(Iowa City, IA) — The Iowa Hawkeye football team released its depth chart today in advance of this Saturday’s opener against Illinois St. and there were some surprises.
The biggest was Redshirt Freshman Kamari Moulton beating Senior Leshon Williams at Running Back. Williams has 1,302 career rushing yards at Iowa and he will see his share of playing time but Moulton from Ft. Lauderdale, FL gets the start. Moulton did see action in four games last year with a career 50 yards and he vaulted ahead of Williams and Junior Kaleb Johnson.
Another surprise is at wide receiver where Iowa lists three starters and they had a combined one reception last year but none for Iowa. Redshirt Freshman Jarriett Buie starts on the outside at one receiver spot — Buie is from Tampa, FL who played in three games last year but had no statistics. Freshman Reece Vander Zee from Central Lyon is listed as his back-up. Junior Jacob Gill, a transfer from Northwestern, will start on the other side. In his two years with the Wildcats, Gill was hampered by injuries and had one reception for 11 yards in 2023. Redshirt Freshman Terrell Washington is listed as his back-up. Then, Kaden Wetjen, a Senior from Williamsburg, won the slot receiver spot over Junior Seth Anderson. Wetjen was the leading kickoff returner for the Hawkeyes last season but never was used at WR position. Iowa will have to play their opener without Kaleb Brown who has been suspended one game because of a OWI.
To nobody’s surprise, Cade McNamara was listed #1 on the depth chart at quarterback — Kirk Ferentz had said as much in his last press conference. Transfer Brendon Sullivan from Northwestern is the back-up and redshirt freshman Marco Lainez is third.
Aaron Graves, 6-4, 300 pound Junior from Dayton, IA and Southeast Valley is #1 at Left Defensive Tackle. Other local players on the Iowa roster — Freshman Trent Cakerice from Grundy Center and Freshman D.J. Vonnahme from Breda, IA did not make the depth chart.
