punt as Taylor's successor in the NFL. .
long snapper
Luke Elkin earned starting long snapper duties as a true freshman in 2021, and the Neenah, Wis., native never relinquished that role.
Owner
Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods said Ty Nissen has the “edge” in the race for holder. This isn't the first time the No. 1 punter isn't the No. 1 holder.
Comment: john.steppe@thegazette.com
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