The Iowa Hawkeyes had 7 players drafted this past weekend, a record for the program. The two year stack for the program is 12, most recently matched by the 2010, 2011, and 2012 draft classes when six Hawks were taken each year. Unlike that stretch of seasons, Iowa was unable to capitalize on the same level of team success as they had by hoisting the lone NY6 bowl trophy of Kirk Ferentz’s tenure.
So what does it say that Iowa is able to churn out NFL-caliber athletes at a consistently high rate yet
is unable to convert it into high-level team success? Have they underachieved?
The draftees have not been at the most important positions
The players making the most in the NFL right now are quarterbacks, rush ends, wide receivers, tackles, and cornerbacks. Among those positions, only Mason Richman (7th round, 2025), Gennings Dunker (3rd round, 2026), Kaden Wetjen (4th round, 2026), TJ Hall (7th round, 2026), and Max Llewellyn (7th round, 2026) have fallen into those categories. And, let’s be real, Wetjen was drafted primarily for his returning prowess more than his abilities as a receiver (though he flashed in the lead up to the Senior Bowl).
Big Ten teams who made the playoffs in either of the last two years have had the high impact positions taken in the last two drafts:
- Indiana: 10 overall, 2 first rounders (QB, WR), another QB, another WR, & a CB
- Ohio State: 25 overall, 8 first rounders (2 WRs, OT, LB), another 3 ends, 3 CBs, another tackle, QB
- Oregon: 17 overall, 4 first rounders (OT), DE, QB, 2 more OTs, 2 WRs, 1 CB
- Penn State: 13 overall, 3 first rounders (DE), QB, OT, another DE
Now clearly, OSU is the outlier. 25 draft picks is hilarious. But Iowa is for the most part generating the amount of top end talent they need to challenge for a playoff berth. But the premier positions aren’t really happening. Richman & Dunker were quality Big Ten starters but didn’t have the athleticism to get drafted much higher than they were. Wetjen is not a true receiver, and Hall & Llewellyn simply aren’t enough talent at those premier positions.
And obviously the elephant in the room: no QB.
Each of Iowa’s peers has had a quarterback drafted over the last two years. For as much as I love Mark Gronowski, he did not demonstrate consistent NFL ability as a passer. Now, could he have gotten there if he had a healthy offseason to learn the offense and develop chemistry? Almost certainly. He outplayed fellow undrafted free agent Diego Pavia in the Reliaquest Zombie Outback Bowl. But those are the breaks.
Is there an NFL quarterback on this roster?
They were not top-end enough talent
Logan Jones was the highest drafted Hawkeye at 57 over the last two seasons. It took him every second of six seasons to get to that level, as his first couple of seasons at center were rough. Kaleb Johnson was a third rounder (and almost certainly would have moved the needle for the team this season) and had to strike while the iron was hot to get to the NFL. His first season was essentially non-existent in the Aaron Rodgers Rookie Doghouse. I’m sure he’s thankful Wetjen is in Pittsburgh to take over returning duties.
And areas where Iowa has had a lot of success putting guys into the league (TE & LB) just didn’t have the game-breaking ability the Hawks have had in those slots before. Luke Lachey was chronically injured and Karson Sharar was a highly dependable LB but did not have anywhere near the sideline-to-sideline prowess of a Jack Campbell or Josey Jewell.
Perhaps that changes with a breakout season from Cam Buffington or DJ Vonnahme.
Yet Iowa is not alone
Every team above Iowa in the draft this year was a playoff participant in either this year and/or last (Clemson & Penn State). But when you look at teams who had 5, 6, or 7 drafted, Iowa was in range. Oklahoma & Oregon made the playoff with 7 guys drafted but the following teams did not.
Florida, LSU, Washington, Michigan, Missouri, Notre Dame, Texas, Auburn, Tennessee.
Notre Dame was the highest achieving of the bunch. Texas rallied to 10-3. Iowa, Michigan, and Washington were at parity with 9-4 records overall. None of the SEC teams sported a winning conference record.
And as has been written before… Iowa just had some tough breaks by taking both IU & Oregon to the final minute before bowing out. If Lady Luck had been a little more on the Hawks side, perhaps they would have snuck into the playoffs at 10-2.
It’s perhaps over-indexing on the underperformance of SEC schools, but it feels like the Hawks have been right at the median “result” in terms of likely scenarios for the last two seasons.
Looking ahead
At the premier positions, if Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown can propel their seasoning in an NFL-style system under Tim Lester into on-field success, they are likely to get drafted. NFL-capable wideouts flipped the games against Indiana and Oregon down the stretch. Can Reece Vander Zee or Tony Diaz be the next Hawk drafted out wide? Trevor Lauck looks like the real deal at LT & there’s an Epenesa lurking along the DL.
None of those guys are guaranteed to leave by virtue of eligibility after this season but this could be a year for it to click and Iowa feel ahead of schedule. The Hawks play only OSU among recent Big Ten playoff teams and roadies at Michigan & Washington figure to be tough.
We’ve also seen Kirk Ferentz get fired up when his back is against the wall. The news of having 4 wins vacated will have him as focused as ever. Maybe that desire will replicate 2009 & 2015 and get the Hawks over the top in 2026 for their first playoff appearance.
Crazier things have happened.
