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Iowa Football: Top Players To Watch For Against Northern Illinois
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- Iowa Football: Top Players To Watch For Against Northern Illinois
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Football is finally back in Iowa City.
Iowa opens its 2026 season on what looks to be a warm Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium against Northern Illinois (3:15 p.m., BTN).
Just about every player will be placed under a microscope during this game, but we've narrowed our list down to the top nine you should be watching for.
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Here it is:
QB Jeremy Hecklinski
These first two names go hand-in-hand with one another. Iowa hasn't announced who will take the first snap against Northern Illinois, but both quarterbacks are primed and ready for the opportunity whenever it comes .
Hawkeye fans were very impressed what they saw from Hecklinski at Kids' Day on Aug. 15 , but can he carry it into a live game situation? He's never started a game in his college career, so the pressure of playing in front of 70,000 anxious Iowa fans won't be easy.
If Tim Lester opens the playbook up, that will play right into Hecklinski's strengths. He's a very aggressive passer and loves to make plays outside of the pocket, so it will be interesting to see how Lester plays this one out.
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QB Hank Brown
While Hecklinski is the "gunslinger" of the duo, Brown is a quarterback that prefers to play in the pocket and use his strong arm to torch opposing defenses. A strong offensive line will only help Brown get comfortable in this offense, but the biggest concern Hawkeye fans have with the Nashville native is his ability to handle the pressure.
Brown has had two major appearances in front of the Hawkeye faithful - relieving an injured Mark Gronowski in the fourth quarter against eventual national champion Indiana and at Kids' Day a few weeks ago. Both of those spots didn't go Brown's way, so he'll need to prove he can handle the heat on Saturday.
RB L.J. Phillips Jr.
Iowa may have one of its best skill position groups in quite some time, and one of the men at the forefront of it is L.J. Phillips Jr. The South Dakota transfer tallied nearly 2,000 yards at the FCS level last season, and figures to share the bulk of the carries with longtime starter Kamari Moulton.
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Standing at 5-foot-9 and weighing 225 pounds, Phillips possesses a powerful combination of speed and strength, all of which should be on display against a brand-new Northern Illinois defense.
WR Tony Diaz
Few players on this Iowa team have received as much hype as Diaz has this offseason. He comes over from Texas Rio Grande Valley after collecting a Southland Conference-best 875 yards for the Vaqueros last season and even garnered interest from Alabama once he entered the transfer portal.
Could "The Boogeyman" be the explosive wideout the Hawkeyes have lacked for years? Saturday could be a telltale sign.
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C Cael Winter
Replacing Logan Jones at center is walk-on Cael Winter. Winter's teammates had very positive things to say about him over the summer, and his comfortability with the center position led to Ferentz opting to select Winter over veterans Kade Pieper and Michael Myslinski.
The offensive line has been dominant for the last two seasons, but how will Winter fare in his first big start?
TE Addison Ostrenga
DJ Vonnahme is unquestionably the No. 1 tight end in 2026, but what about the rest of the room? Thomas Meyer, Zach Ortwerth, and Mason Woods are pieces that could make an impact as the year wears on, but for now, expect Iowa to see what Addison Ostrenga can do.
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Ostrenga was set to be the No. 1 man last season before suffering a season-ending injury against Iowa State. He's now back fully healthy and ready for his final season of college football, so it will be interesting to see how he performs against the Huskies.
DB Zach Lutmer
Lutmer has already proven that he can do it all on the football field, so there really isn't much of a point to talk about how he fits in with the rest of the secondary. The real reason why Iowa fans should keep an eye on him this Saturday is because of his potential impact on special teams.
Standout returner Kaden Wetjen exhausted his college eligibility and is now making preseason headlines in the NFL, so the Hawkeyes needed someone else to fill the massive void. Iowa's first depth chart didn't list returners, but Ferentz has already hinted that Lutmer will return punts in 2026, so keep an eye out for some electricity in the return game.
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DB Jacob Wallace
The Hawkeyes' secondary is filled with youth this year, but one of the youngest members of this unit that will play a crucial role on Saturday is Jacob Wallace. Wallace earned limited action at the end of the 2025 season, but he's a name that has quickly vaulted up the depth chart because of his his athleticism.
Wallace was a McDonald's All-American nominee as a high school basketball player, and that athleticism is going to be put to the test immediately. The Maryland native will play the cash position, which is Iowa's hybrid linebacker/cornerback spot.
K Caden Buhr
Rounding out the list is new kicker Caden Buhr, who has the tough challenge of replacing four-year starter Drew Stevens. Hawkeye fans may be surprised to see Buhr's name in the No. 1 kicking spot instead of North Dakota State Eli Ozick, but Ferentz said he gave Buhr the nod because of his consistency.
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That consistency was on display at Kids' Day, but kicking in front of 70,000 people will be another story. He certainly has the leg for it, though, having kicked a 57-yarder in high school.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io
