Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - BREAKTHROUGH? Iowa Hawkeyes WR Room Must DELIVER for Tim Lester in 2026

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Iowa passing game needs more from the wide receiver room, plain and simple. If that group takes even a modest step forward, suddenly the entire passing game and this offense looks a whole lot different in 2006. You are Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Hey, welcome in. I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast.

Starting point is 00:00:36 Today's episode is brought to you by Fandul. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Head to Fandual.com to get started. We're going to take a look at the Diamond and other series win for the Iowa baseball team. We'll talk about that and softball concluding their regular season. We will also be joined by Tom Kaker from hawkeyearport.com. He was at Kinnick Stadium a couple of Saturdays ago and we'll get his perspective on what he saw on the field who's going to be the leader at the quarterback position between Jeremy

Starting point is 00:01:08 Heklinsky and Hank Brown and a whole lot more coming up with Tom Kaker. But we begin today with the wide receiver position because a week ago, I went back and I went through and went with what my depth chart looks like coming out of spring practice. I went position by position. And for whatever reason, I just jumped over the wide receivers. Had in my notes and didn't get there. So today we are going to dive into that position because its importance cannot be overstated. As we've seen here these last couple of seasons, though we've seen plenty of improvements

Starting point is 00:01:38 from the Iowa offense, putting points on the board. The running game has definitely taken a step forward over these last two years under Tim Lester, the new offensive coordinator. The passing game has not taken that big jump. And we have not seen, I think, the improvements that a lot of us believed we were going to see after the change at OC getting this new system in here. And it just hasn't worked. Now a big reason for that, certainly a year ago, was the injury to Mark Garnowski. What they went through at that spot with Garnowski, dealing with the shoulder surgery that he had in the offseason, we saw Gernowski as a thrower, just not get there at the level we anticipated. By the end of the year, things had certainly improved for Markov.

Starting point is 00:02:18 Last year, Iowa threw for 143 yards per game. 143. That is not a winning market. It is towards the bottom, once again, of college football year after year after year. It feels like we're having this conversation through for 18161 yards a season ago. And Kronowski, first couple of games of the year didn't even get to 100. Struggled mightily against Albany, struggled against Iowa State on the road. It was not pretty. Even in game three against UMass, who we saw how awful that team was. They threw for 179.

Starting point is 00:02:48 The regular season high came that road game against Rutgers, a late touchdown, big pass up the sideline to Dayton Howard. They threw for 186 in that game. Well, Karnowski threw for 186. in that one. And you go through at the Penn State game. He had 68 yards passing in that game as Iowa pulled off the victory 25, 24 against the Nittney Lions, but he also had 130 yards on the ground. And he had a rushing touchdown in every single game this year outside of one. That was a Michigan state game. Finally, in the final game of the year, in the bowl game against Vanderbilt, got over 200 yards, 212, and we definitely saw that passing game take a step forward.

Starting point is 00:03:26 Same thing in the Nebraska game in the regular season finale. It felt like, finally got their legs underneath them and understanding what Garnowski did best. I thought Tim Lester did a good job of that and obviously utilizing his legs. But secondarily is what you had and just getting that passing game, all the nuances that they were trying to figure out. Well, a reason for that is a wide receiver position. And that's what we're going to talk about today is out at wide out. Yes, the tight ends look like they're going to be incredible coming into the season. We've seen that plenty of times in the past.

Starting point is 00:03:55 And you start at wide receiver, obviously, with Reese Vander Zee. Vander Z who has had an injury plagued first two seasons on campus. We see the size. How about the contested balls that he can go up and get a physical specimen, definitely there, but had the weird foot injury walking up the steps right before the season began. That definitely debilitated the wide receiver room, certainly in the early portions of the season. And just a security blanket. You also had another guy that at least showed a little something a couple of years before.

Starting point is 00:04:22 That was Jared Bowie, and he was out for the whole season last year. So you're down a couple of guys. Dayton Howard, you saw some good things out of the big-bodied wide receiver, good size at 6-5, 215 pounds, had a couple of big catches against USC, had a touchdown, had the big grab, as I mentioned, against Rutgers, you have that. KJ Parker's a guy, I thought, that we saw definitely glimpses of here during the spring once again. And he was a guy that's been talked about as a playmaker, not big, 5-10, but just goes up and gets balls. A couple of the other guys that have been on campus now.

Starting point is 00:04:52 Terrence Smith will be a redshirt freshman this year. Another big body wide receiver at 6'3 from Illinois. This is a guy that people are hoping can continue to build himself up and get into the mix. But when we're talking about the newbies, that's really where this conversation begins with the Iowa wide receiver room and how it can be different this year. You start with Tony Diaz. And we're running out of superlatives for Tony Diaz, all the buzz, all the hype that is coming in after transferring in from Utah, Rio Grande Valley. You might be saying to yourself, boy, We're counting on a guy from UTRGV.

Starting point is 00:05:27 That's going to be the big ticket item that is going to change this Iowa passing game this season. And I get it. I understand the reason you want to pump the brakes. We played this song and dance before. We have been hyped up about the wide receiver room and not that they're going to be at Ohio State's level. Nobody expects that. Not even that they're going to be in the top half of the Big Ten. But as we talked about here a while back at the quarterback position when the Iowa quarterback

Starting point is 00:05:52 back room was ranked last in the Big Ten by a writer out there, even if he get in the top 12. And maybe that's the same kind of thing for Iowa. The Diaz hype is real. Now, he got banged up at the end of spring practice. That is something that needs to change. And with both him and Evan James coming in this season, that is something that Kirk Farrants mentioned is those guys got to get healthy. And when you read between the lines of what Kirk was saying, I think more than anything,

Starting point is 00:06:18 it is just a factor that you need both of those guys to understand the rigors. of playing in the Big Ten because neither of these guys are big. Diaz is listed at 511-176. James 511 170 pounds. It's the physicality and being able to stay healthy throughout the course of the year. I think you definitely have that part of it that becomes part of the conversation with both those guys

Starting point is 00:06:39 is are they going to be able to be out there playing 60 snaps a game and being able to do it and hold up throughout the course of the season. Speaking of new guys, another guy that I'm really intrigued by Xavier Stinson. There was a lot of talk about him. good size 6-2-200 pounds. This is a guy that had a lot of opportunities at other colleges and made the decision to come to Iowa City, Xavier Stimson, if he can be a guy in year number one as a true freshman

Starting point is 00:07:03 that can get out there and at least be part of the rotation this season. What other newbie kind of, we'll just wait and see as Lance Begley, who came in from SMU. Now, he was a walk-on at SMU, so I don't think your expectations should be through the roof by any means, but maybe just a name to file away, 6-2-994 pounds, where's number 88? You had a grab in the spring practice

Starting point is 00:07:25 I thought looked pretty solid overall. So just another one to throw in the mix. Overall, it comes down to Tim Lester now being able to put it forward. Because to be able to survive year after year, averaging a year ago, 143 yards per game, that was the number for the Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:07:42 In 2024, 131 passing yards per game. If you can bump that number up, even averaging 185 yards passing per game, something like that, regardless of who the quarterback is. If it's Jeremy Hecklinsky, if it's Hank Brown, whatever it is, you need to do that. But there's your look at the wide receiver position. Apologies last week, skipping over it.

Starting point is 00:08:02 Bad work out of me. We continue here, Lockdown Hawkeyes. Let's go over and talk to Tom Kaker. Hawkeye Report.com, one of the best Hawkeye websites out there. We'll get his perspective from spring practice. Put a bow on that as we continue. Stay right there. We continue with Tom Kaker on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast.

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Starting point is 00:09:18 from start to finish. So head to Fandual.com to get started. That's Fandual.com. Fandual, play your game. Trent, kind of back with you once again on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We are your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. Had an opportunity on Friday to talk with Tom Kekert from hawkeye report.com.

Starting point is 00:09:44 Breaking down spring football with Tom Kekert as he joins us. I want to go back to last Friday just real quick because you and Trent were both kind of daydreamers about Logan Jones being bear. And your wish came true, Tom Ginkert. How about that? I was so excited about that just because they needed a center. And Lojo's a good guy to have there. So, yeah, because over the years, as a Bears fan, they haven't collected many Iowa players. So now I got a couple, you know, at the Lori, got Lojo got, I think Luke Elkins still on the practice squad. So got a couple guys out there now. Seven NFL draft picks for the Hawkeyes tying program record of what they were able to do.

Starting point is 00:10:18 And now you look forward. Who's going to be the next one and not just the next draftics that we're going to see? but who's the next first rounder? Get out your crystal ball. If it's on the roster now? Yes. Boy, that's a great question. I wrote something early this week. I think it might have been Monday.

Starting point is 00:10:31 I wrote something about what draft prospects for 2027. Here's the interesting thing, guys. There's only 10 seniors on high roster. And none of them and none of them are like, boy, that guy's for sure going to get fixed. Now, that junior class has three guys that I think have a really good chance to probably be selected next year one of them on the defensive side Zach Lutmer I think he'll but I first round no um the

Starting point is 00:11:01 the guys that probably have the best chance um Kate Cape Piper and Trevor Loutke Lout okay all right yeah Trevor Loke I think Trevor's got a good shot at getting picked left tackle that can move a little bit and and you know past block I think there's a ton of value

Starting point is 00:11:20 there the other. The other kind of maybe off the beaten path one what if DJ Voname has a Dauce Clark like season this year and he has a T.J. Hawkinson-like decision to make where you know he's just

Starting point is 00:11:36 finishing up his red shirt sophomore year but boy it's just too big of an opportunity to pass up. I think it would be and yeah he has a big year could be talking about D.J. Vonamee. Well, let's go back to last Saturday, Tom.

Starting point is 00:11:53 And obviously the question that we've asked everybody this week, and we're going to ask you as well, because I respect your opinion, Hicklinsky or Brown, who impressed you the most, or was that they both had their moments? Where are you? What did you see quarterback-wise last week? That was 6-0-1-5-thous-other for me. It was just Heklinsky mobility, probably a little bit better,

Starting point is 00:12:20 you know, completed more pass. But Hank had a couple of throws where you're like, boy, that's really good. And the other thing that we didn't have was a lot of the wide receivers that are going to actually catch footballs were just not out there. Even though Reese Fandersy was out there a little bit. It was a little bit because they shut guys down quick because the last thing you want is to have some guy blow out of knee or something in the last practice of the spring. so they were very careful. They had Tony Diaz and some of the other guys were out. So it was hard to really kind of gauge things.

Starting point is 00:13:01 I don't know, slight edge to Hank Brown, but I don't know how you say one over the other. We've talked a tonne about Tony Diaz. Can you tell us a little bit more about Evan James, the other wide receiver transfer? There was also buzz about him, Speedster, big guy, and with both Diaz and James, I think both those guys,

Starting point is 00:13:20 got some work to do in the offseason in the wait room and working with Coach Ray and building themselves up. But what can you tell us about Evan James? And do you anticipate at minimum he's going to be a pretty important rotational piece of wide receiver? Yeah, I think he's going to be in the mix for playing time for sure. And, you know, he's a guy that is coming in from Furman, had 65 receptions for almost 800 yards, eight TDs last year. And the thing that I've heard about him was, got kind of dinged up early.

Starting point is 00:13:52 And then he got healthy and really impressed them quickly and then kind of got dinged up again. So like you said, he's going to have to get stronger and get a little bit bigger. But he's a guy that's going to be in that rotation of receivers, I think, for sure. You know, you probably want five, six guys that you can rotate out there at receiver. And I think as long as he's healthy, he's going to, he's going to be one of those guys. both he and Diaz have got to put on some weight. I'm talking to Tim Lester a little bit. He's just like, yeah, those guys got to get bigger

Starting point is 00:14:26 if they're going to survive in the Big Ten. So that's going to be the next couple months for both those guys is going to be, let's get up to 180, 185, something like that, realistically and get stronger and sturdy for the upcoming season. What about special teams, Tom? Any punter catch your eye of the kickers who looked better to you? Let's go to special teams. I tell you what, out of the two punters,

Starting point is 00:14:56 I think the Philpott kid who's transferred over from Simpson was, I think, at Waukee Northwest, he's the guy that was getting the first team reps. So I think maybe he might be the guy out of the gate, at least right now that has the edge. Kadenberg did not kick, so it was the kid from, the kid from North Dakota State that Sturis High School. Yeah, Ozick. He's probably the guy, I think, right now.

Starting point is 00:15:25 But neither of those two guys have that power leg that Drew Stevens has, at least at this point in their career, or Drew would power through 55-yarders. These are kind of floaters that are going up. But pretty good accuracy, I thought, from OZIC, at least what we saw that day. We jump over to defense and hard to take a whole lot there. Is it going to be free safety ultimately for Zach Lutmer?

Starting point is 00:15:58 Obviously, they can play them in any of the five defensive back positions. Is it that? And if that's the case, who becomes the cash if it is free safety for Lutmer? Yeah, it seems like that's where Phil is trending towards. And I kind of thought maybe he'd try and do something else. but that free safety position is just so important in terms of knowing the defense and you have to know the defense to call it out everything and get people in the right spot. But the thing I worry about was that for Iowa is they really need Lutmer's playmaking ability

Starting point is 00:16:30 and that kind of takes that away at least at some level. So I think right now Jacob Wallace seems like the guy that might be the cash, maybe Godfrey. One of those two guys, I think probably the odds-on favorite to be the cash this year. Phil seems to be really high on Wallace and some of the other guys I was talking to Deshaun Lee about him and his eyes just light up because he's just like, this kid's really special. He's really good. So I kind of lean Wallace right now.

Starting point is 00:17:07 Kenny, I don't remember him from last year. He played very little, right? Yeah, he played at the end of the end. of the year. It was a play against Nebraska, I think. They forced to fumble, something like that. He and Godfrey were both kind of making off few plays against the Huskers. So, yeah, I, he's one of those guys they got kind of late in the process, too.

Starting point is 00:17:29 So he was kind of flying under the radar and they ended up getting him. And Phil just love, I mean, every time we talk to Phil about defensive backs, he brings up Wally, as he calls him. So he just, I think he's a guy to watch. Class of 27 quarterback is in the fold. Braden Santi Bayans has made his commitment to Iowa. He's a guy to split time at high school last year,

Starting point is 00:17:52 not eye-popping numbers, but a really good athlete. I think athleticism is kind of the thing that stands out with him. Yeah. It was interesting because after Iowa missed out on Dick Naurot, the kid from the Chicago area, that was kind of a legacy recruit. And by the way,

Starting point is 00:18:09 Pete Naco's from On 3 had a story about, some of those elite 11 quarterbacks that Jake is one of those guys and some of the talk was that those guys were the average salary is like a half million bucks for a freshman quarterback at level so I think that may have been one of the driving reasons because I can rest sure I don't believe that Iowa was going to give

Starting point is 00:18:36 that kind of cash to a guy who hasn't played it down in college So anyway, not that I'd say any chase the dollar, but it was just, you know, if you're going to use that as one of your criteria, it might not lend itself to Iowa. But go ahead. No, I was just about to say I was going to change. I was going to go to basketball. We kind of thought that there was going to be an extension coming coaching-wise in the state. Didn't know that it would be TJ's news that came first. I thought that, you know, toward the end of the tournament, seemingly things were headed in the right direction.

Starting point is 00:19:09 how close as McCulloughman gets to coming up with a contract suitable to both parties? Are they still negotiating? Where's that at? Any idea, Tom? Yeah, I haven't heard any more updates. I thought it would have to. I know they kind of had agreed to kind of the basics of the deal. And that was back when the tournament was going on, you know, years and kind of financial terms.

Starting point is 00:19:36 but I think one of the things that coaches are looking for now is some assurances on NIL. Because if you don't have that money, you're going to be in trouble. If you don't have, if you're a Big Ten coach, I mean, Dusty May was talking about it. I think yesterday in an interview, he was like, yeah, we had spent $10 million last year. We're going to be spending more than that this year for sure because we have to keep up with everything. So it is imperative for coaches that they have to have the financial resources to go out and get players that they need and to keep players that they want to keep. One of the big names on the board for the class of 2007. We'll be off the board next week. Donovan Davis, a four-star is going to make his commitment.

Starting point is 00:20:24 Both Iowa and Iowa State are involved for his services and made his final five along with Marquette. Wisconsin, there was one other in there. lean Iowa State is that what you're here now Donovan Davis or the Hawkeyes still got a shot yeah everything I've heard is just indications are that Iowa State and I PJ does well with those Wisconsin he sure does he just does he just gets kids out of Wisconsin and he's got connections with those kids and I think he's gonna that that would be my guess that he ends up cyclone and now we'll just we'll have to wait to see what What Ben McCollum wants to do with that class,

Starting point is 00:21:05 I know he's going to be spending a lot of his time on the point guard position. So they've got a live period coming up May 15th to 17th. Will they'll be out on the road? So I would suspect that Ben will be front and center for a couple of the point cards that they're after. Tom Kekker at Hawkeye Report.com joins us, Tom, one more time. Let's do the Chuck Long charity auction. When it ends, it's coming to. to its conclusion here the next little while.

Starting point is 00:21:35 What can you tell us? Yeah, it's the 29th annual, it's the 29th annual Chuck Long charity auction and then benefits the Children's Therapy Center of the Quad Cities. A lot of great items up to forbid. There's some crazy stuff that Chuck's cleaning out the ball with, like his Rose Bowl watch, given a lot of 86. So got a polo from the 86 Rose Bowl team that he's given away too. So you can wear that old-fashioned stuff.

Starting point is 00:22:10 Just so many cool things. And for not just sports fans or Iowa fans, but there's Neckers Jewelry and there's some, you know, Panera bread and all kinds of stuff. There's even a refrigerator in there that they're given away. And some historical things like the program for the 1939 Iowa Notre Dame game that kind of launched Nile Kinnick to the Heisman Trophy. So just some really cool collector's items.

Starting point is 00:22:39 So, yeah, you can go to Give Butter. I'm there right now. Yeah. And hit the auction. I think if you just go in there and type in Check Long Charity Auction, it'll take it right to you or check out my social media pages. We've got some videos of different things. there's a certain former Iowa women's basketball player that we have an autographed jersey from that

Starting point is 00:23:04 and also a stand-up of young Caitlin Clark in an Iowa uniform too. That's Tom Kaker at hawkeye report.com, the Chuck Long Charity auction at a great event that he is involved with over in the Quad Cities each and every year. We come back on the other side and it has been a weekend for the Iowa baseball team, another series win, but can't get the sweep. We'll take a look at where they stack up in the Big Ten, and their look forward as they make their way, trying to make their way back to the Big Ten tournament.

Starting point is 00:23:34 Plus, a look at softball as their season comes to a close in the regular season. That's all next. Stay right there. This is Locked on Hawkeyes. Trent, kind of back with you one final time. Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. If you're watching us on YouTube, hit that subscribe button. Just takes a moment.

Starting point is 00:23:56 Podcast side, five-star reviews. All that helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. As we wrap things up here, Locked on Hawkeyes, Let's go to the diamond. The softball team needed to get one final win and fall by two in the regular season finale against Purdue. They will be just short of qualifying for the Big Ten tournament. The top 12 teams qualify there. It's a single elimination format that they have set up on the softball side of things.

Starting point is 00:24:24 So they will be out of the Big Ten tournament year number one for Stacey May Johnson, who came over. and after being at Fresno State had a really good third year with that program. Former Hawkeye player, look, this is going to take a while. I mean, you think back of the tumult that they went through a year ago, finished the season right at 500, 27 and 27 on the year, but it's a building process. And it's going to take some time, certainly, to get there.

Starting point is 00:24:49 Would have loved to get that one final victory and get into the Big Ten tournament, at least get to experience that with this group. But a lot of work still to be done over there. And they feel good, I think, about what they have going forward with Stacey Mae Johnson. going into year number two at the helm. Rick Heller, well, hopefully he's got a bunch more years in front of him. Iowa sits at 500 now in the conference at 12 and 12 on the year. Here's a crazy thing, too.

Starting point is 00:25:13 UCLA, we got two weekends left. Iowa will finish up with Nebraska and then in Des Moines as they'll face off against Purdue to wrap things up. Iowa currently sits in eighth place in the Big Ten, but UCLA has already wrapped this thing up. There are six games remaining for most everybody in the league, and they have already clinched the season title, 24 and 0 in the Big 10, 43 and 4 overall. The likely number one overall seed when we get to the NCAA baseball tournament.

Starting point is 00:25:42 But back to the Hawkeyes, they take the games against Illinois on both Saturday and Friday and Saturday, getting the two victories there. Still, maybe an outside path for them to get the NCAA tournament. Not only they have to be red hot here, likely have to win the series against Nebraska. If they do that, even taking two out of three, which is going to be a tournament. tall task. Then they probably are going to have to sweep Purdue, who's been one of the surprises of the Big Ten this season. Five and one down the stretch. Can't lose the midweek game coming up on Tuesday against St. Thomas, who is awful. They're not in 33 this year. Can't afford to lose that one.

Starting point is 00:26:16 And then you've got to do work in the Big Ten tournament. Still a lot that needs to be done for Iowa to get there. They're currently 79th in the RPI.I. Going to have to jump up a bunch there, even to have a glimmer of hope to be an NCAA tournament team this year. Or here's here's the easier path. Well, it's not easy by any means. Just go out there and win the Big Ten tournament. Look, this team can swing with most everybody. They have really, really swung the bats.

Starting point is 00:26:39 Well, it's the depth of pitching. Just has not been there. And as they've gone into the portal, had a couple of guys that just have not panned out at that front. That's been the big question mark there. It's just the depth of pitching by the time they get to Sunday, kind of who's left there in both the rotation in the bullpen. But overall, Rick Heller, once again,

Starting point is 00:26:56 another chance to qualify, again, consecutive streak. big 10 tournament and that's a lot certainly for Iowa baseball. Thanks for being with us today here on Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast, a lot more football content. I want to start to talk some more basketball again this week. We're recruiting starting to heat up. We're going to get into that as well here on your program, Locked on Hawkeyes. Thanks for being with this and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We will talk to you again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - BREAKTHROUGH? Iowa Hawkeyes WR Room Must DELIVER for Tim Lester in 2026

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