Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Elite? Iowa Hawkeyes Top 10 Predictions SHOCK Fans—Trevor Lauck, Kade Pieper LEAD Bold Outlook

Starting point is 00:00:00 Ted predictions for Iowa football are here. We're putting them on record before Friday's Media Day. Breakout stars, surprises, and big numbers for the season. These predictions set the stage for the Hawkeyes' 2026 season. 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.

Starting point is 00:00:36 Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Well, we got something new for you to drink. That's right. The story coming out of Iowa City, some new beverages available that are going to help out the athletic department. We'll get into that a little bit later on today. We'll also be joined by David Eicholt from hawkeye insider.com. We'll talk with David a little bit, set the scene for Friday. Big Media Day opportunity. We'll hear from the players. We'll hear from the coaches. And we'll kick it all off with Kirk Farrants coming up at 145. and Iowa City for that. Looking forward to that. We'll talk with David there and also preview what we'll see at Kids Day on Saturday as we get to see the team actually in action. But we begin

Starting point is 00:01:16 today's program with a look at 10 predictions for the Iowa football team coming up this season. This is a list of things in varying degrees. We got some games in there, some thoughts that I think we're going to see coming up this year. Some of them bold, some of them maybe not quite as bold, but overall 10 predictions is we're going to run through and talk about a number of different things. into it here. Number one at the top of the list. Here's a bold prediction, probably bolder than some of the other ones on the list. The Iowa offensive line, of course, the Joe Moore Award winning offensive line from a year ago. Three players depart off to the NFL now as they're replacing three. But they got two absolute studs returning in Trevor Loughkechat left tackle and then in the

Starting point is 00:01:57 inside with Cade Piper, both of those guys preseason All-Americans and big expectations, certainly for both of them coming into the year. We know they're going to be good. And I think this offense line's going to be good. It is going to be very good. And here's the prediction. They're going to grade out this year once again as one of the best offensive lines in college football. They'll be graded as a top 10 offensive line from pro football focus. And on top of it, though I don't think they will repeat as the Joe Moore Award winning offensive line of the year, I do believe they'll be a semifinalist that will find out in November. They will be called one of the best 10 offensive lines in college football. That's what I believe the upside is for the big guys

Starting point is 00:02:34 up front. Let's go next and stay with the offense. Let's go to wide receiver. Now it has been a long time since wide receiver has been a big time part of this Iowa offense. In fact, you have to go back all the way to 2019. That was the last time that Iowa had a wide receiver go over 500 yards of receiving. That was Amir Smith-Marset who went for 722 that season. Also Tyrone Tracy had 589 in 2019. This year, we're going to get two again. That's right. That's the bold prediction for you. Both Tony Diaz and Reese Van der Z

Starting point is 00:03:09 both go over 500 yards receiving this season and they're not going to be alone and guys that are going to put up some numbers out of that wide receiver group. I'm a big believer. Well, if that happens, that means that somebody is going to have to get them the football. Hank Brown, Jeremy Hecklinsky. Maybe we're going to find out a little bit more about that and the rundown from things at Media Day and exactly where the situation and of course we'll get a glimpse of them then on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. Here is the bold prediction for the quarterback spot. Yes, I could go crazy right now and say that I was going to have a 3,000 yard passer.

Starting point is 00:03:45 No, we're not going to go that crazy. No, we're going to say that I was going to have a 2,000 yard passer coming up this season. You might be saying to yourself, Trent, what's the big deal? A 2,000 yard passer that happens seemingly every year for every college team out there, short of Army or Navy. Not so much in Iowa City. In fact, the last time that Iowa had a quarterback throw for over 2,000 yards in a single season, you have to go all the way back to again, 2019.

Starting point is 00:04:10 That was Nate Stanley, who actually threw for nearly 3,000 yards this year. He threw for 2,915 in that season, along with 16 touchdowns. I think they will throw for that many touchdowns plus and on top of it. One of the two, either Heck, Glinski or Brown, one of the two will go over 2,000 yards this year. And of course, with my luck, they'll both be split in time all season long, and neither of them will get to that mark. But there's a prediction for you, not the boldest of predictions, a 2,000-yard passer for Iowa football this year. We know that the special teams are going to be new look this year. And one of the biggest parts of it, not just the specialist, also the return game.

Starting point is 00:04:50 Zach Lutmer likely going to be back there for punt returns. We'll see what happens in the kick returns. I'm going to say there is a step back in production in the return game yet. Iowa still has two returns for touchdowns this year. Let's say it's one out of Lutmer, what out of the kick return game. I'm not going to put names on that one, but there's your prediction on the special teams. Two returns for touchdowns coming up this year for the Iowa special teams. Let's jump over to the defense.

Starting point is 00:05:16 And as we're looking back in the way back machine, Iowa will have a defensive back this year that gets to five interceptions. You have to go back to 2002 when Cooper DeGine had five I&Ts that season the year before. Dane Belton also with five. Zach Glutmer, he'd be the easy choice for this to get to five interceptions. This season, we'll put him on the list. Zach Glutmer gets to five, making them move back to free safety, catches a couple flyballs out there in center field, makes some big plays and comes up with five N-I-NTs this year for the first time in four seasons.

Starting point is 00:05:47 Iowa hits that mark. Let's go to the defense and the defensive line. Much maligned, a lot of question marks, and we have continued to talk about those question marks up front. But the emergence and I think the hope that Kamari Brown can be something different than what they've had recently at the defensive end position. A guy with elite athleticism, we talked about that showing up on the freaks list by Bruce Feldman. I think he's going to be used a ton in third down situations and using really playing to his strength, playing to his strength that he showed a season ago at Elon, a guy that can get to the quarterback. Iowa has not had somebody get to double-digit sacks since 2019.

Starting point is 00:06:25 We go back to that season. Once again, that was AJ Appanessa that have an 11 and a half sacks that year. Camari Brown also gets to double-digit sacks this year. That one maybe is the boldest one of the predictions that we made at this point in the season. Last year, punting took a step back. And we knew there was going to be a drop off after the graduation of Tori Taylor. We knew that was obviously going to be something that was going to happen. Reese Dakin coming in as a true freshman, as a young guy, was pretty good.

Starting point is 00:06:55 He took a step back last year. The consistency wasn't there. And now he is departed and he's in East Lansing and he'll be with Michigan State. Well, Iowa this year will improve on their mark from a year ago. Average 43.6 a game a season ago. And Tanner Philpott will improve on that mark this year. Let's say he goes north of 44 yards per punt coming up this season. A couple more predictions for you.

Starting point is 00:07:18 This one, you've heard me say it before. I do think Iowa is going to have one of the three big games to open up big then play against Michigan on the road at home against Ohio State and at Washington. I think they're going to get a victory, at least in one of those games. I do think it's going to be the first one. The game against Michigan, that is the one I think is the most likely for a victory. Iowa finds a way at minimum to get one out of that big three to kick things off in the slate coming up this season. However, the dominance against the rivals in the Big Ten comes to a close.

Starting point is 00:07:52 They take one L out of the group of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska coming up this season. I know none of us want to hear it, but it's just the odds stacked against them, the domination that they've had, 10 of 11 against Nebraska. Phil Fleck, the only victory he got with the gophers was the Cooper Dijian fair catch game. I had that one. And of course, Wisconsin, what we've seen here recently. I like Iowa and all those matchups here, but it's just a law of averages and it comes to an end, at least against one of them this season. And speaking of that, Iowa also has a head scratching loss this year. It might be one of those three games that I just mentioned, that I think a lot of us have down in the wind column for the Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:08:30 It could be that road trip to Northwestern to take on the Wildcats. They'll be in their new building by that point in the season. It'll have a couple of games under their belt also. Maybe a look-ahead factor, something crazy there, but there will be a head scratching loss in there for Iowa football this season. There it is 10 predictions for you in varying degrees of boldness throughout the course of this Iowa football. football season. A lot of them good. And if those happen, Iowa has a chance to have a very successful year overall if they hit a lot of those benchmarks. Coming back on the other side, getting ready for Iowa football. We're going to talk with David Eichold from Hawkeye Insider.

Starting point is 00:09:05 David Eicholt will be in Iowa City, as I will. I'll be broadcast in my radio show live from 11 to 1 at Jethro. Stop on by if you're in Iowa City. Grab some lunch and say hello. Love to meet a lot of our great listeners out there of Lockdown Hawkeyes, along with my radio show back in Des Moines on ESB in Des Moines and streaming everywhere on the Rush Radio Network where he can hear me each weekday from 11 till 1 o'clock. Jet throws in Iowa City on Friday from 11 to 1. Coming back on the other side, we'll talk with David Eicholt. We'll get some new names, some fresh voices, some names maybe you haven't been thinking about

Starting point is 00:09:36 for Iowa football. Some standout players will talk about it with David Eicholt next. Stay right there. This is Locked on Hawkeyes. Running a business shouldn't feel like you're trying to connect a bunch of systems that were never to work together. One app for accounting, another for inventory, another for sales, and somehow none of them talk to each other. That's where Odu comes in. Odu is an all-in-one business management software that brings every part of your business together in one powerful platform. From sales and

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Starting point is 00:10:47 Unfortunately, it didn't work at the end of the game. Still, that ingestment kept Iowa in the game and gave them an opportunity to beat the national champions. Great organizations win because operations matter. That's why you should get Odu. Try for free today at Odu.com slash lockdown. That's ODO.com slash lockdown. Odu.com slash lockdown. Trenk on I'm back with you once again here on the lockdown Hawkeyes podcast.

Starting point is 00:11:18 your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. Time to get ready for media day and get ready for Kids Day with David Ikeld from Hawkeye Insider.com. With my show The Lunch Rush and we're joined by an old friend David Icold joining us from Hawkeye Insider.com. David the calm before the storm tomorrow it'll be media day. I'll be over in Iowa City getting ready for that one. Do my show over at Jet Rose before I pop over and make my way to hear Kirk

Starting point is 00:11:47 Farrants talk and then all the players and coaches that'll be there. And then we get kids day. this is about as an important 24 hours as we're going to have getting ready for the start of the football season. Are you ready for it? Yeah, two things. One, I'm resting up a little bit today because I know the weekend's going to be a little bit chaotic. But we're going to have a bunch of content at Hawkeye Insider and two. You sound fantastic just for getting back from Las Vegas for a couple of days.

Starting point is 00:12:11 I'm not going to say I'm pleasantly surprised. I'm a little bit surprised there, Trent. I thought it would take it out of you a little bit more. No, see, you know, the old man, I'm still, I'm still kicking. Those young bucks, those guys probably struggling a little bit more than me. And I had the, I had the fun meter in the red. I had a great time out there. I was pushing it, having a great time.

Starting point is 00:12:30 It probably helped that my wife also went along. I didn't stay out until 4 a.m. You know, I was usually back in by one or two. So that probably helped it a little bit too. I got a little bit of sleep. But yeah, I, I'm built for this. I think you know this, David. I don't, I'm not sure about those young guys, you young guys sometimes.

Starting point is 00:12:46 This old man, I know how to do Vegas and do it right. I mean, I think I'm in that category. You know me. I'm a frequent goer of Las Vegas for a wide variety of reasons. I'm very curious to see how Sean sounds today. I would imagine that he's probably still hurting after his last couple days. I saw him having a couple little Bev's on the old podcast that he was doing with Lucas for a couple days. I'm like, oh, I've never seen Sean act like this.

Starting point is 00:13:14 Oh, boy, I would love to see him at about, I was going to say 1 a.m. but he probably went to bed at about 10, 10.30. Well, already planning towards the next Vegas trip. And I know you have this one circled. Big 10 women's basketball tournament in Las Vegas coming up in early March. Definitely have that one circled. And I'm going to guess Hawkeye Insider 24. You've talked to the bosses already about that one, haven't you?

Starting point is 00:13:36 Oh, I'm going regardless. Like, let's be honest. There's no way I'm missing that one. I'll be out there with you. We know you're not going to be missing coming up the next couple of days as well as we look at this football team. and we'll get a deeper dive into all the different position groups. What to start with the one that's getting the most headlines of the most conversation. That is quarterback.

Starting point is 00:13:55 And I know Elliott had a report up at Hawkeye Insider talking a little bit about some of the things that he's hearing. It's a close battle between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski. The betting favorite right now, maybe that be the right way. Would Hank Brown be the betting favorite to be the starter at this point? You know, it's tough, man, because it really does depend on who you talk to because I do know there's a few players in some camps that do believe Hecklinsky should be. You know, Hank Brown, I think, has done a really good job of improving over the course the last several months. I think you would agree with me that if we went back to before the spring, heck, Glensky is probably a 60-40, I would say to be the starting quarterback. And not that he did a poor job by aiming to start the spring and summer, but you can see the tangible improvement from Hank Brown.

Starting point is 00:14:35 Now, I do think a big deal of it is he is not getting hit. His footwork looked a lot better. He was pushing the ball vertically, which are two of the things I really wanted to see out of him. but I do want to see how each quarterback responds by getting hit, but we also understand you can't just go lay out your quarterbacks in fall football. Right. So I do think Saturday is going to be a big day. I would say right now I would probably give Hank Brown on maybe a minus 125, minus 130.

Starting point is 00:15:01 And Hecklinsky maybe even money. Again, I like the upside with Hecklinsky a little bit more, but Hank Brown throws a good football. And I do think that his floor is probably a little bit higher than Hecklinsky. but this is still going to go down on the stretch of the season. Quite honestly, if you play Northern Illinois, I think you need to get both quarterbacks a half and then you make your evaluation from there.

Starting point is 00:15:22 And I still won't be surprised if they do that. But I would guess right now, if we're talking about who gets the first series in that game, I would give a very, very slight edge to Hank Brown, based on what I'm hearing. But again, I've heard both guys. So I want to go this direction with you. A name that we haven't talked about a ton.

Starting point is 00:15:40 At the wide receiver spot, yes, we've talked about Reese Bender Z. of course Tony Diaz coming in and you and I I think we're the conductors of the hype train. We have been at the forefront from the start as we're not going to slow it out as maybe some other people, the media wanted to be a little bit more tempted.

Starting point is 00:15:53 Evan James coming in. We've talked about these guys. Jared Bowie. So I saw some numbers that were passed along to me from back during spring as they were going through workouts. And Jarrett Bowie had the top vertical leap of everybody on the team. It was 44.9 inches.

Starting point is 00:16:09 He also in one of the shuttle times, he was very high on that one. You look at him and what he played a little bit a couple of years ago, he just, he looks like a wide receiver, like a big 10 receiver supposed to look like and Iowa hasn't had a ton of those guys. After a weird season a year ago, had the soft tissue injury, never made it out there onto the field and felt like, well, this guy is going to be destined for the transfer portal. He doesn't, he come back.

Starting point is 00:16:31 Can Jared Bowie find a role with that great athleticism? Can he find a spot in the rotation of wide receiver? Yeah, so a couple things. Number one, I think I've said this on your show, but I mean, I had a story right for Jerry at to enter the transfer portal. And I'll tell you, it wasn't based on anything I'm hearing, but you know, how much new, how fast news breaks during that time trend, how kind of all over the place and how caffeinated I am and my colleagues, the Hawkeye Insire are.

Starting point is 00:16:55 I mean, you just have articles prepared just in case something happens. And he was one of those guys. And I give him a lot of credit. I think there's a couple things. One, I really am curious about what opportunities he would have had in the portal. Because, again, it's not like he was outrageously productive at Iowa when he was healthy, but he had some Big Ten experience, made a couple catches. right, but he was going fresh off the season where he did have that soft tissue injury and missed basically the entire season.

Starting point is 00:17:18 And that's something I do think that would scare teams from the portal. But I also give Bowie a lot of credit for the fact that he has stuck around and he is looking for a role. It's one of those things, man, we're like, again, athletically, I think he stacks up against. He might be the strongest pound-for-pound wide receiver Iowa has in the room. Like you look at him and like you said, he is just built like that. but is he a cable downfield threat and pass catcher and being a wide receiver? And what I mean by that is like you don't have to have freaky athleticism to play a wide receiver. You can catch the ball.

Starting point is 00:17:50 You can be a little bit, you know, talk a little bit of smack. You can have some little twitchiness in short areas, but can you really piece everything together? And I think that's where Bowie just needs to be able to get to that next level. I don't know if it's IQ and his route running. I don't know if it's, you know, separation off the line of scrimmage. There could be a wide variety of factors. But from a physical makeup perspective and the opportunity that Iowa has, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get some run.

Starting point is 00:18:15 And, you know, again, that's one of the guys that I'm probably going to be looking a little bit closer at on Saturday when we get to see this open scrimmage. Hopefully the weather holds up. I'm still a little bit nervous about it. But obviously, everybody will be looking at the quarterbacks. I'm looking at the defensive line. And I'm looking at the wide receivers, man. It's a really intriguing group. And I do think Bowie has a chance to be a part of wide receiver.

Starting point is 00:18:36 I would say four through six at this point. I think the top three will end up being pretty decently solidified by the time the first game comes around. Let's jump over to the offensive line. And the question that we're all going to have for the coaching staff tomorrow is about what's happening in the middle. Cade Piper, we know the upside. We know the physicality that he plays with and a guy that NFL scouts absolutely love making that transition. But it felt like, all right, he's just going to be the center. They're going to move in there.

Starting point is 00:19:03 It's going to be good. Then we've been hearing a lot about Cale Winter here lately. What's the latest you're hearing on that? front and the importance of figuring out the center position of all the extras that go into it outside of blocking and snapping the football. You know, Kail Winter kind of reminds me of Jacob Wallace from last year, right? Like we kind of heard his name once or twice. And I want to say you brush it off, but it's not something that really, you know,

Starting point is 00:19:25 raises your eyebrows. But then they keep buzzing around and they keep coming up and you're like, okay, maybe I should actually pay attention. That's kind of where Kail Winter is with me. And we know how good, you know, Iowa offensive linemen are when they win the stolen beef days hay bale toss he's the reigning champion of that now here's why i'm leaning toward right now i still think kate peeper is going to line up a center come week one i just think that you can't have two guys kind of half practicing at center with based on how important is you

Starting point is 00:19:53 talk about dissecting coverages and the one thing that's always stuck out to me about george barnet and kirk ferrance is quote they're going to put the best five guys out there obviously kale winter is one of the best five guys out there but what i mean by that is You want your best players playing the most important positions on the offensive line, right? You think about that left tackle, Chevrolet, out, maybe, you know, a third team of preseason, All-American, probably an all-big 10 caliber guy at the very, very minimum. But then you go center. Well, Kate Peeper could have left last season and been a first round draft pick.

Starting point is 00:20:25 I think if you solidified those two spots, you feel okay enough about the rotation you could have at right guard. I think Leighton Jones has the left guard spot pretty well knocked down. I think Jack Dostler is going to play right tackle. We know how much he and Lout competed last season. This year was going to be left tackle. So I would say right now that, you know, Kate Piper does have a chance and probably is the favorite to play center. But again, I'm going to be taking a close look at where Kail Winter lines up.

Starting point is 00:20:51 I think he can play right guard. I think he can play at center. But I just think when you talk about putting your best players in the best position to succeed, I think Piper has to be a lock down that middle. And I ultimately do think right now that's going to happen. Over to the defensive line, you mentioned that. and we're all going to be watching that a lot on Saturday, trying to figure out what the rotation looks like,

Starting point is 00:21:11 how many guys are going to be playing. Kirk mentioned in Chicago, it's going to be a lot of guys he feels at that defensive line spot. You know, hearing Kelvin Bell earlier this summer, hearing a coach Deeman, those guys don't seem overly concerned, but that's also kind of their style. It's not like, yeah, we're going to be in trouble. It's not like they're going to say anything like that.

Starting point is 00:21:28 What have you heard as camp has begun here and all these fresh new faces trying to find a role? Yeah, I mean, I think bright thought horns, It's going to take a massive leap forward. I mean, I look at last week when Sean Elliott and I did our Hawkeye Insider roundtable, we talked about kind of breakout defensive player, transfer of the year, et cetera. My defensive breakout player, it's not Cam Buffington. It's Bryce Hawthorne.

Starting point is 00:21:48 I think everybody expects Buffington to be an absolute freak at the linebacker spot. I do think the Jack Campbell comparisons are a little bit premature. It's just because of how highly accolated Campbell was and what he's accomplished. But I think Hawthorne, just from an athletic standpoint, understands what it's like playing big 10 play now. I think he's poised to just be a massive presence in a defensive tackle spot and everything else, I'll be very curious about. I love the fact that Yosea Pinesa gets to go against Trevor Lauk every single day in practice. I think that's going to help make both of them better. But the other thing I really want to see and what I've heard is Camari Brown might be a bit

Starting point is 00:22:26 more athletic than even you or I gave him crap for. And he was one of my favorite guys Iowa get out of the portal. I thought he was an athletic freak. But he's hovering around 255, 260 now. has a 40 plus inch vertical and he can really get off the line in scrimmage fast. And the one thing I think Iowa has been missing throughout the last couple years. And not that, you know, Max Llewellyn was a really good player. Ethan Herkitt was a really good player. But when's the last time, Trent, and this is kind of my question I'll pose to you because I've spent some time thinking about it.

Starting point is 00:22:52 When's the last time Iowa's had like a purebred feared pass rusher? It's been a couple of years. But I was had good defensive lines in the last couple of years, right? Kamari Brown, I don't know if it's going to be this year or next year, but just from a physical makeup perspective and his game, I'm very curious of Kelvin Bell and Jay Neiman. Orska, hey, Kamari, we're throwing you out there, don't do anything except go get the quarterback. I think if they do that, he has a chance to really shine. So I'm looking at him. I'm looking at Kenneth Merriweather.

Starting point is 00:23:22 But right now, man, it's a hodgepodge of talent without a lot of experience and they're just trying to separate from one another. We know that the kicking battle, it is Eli Ozick, who comes in from North Dakota, state battling Caden Burr feels like Ozek with a leg up there in that competition. No pun intended on that front. What about punter though? Is that more wide open between the two specialists and special teams? Is the punter one the one that's a little bit more open at this point? I would say so because I just don't think you get Ozick out of the portal unless

Starting point is 00:23:53 barring and collapse he was going to be a starting kicker. When you look at his numbers that he's had throughout his early career and, you know, obviously I think you have had some other opportunities that I would not been able to snatch him up so quick. Right now, I still give the slight edge to Tanner Philpott. I just think he's proven it. He knows more about American football. He knows how to play in an American football game. And

Starting point is 00:24:13 obviously, Iowa puts a lot more into their punting than some other programs. Now, look, that was not a slight toward the offense, but it's just how complex some of Iowa's punt coverages are, the different styles of punting that they practice, obviously, with Lavar Woods at the helm, Iowa's overhauling that. Right now,

Starting point is 00:24:29 I would say Philpot, if I would say the punting competition is more open, than a kicking competition. Again, I wouldn't be surprised of Ozzyk already has it locked up. Do I expect KF to say that tomorrow? No, I really don't. And one thing that I think people forget, and I brought this up from time to time when we talk about

Starting point is 00:24:47 the third now Australian punter coming in and making their way over. Tori Taylor that first year in 2020, there's nobody in the stands. As he's learning American football, he's doing it in front of a couple of hundred people as opposed to 70,000 people in there. When he look at Boston, Everett, that's going to be a transition. He was able to do that. Plus, Tori Taylor was what?

Starting point is 00:25:05 22 when he came over. He wasn't an 18-year-old when he made his way over. So he also have that component, too. That transition pretty difficult. And as we saw these first two years with Reese, Dakin, who was a bit better as a freshman than he was last year as a sophomore. That transition definitely can be interesting. Finally, a lot of times at these open practices,

Starting point is 00:25:24 we don't get a ton of look at return game. We maybe will see some guys back there fielding things, but it's very rare that they go live in that aspect. Zach Lutmer is anticipated to be the guy back there at punt return, but there's so many guys that we've talked about at the kick-kick return game. I would love, even if it's not full live and kickoff, just to see maybe the top couple of guys back there for kickoff returns because that was an element that has aided Iowa ton throughout the year.

Starting point is 00:25:50 Yeah, and I'm with you. I think Zach Lulmur is going to be the starting punt returner. I don't think there should be any competition there. I think you can have another couple guys back there practicing, but I think he needs to be the guy. The kick return game is going to be really interesting. and I'm with you. I do think that they need to find a way to make the competition to go from like eight to about four different guys just so they can really start solidifying these guys with with quality reps. And right now, I mean, there's a hodgepodge of talent that's probably back there, but unproven. Again, Lutmer's too important, I think, to throw back there. If Brevin Dahl's healthy, I think from an athletic standpoint, I think he'd be an intriguing option just with his straight line speed. I've heard good things about Bray and Jackson, the walk on running back that has some deceptive athleticism and he was a pretty big body. athlete, but of course we know how

Starting point is 00:26:34 Stacks Iowa's running back room is. And then do you throw a guy like Jalen Watson back there? Do you throw a KJ Parker back there? I think kick return is a little bit more complex at this point in time. Now look, again, I think the coverages and the schemes that Iowa draws up, they're going to be

Starting point is 00:26:50 fine. Iowa's emphasis on special teams are going to be okay. But I'm not envious right now of all them trying to find some guys that do want to get back there in return. I mean, do you want to risk throwing Tony Diaz back there or do you not want to put him in one of those situations, especially with how physical he is on some of those downfield 50-50 balls? And there's a big difference between the vision

Starting point is 00:27:11 aspect of returning and being a wide receiver or skill position player. But, you know, maybe Evan James gets back there. You know, Chris Polisi, I think this is one of his first bigger decisions that he'll have to make. But I'm with you. I'd love to see some guys get some return action just so we can see what they look like. And if the guys can feel the kicks in the first place. Yes, that's, that's another one that you don't think about very much, and we'll be keeping an eye on that and keeping an eye on the weather. We'll also be keeping an eye on Hawkeye Insider.com, where David Eichold, who joins us here,

Starting point is 00:27:41 along with Elliott Clef and Sean Bach, always do great work over there. Three guys keeping you covered on everything that they're hearing as camp continues and the big couple of days in front. And David, 24-7 sports, you guys have a big deal going on right now. Yeah, so we have 60% off for your first year subscribing. So it's a little over $4 a month right now,

Starting point is 00:27:59 but we've been dropping fall camp until, We're podcasting multiple days a week. We got, you know, basketball coverage. That'll still be going on through football season. Recruiting never stops. I mean, it's been more than I think at hawkine insider.com. So again, 60% off. Just got a Hawkeye Insider.

Starting point is 00:28:17 It'll be pretty well plastered all over any article or the front page. So you'll be able to navigate it. But, yeah, come hop on board. Things are going well right now. And, you know, the fun time's almost back. That's David Eicholt, joining us from Hawkeye Insider. Thanks to David, as always, for all of his time. We come back on the other side,

Starting point is 00:28:36 a no chance to booze and help out the Hawkeyes in the process. That's next. This is your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast, Locked on Hawkeyes. Support for today's episode comes from IndeedSponsor Jobs. When workplace chaos hits and you need the right hire, Indeed sponsor jobs helps connect employers with candidates who match specific needs like skills, certifications, and location. So less time gets spent searching and more time gets spent finding.

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Starting point is 00:30:17 Sponsored jobs. Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is also brought to you by Kalshi. Well, here we go. Football season. It is here. And before the season even kicks off, everyone's making predictions. Who wins the division? Who makes the playoffs? Who is lifting the trophy at season's end on Kalshi, America's number one prediction market platform. You can trade those predictions in a live market. How about this? Total wins this season in the NFL. Can the Vikings win at least 10 games?

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Starting point is 00:31:22 18-plus restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Calci products are not available in all jurisdictions, prices, values, and availability. markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information, see calci.com slash slash regulatory. Try and kind of back with you one final time here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Well, as we get ready for Media Day and then Kids Day on Saturday, definitely plenty to talk about on that front. And, well, if you're thinking about maybe a cocktail, getting locked in,

Starting point is 00:32:06 getting pre-tailgate season ready to go, well, we got some. something new for you on that front with the University of Iowa and Iowa Athletics. Well, we know about the beer. They have partnered up in the past. That has continued on. Now another opportunity. Maybe you're not a beer drinker. We got you covered here now thrilled to announce this from the University of Iowa, the release of 1847 bourbon and vodka.

Starting point is 00:32:30 A limited edition, co-branded line of spirits in partnership with Cedar Ridge. Bottles from Iowa's first and oldest distillery can be found in stores statewide and select premium club areas inside Kinnick Stadium and other Iowa athletic venues throughout the year. Bottles look great. They got the Tiger Hawk on them. Definitely something you want to save the bottle afterwards if you like to display some of your old bottles. They look great and we'll give it a shot, right? And you look at a taste. Maybe a bloody Mary to kick things off for your tailgate. Good stuff there for the University of Iowa. We'll be in Iowa City again, 11 to 1 with my radio show and then there for Iowa football media days coming up tomorrow from Iowa City. Looking forward to

Starting point is 00:33:09 that as always. We'll have full coverage here on Lockdown Hawkeyes, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. Make sure you hit subscribe if you're watching us on YouTube. If you're on the podcast side, five-star reviews all help us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. We'll talk to you from Iowa City tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.

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