Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - MARKED IMPROVEMENT? Iowa Passing Game to SURGE in 2026? Early Look at Hank Brown, Jeremy Hecklinski

Starting point is 00:00:00 You are going to see marked improvement from the Iowa passing game in 2006. And no, that is not just my painkillers talking. You are Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Today's episode is brought to you by Fandual. Right now, new customers.

Starting point is 00:00:35 bet just $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Head to Fandual.com to get started. Today we're going to take a look back at a disappointing end to the Big Ten tournament after Iowa look to maybe be punching their ticket to the quarterfinals, a three-two lead. That falls apart and then a loss to Purdue, knocks them out of the Big Ten tournament. We're also going to be joined by Elliott Clough. A lot of Hawkeye recruiting talk. We're going to get into what's happening on the basketball front and talk some football as well

Starting point is 00:01:04 coming up here with Heli. Elliott Club from Hawkeye Insider. We begin today, though, with the Iowa passing game. And a big question of every offseason it feels with Iowa football, can they take a step forward from what we've seen the previous season? And very simply, I think the answer is yes. Now, if you've been missing it throughout the course of this week and you're going to see me if you're watching on YouTube, move my armor out a little bit, got to the doctor finally,

Starting point is 00:01:28 and found out that I have a torn labor, which is not great, got a little pain medication. But I think we're okay here. I think we're all right. but we're going to battle through this one. And one thing that just popped into my head as I'm sitting, laying, trying to find a comfortable position with my arm is this Iowa passing game. And so I just looked back at the numbers last season. And I looked back at the numbers and found, you know,

Starting point is 00:01:53 we know Mark Gernowsky took steps forward as the season went on. We definitely saw improvement out of him during the course of this season. Those first couple of games of the year were just disasters. And after the Iowa State game, you saw some things, of course, had the injury that knocked him out of the Indiana game. And he came back and threw the ball better at the USC. I thought there were a couple examples of that. You definitely saw Vader built in the bowl game, obviously. That was another one.

Starting point is 00:02:18 But overall, obviously it was not what I think anybody hoped for this season. And regardless of it's Hank Brown or Jeremy Hecklinsky, I think one of the biggest legs up and one of the reasons that I have for optimism with this passing game is because of These guys have been around. You know, Hank Brown has been on campus now. Jeremy Hecklinsky's gone through practice and reps and understanding what Tim Lester and the offensive staff is really looking for. And I think that's going to be a huge help for this one.

Starting point is 00:02:46 Mark Grinowski was not able to practice during spring practice a year ago. He was able to take some try reps but wasn't able to throw the football and having that ability now for both these quarterbacks to understand the schemes, the nuances, everything that they want out of this passing game, I think is going to help. Last year, all the quarterbacks combined for 1,861 yards. And when we go into next season, I mean, just for a baseline, if you anticipate throwing for 175 yards per game, something in that range, that's going to go well past that mark even before a bull game

Starting point is 00:03:18 for Iowa next season. Also last year, Iowa threw for 12 touchdowns. One of them came from Reese Van der Z. 10 of them from Grinowski, one from Hank Brown. That's what you got out of the passing game a year ago. 12 touchdowns against eight interceptions, I think those are numbers that can improve. Even if we're talking about not ridiculous numbers, but 18 touchdowns. That's one and a half per game.

Starting point is 00:03:39 We're not shooting for the moon. Another component, the tight end position is absolutely loaded. And I'm a believer. I am going to buy into the hype of Tony Diaz, that he is going to be a difference maker coming in at the wide receiver mark, the returning talent that they have with Reese Fandersey. Heard a nugget. I think it was Chad Leickechow, maybe of the register. I had mentioned that heard some good things about what we saw from Jeroboo,

Starting point is 00:04:02 a guy that didn't play last season for them, but at least showed some glimpses early in his career. Evan James comes in out of the FCS ranks. The depth that they have a wide receiver, the scheme that they have, the ability to put it all together this season, I don't think this is a big leap. I'm not asking for the moon. I'm not talking about throwing for 3,500 yards and 28 touchdowns this year.

Starting point is 00:04:23 I think that is unrealistic. But over 2,100 yards during the regular season, out of your starter, get 18 touchdowns against 5, 6 interceptions, something like that. I think the ability is going to be there. Who that quarterback is going to be? Well, that's what we're still trying to figure out. And we definitely will here before the season begins. But I also think we're going to see both those quarterbacks early on in the season. It's going to be a race between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinsky.

Starting point is 00:04:48 Definitely going to be too close to call at this point. But I think we're going to see both those guys in the early portions of. of the season. We know the early slate. The non-conference slate is very manageable. All three games at home. You open up with Northern Illinois. Iowa State after that with what 80 new guys on the Cyclones roster as they come in in the Kinnick Stadium and then you wrap it up against you and I to finish up the non-conference. It gets difficult from there and you better have things figured out because you go to Michigan Big Ten game number one. You're home for Ohio state. Then the road long road trip out to Washington and having to do it on a short week on a Friday night.

Starting point is 00:05:25 incredibly difficult for this group. You want to have everything figured out and you need that passing game to be good. Not just okay, not just adequate. Take a big step forward this year. And I'm hopeful that that's going to happen this season. Let's bring in Elliott Club from hawkeye insider.com. A lot of good nuggets from Elliott as we talk some football with him. What about the return game? You talk about changing things up this season, no Caden Weechin, what that's going to look like and some big shoes to fill in the special teams. We'll talk some Hawkeye football. We'll talk some recruiting as well coming up on the other side as Elliott Club joins us from hawkeye insider.com. Stay right there. This is Locked on Hawkeyes.

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Starting point is 00:07:15 Fandul, play your game. Trent, kind of back with you once again on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. And we'll catch up on the daily front here as a waker, make our way through an injury ravaged week here. We got you covered over the long Memorial Day weekend. We also have something for you if you are an everyday watcher or listener of Lockdown Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:07:39 That is the Everydayer Club. Jump aboard with us right now there. An opportunity for you to get Lockdown Hawkeyes every day at free. Just go to Lockdownhawkeyes. That supercast.com. Lockdown hawkies. That supercast.com. Now, time to talk some hawks with Elliot Clough.

Starting point is 00:07:55 From hawkye insider.com. It's part of 24-7 sports. Appreciate the time, as always, Elliot, what is happening on the east side of the state? Mission success depends on protecting day environment. Not a whole lot, Trent. It's actually pretty nice out today. It's been kind of gloomy over here, but nice, Connie in 55. I've been putting off mowing, and I'm going to get that done today.

Starting point is 00:08:28 My blog looks like a jungle, so about time to get that done. but yeah, pretty, pretty chill event, till day over here. Well, before that, you wrote about a potential new kicker for Iowa, and that's always exciting for Hawkeye fans. We know the importance of special teams and how important that is year in and year out. What can you tell us about special teams recruiting and kind of going hand in hand with Chris Pallisi? They knew with special teams coordinator and the big shoes that he has to fill after the departure of Lovar Woods. Yeah, not a position that, you know, every program offers.

Starting point is 00:09:02 scholarships for, especially right out of high school, is kicker especially. But Polici goes over to the Carolinas, which we know Iowa loves to do some recruiting out there for kickers. Offered the number one kicker in the country in Moses Barker, as well as Ben Ladeau, and then Ford failing, three other, or excuse me, two other kickers, all ranked on cold kicking. Moses Barker is the number one in the country, a five-star prospect. So Policzi, going to do. out there and then trying to get the roots to stay down in the Carolinas for Iowa specialists. But kind of interesting to see Iowa go out there and offer right away. I believe Eli Ozick has two years of eligibility left and then Barr from the Quad Cities,

Starting point is 00:09:52 their backup walk-on kicker has a few years, all four years of eligibility left, actually. So it'll be interesting to see how things shake out in that kicker room, how the other two OZIC and the walk-on from Vettendorf, how they developed this year. And, you know, how Beli-Cli-Chi kind of goes about things with this, with this 2027 recruiting class, all three, or at the very least, I know that Sailing and Barker will be in Iowa City in June for unofficial visits, but they'll be there for camp.

Starting point is 00:10:24 So the rest of the staff will be able to watch them work out. We'll see how things shake out. but kind of an interesting position. The number one kicker in the country, it's like, okay, yeah, you offer that guy because other schools are offering him. The other ones are interesting. So police he must like what he sees

Starting point is 00:10:41 and thinks he can continue to develop the other two as well. We're talking on the recruiting front there, but kind of looking at it, I think we both came out of camp, if I remember our conversation afterwards. Probably Ozek has a leg up on Burr, we didn't get to see Burr during the open practice. Punning probably going to come down

Starting point is 00:10:59 maybe to the 12th hour before we figure out who's going to be the punter coming up this season. But what thing we haven't talked a ton about is in the return game. And you don't replace a guy with Caden Weechin. This guy had a historic run at the University of Iowa. Though Iowa's special teams have been good, return game has been good. Let's start first at punt return. There's been a lot of talk about potentially Zach Lutmer back there in the punt return game. Is that something that you like and something you anticipate is going to be back there on punts?

Starting point is 00:11:29 Yeah, I think he's your guy there. Was the backup to Weegean last year? I think he's the favorite to be in that position far and away. Lutmer is one of those guys that you just get on the field as much as possible because he could play all five defensive back positions, but, I mean, technically he could, but he can't play all five at once, right? So you've got to get him somewhere there,

Starting point is 00:11:52 and then he's got to be on special teams in one capacity or another. and you prefer older guys to be returning punts especially because one thing that we always heard from Lovar Woods and that we each and preach too is you got to be fearless because those guys are coming at you full speed. You got to be able to see what's going on and Lutmer is a guy that you trust at least to step into a position like that. Another name that I just, you know, I haven't heard a lot of myself, but I kind of want to be part of the competition is Nathan McNeil. he's another guy that with the running back group so loaded you got to find reps for these guys so you know at least to a degree I mean you have to you have to play the game right I mean you have to get these guys reps in ways that um because only one guy

Starting point is 00:12:42 can touch the ball I mean out of the back well I mean one guy can get a carry right so and I think that's going to be Kamari Moulton for the most part this year and then bringing in a 2,000 yard Russia like LJ Phillips. I don't really see those guys. I don't really see Xavier Williams being a guy who would return punster kick. So I think Nathan McNeil could be a factor in both clump and kicks if they so decide to put him in those situations. So I would like to see McNeil back there, whether he will be or not is the question.

Starting point is 00:13:13 Yeah. And I'm trying to think back during the Ference tenure if there's been any running backs back there on punt returns. We've seen it obviously plenty of times again. kick returns and there's been some good ones there. But in punt return, I can't remember off the top of my head and kind of thinking back, you know, early in his career before a guy like Akram Wadley burst onto the scene. We certainly could see the juice out of him.

Starting point is 00:13:34 But Kirk also loves the guys that can see care of the ball. But I wonder if it's just a different kind of flight of a football. Why we haven't seen a running back back, the returning punts is kind of befuddling now because we're talking about, what, 28 years? Right, yeah. It's been a while. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I mean, clearly happy to put him back on kickoffs.

Starting point is 00:13:55 We know Caleb Johnson was doing that for a while. TJ Washington was back there last year before he opted to transfer. I mean, yeah, I'm not entirely sure. Maybe it's a safety. I mean, not a safety thing, right? Like, we often see receivers or defensive backs return and punt, right? So, yeah, I just, I feel like what we've seen from McNeil, what he's able to do in space. would just be

Starting point is 00:14:23 really beneficial back there. I mean, he did return punching kicks in high school if my memory serves me correctly, and he was pretty damn good at it, and he was doing it in Florida and, you know, how good Florida is down there. So in terms of high school football. So to me, I think he's one of those guys

Starting point is 00:14:39 that's not, you know, too big to get his speed going, not a lumbering running back, not a punch in the mouth, though he probably could do that to DBs here and there. But slippery, explosive play guy. I just think it would make a lot of sense for him to be in that, at least in that conversation.

Starting point is 00:14:59 Kick return feels like it's a lot deeper because of maybe the thing that we just kind of stumbled across and the lack of running backs having an opportunity back there. Brevin Dallin always talked about. He was banged up again this spring. Great speed out of ADM and a guy that selfishly I want to see out there. What else in the kick return game? You mentioned the running back, maybe McNeil, that certainly would make a whole lot of sense.

Starting point is 00:15:19 Any other names that you would like or would like to see. out there because I know a lot of people say, well, we got this guy in Tony Diaz is getting all this buzz, and let's find a way to get him the ball over there, also on kick returns. Yeah, you know, don't count out KJ Parker, I think in kick return and punt return for that matter.

Starting point is 00:15:35 He was backup punt returner at Iowa, I was open spring practice. So that's the name to keep in mind. Not just ball skills. He's good in the open field, too, with the ball in his hands. So that's one to keep in mind. And then

Starting point is 00:15:51 Braden Jackson, speaking of Des Moines-Centennial, the son of Fred Jackson, former Bill's running back. That's one that actually Weegean brought up to me in the fall last year as far as names to watch for kick return this coming year. One of the fastest runners in the country, sorry, not the country, in the state in track as a senior. So that's one to keep eyes on too. I mean, he was one that, I don't know how he didn't get FCS offers out the Wazoo out of Centennial. You and I, the Dakota school should have been all over him, in my opinion. But, yeah, he's another one that's really good in space, really fast.

Starting point is 00:16:33 So those would be the ones that come to mind. I mean, who knows, maybe Evan James. Like, that's a quick scatty receiver that you could throw into that competition. And he just hasn't really been available much this spring. probably why we haven't heard much about him in that regard. But, yeah, I mean, lots of options. Who it ends up being, I feel like Lumpur is more or less a lock for punt return, just based on things we've heard.

Starting point is 00:16:59 But kick return is looking like it's going to be open and going to have quite a few options there. You look at recruiting that's happening right now. Things feel like they're going well. We talked with you a little bit last week about just the number of commitments that you anticipated out of this class and it feels a little bit high. They're at 10 right now, but this is the time now here these next couple of weeks. We're likely going to find out how this class certainly fills in, got the official visits coming up and the like.

Starting point is 00:17:26 The guys that are coming in next, the guys that are uncommitted at this point in time, give us a name or two that you feel Iowa's in a good spot that you really like. Yeah, Kenyon Norman is one that comes to mind from Warren Central in Indianapolis. That's one of the more explosive backs. Obviously, they didn't get a recruit at 26 class. with the overturn of, or the turnover, rather, of running back coach and now going to Jay Norvel. Norvel has really been working hard to get some folks in and get a recruit, at least one in the class of 2027 between officials. And Norman is one that, I mean, he immediately told Sean Bach when Sean reached out that I was in my top five.

Starting point is 00:18:10 And that was within probably hours of him posting his offer. So that's one to keep an eye on. Kind of has some Caleb Johnson playmaking ability to him. So I would say that's the one that I would keep the closest eye on in terms of one that I will want. And we'll be getting on an official here in June. And then other one speaking of this class is Kyler Coon from St. Pius X in the Kansas City area. Man, just a mauler. You look at him and he'd probably play one of the.

Starting point is 00:18:44 three interior offensive line spots, probably guard. But he is one of those guys that has really risen up the ranks. I mean, he had Oregon offer, Nebraska's involved, like these programs that tend to spend a lot of money and get these four-star guys. And he kind of has that Logan Jones, Cade Peeper type of mold where he's a pretty dang good athlete and mall guys in the middle and is mobile and really feels like a George Farnett fit. So those are the two that come to mind at least initially. Well, I know Sean Bach over there 24-7 Hawkeye Insider. He had a busy week as he was out in Memphis.

Starting point is 00:19:24 New guard, point guard offer that went out. Still, is it just the waiting game with Caden Daugherty at the top of this, just waiting his decision and trying to maybe slow play those others? Or if there's one of those other point guards that are ready to commit, as I were ready to take that commitment? That's a good question. Dardy is definitely right now it feels like he's between Iowa and Michigan that's the feel anyway I think for the most part with people who are covering his recruitment

Starting point is 00:19:54 and of course I mean like that's that's that's a quite a position for this five-star kid to be in to choose between a team that is you know being coached by Ben McCollum arguably one of the best in the country just made a run to the elite aid for the first time in 40 years and then well Dusty May and the National

Starting point is 00:20:12 national champion. Oh, you can't really go wrong in that situation, right? But Jackson Davis is another one that I was in on in this class of 27 that they really like. I have a hard time seeing Ben as a, as one that will be like, yeah, please, you know, just take anybody who will commit sort of thing. I think he'll be honest with whomever is maybe below Dardy at this point. But, yeah, I mean, I think that's pretty much Ben right there. Ben is very confident, right? Ben is very, he knows who he is. He knows what he's good at.

Starting point is 00:20:50 And he'll be honest with kids. He's not going to beat around the bush and say, you know, whatever it is, that'll keep them around. I think, I think Dordy is the priority. But, I mean, your guess is as good as mine as to what he does. I mean, I really do think it's 50-50 at this point. Iowa has a good shot, but, you know, Michigan is Michigan. And boy, do they have a lot of money, too.

Starting point is 00:21:16 So if it comes down to that, then, I mean, Dorety said it himself. He wants to win. And then Michigan has won. So, and I mean, Iowa's won too, right? And done it when it matters most. So could come down to the wire. And I think Iowa was in a good spot with Jackson Davis as well. So I don't think it's a, I don't think you're in a win-lose situation.

Starting point is 00:21:37 here. I think you're in a win-win because both are really good prospects. Both have gotten attention from some of the top programs in the country. And I think both are guys that McCollum can develop. I mean, look what he's done already. If you're doubting him, his ability to develop a four or five-star recruit, you know, you might be just uninformed at that point. His philosophy, he wants to build this through the high school ranks. And yes, there's going to be portal guys. You're going to be filling in the gaps. But just getting that. baseline. Yet you look at some of the things. I mean, if they would get a guy like Doherty, is he going to be playing 36 minutes a game right away? You wouldn't think so. It's kind of that

Starting point is 00:22:15 interesting thing. I think a lot of coaches are trying to figure out in today's environment of the transfer portal. Can you still build and really set the foundation of your program through high school recruiting? Yeah, you know, that's, I think if you're Iowa on that front, you just have to really get guys who are like a Trey Thompson in that maybe, because they're not all going to play right away. They're just not. Like, I mean, bringing in a four-star like that, everybody was like, oh, so he's going to be part of the rotation, maybe start this coming year.

Starting point is 00:22:50 He didn't. Tate Sage really subsumed a lot of those minutes that I think a lot of people thought Thompson would. So I think you have to have guys that are like this 2025 class. that are like Trey Thompson, that are like Tate Sage, that are like Trevin Urock, that Tate Sage is just as 25 minutes as he was when he was playing two, three minutes at any given time. Trevin Yerock able to come in and play, but he doesn't let his ego get in the way.

Starting point is 00:23:24 And I mean, if I were a 6-11 big who just won Iowa Mr. basketball, I'd have an ego personally. And if, like, luckily I'm, well, maybe not luckily, but I'm definitely not. that coming out of OABCIG High School. But it's a mix of confidence and understanding who you are while also understanding where you can go and trusting the process and trusting Ben McCullough because Thompson was a top 100 recruit in the country, but he redshirted this season and he still believes he can come in and impact the

Starting point is 00:24:01 game this coming year, impact Iowa and what's the, impact Iowa and what they do. And so you just have to get a, I think, a healthy mixture of developmental pieces where you can really see them reaching and playing really well like a Yerok. You can get guys like Tate's age who surprise early and get guys like Trey Thompson who really buy in. And even though things might not go the way they want to, they still believe in what can happen going forward. And of course, you're still going to have transfer portal guys, you're still going to have guys leave. I mean, money is absolutely going to be a part of these conversations and whether it's, you know, in Iowa or elsewhere. So I think they've really

Starting point is 00:24:44 set a good foundation with this 2025 class. And, you know, the other thing, too, is they really take their time to get to know these guys. So, and I think that's smart. And I think that's how you end up with a stage with a Treve in York with a Trey Thompson. That is Elliott Club, joining us from Hawkeye Insider.com, 24-7 sports, and thank you, as always, to Elliot for his time. Coming back on the other side, a disappointing end to the Big Ten baseball tournament for the Hawkeyes. That's next. Trent, kind of back with you one final time on your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast, Lockdown Hawkeyes, making our way through and getting healthy here.

Starting point is 00:25:26 That's what we're working on. But what to wrap things up at a disappointing end for the Iowa baseball team? Definitely felt like an opportunity at minimum to get to the quarterfinals, get to that single elimination. The comeback win against Illinois, the opening round. And then against Michigan State, got down early in that one, came battling back, took the lead. But then just a devastating, a drop third strike. The throw-up to first base goes up the line.

Starting point is 00:25:49 Michigan State ties attacks on one more in the ninth, and they hold on for the one-run victory. Then you got a rematch against Purdue. A Purdue team, you just swept the weekend previous, won all three of those games in comeback fashion. And just couldn't get the bats going in that one as the season comes to a close. Definitely some building blocks going forward for this Iowa baseball team. We'll talk about that when we have a little bit more time and kind of looking forward to this Iowa baseball group. I mentioned some of the injuries to the pitching staff. They grinded. Definitely swung the bats well enough this year.

Starting point is 00:26:19 Now figuring out what they can do in the portal, getting some arms that are ready to go. And something that throughout the years, certainly Coach Haller has done a really good job of that and identifying some big time talents. They need that back. Get that Friday night starter. Some of the depth of the pitching staff we've seen recently. going to go a long ways from Iowa, not just getting to the Big Ten tournament like they did this year, but taking those steps further and finishing in the top third of the league, you know, top six finishes. I think that's a realistic goal for this group year in and year out. But the season concludes for Iowa baseball as the Big Ten tournament continues now into the quarterfinal round.

Starting point is 00:26:54 That'll do it for today. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes, your first listen every day. Again, if you're an everyday listener, you want to hear the show ad free, go to lockdownhawkeyes. dot supercast.com. That's where you can go, locked on hawkeyes. Dot supercast.com. missed a couple of shows this week. We'll bounce back over the weekend and get you caught back up.

Starting point is 00:27:12 Got a lot of different content I want to get into. A lot of football talk. Definitely want to talk about it as well. Some of the big moments coming up in this football season. Thanks for being with this. Make sure you hit subscribe if you're watching us on YouTube. Five-star reviews if you're on the podcast side. All that helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans.

Starting point is 00:27:29 We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - MARKED IMPROVEMENT? Iowa Passing Game to SURGE in 2026? Early Look at Hank Brown, Jeremy Hecklinski

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