Iowa Football Preview: The Defensive Line

The Iowa defense returns nine starters from last year’s terrific squad. So that means they should be really good once again this year, right?

On paper, yes, but it will depend on what the Iowa defensive line can do in terms of production and performance in the 2024 season. While Iowa returns four players with a solid amount of experience, including a pair of starters, they are going to need to fill the void left by the graduation of Logan Lee and Joe Evans and find more depth.

Ideally, the Hawkeyes would like to have a roster that features eight players that defensive line coach Kelvin Bell felt like he would play at any time. Right now he heads into the season with maybe six players that he would feel comfortable taking snaps.

First, let’s look at the two deeps:

DE : Deontae Craig (SR), Max Llewellyn (JR), Kenneth Merriweather (rFR)

DT : Aaron Graves (JR), Jeff Bowie (JR), Will Hubert (SO)

DT : Yahya Black (SR), Jeremiah Pittman (JR), Luke Gaffney (SO)

DE : Ethan Hurkett (SR), Brian Allen (SO), Caden Crawford (SO)

By the way, we love the three deep. Not that they are going to play beyond eight guys, but it gives us more information and names to watch during fall camp.

THE BIG QUESTION

What about depth?

It’s the biggest question heading into the season, what about the depth of the defensive line?

It’s a totally fair question to ask and ponder.

Let’s look at the snaps from last year. Numbers according to Pro Football Focus.

Black: 639

Craig:  619

Hurkett: 526

Graves: 409

Llewellyn: 147

Pittman: 139

That’s based on the defense facing 999 snaps in the 2023 season.

Three players faced over half the snaps. A fourth faced over 400, and the other two were under 15%. Basically that means the Iowa has four guys that you can trust right now and two others who you like and are learning to trust.

During spring ball, Llewellyn looked like he was taking the next step into a starter level contributor and it felt like he could become a good pass rusher. Pittman had a bit of a struggle last season when he was given an opportunity, but Bell indicated this summer on our podcast that Pittman has come along as a player.

But, six players is less than ideal. While Bell said if it’s five or six players that he feels good about, ideally it would be seven or eight. Two intriguing players for Iowa in fall camp are Brian Allen and Jeff Bowie.

Allen has the skill and he flashed at times in spring ball this year. But, he has to play with more consistency to earn regular snaps. Bowie has battled a number of injuries in his career. Now heading into his junior season, perhaps he can stay healthy and develop into a significant contributor.

WHAT ABOUT THE YOUNGER PLAYERS?

Of course the question everyone always wants to know is what about the younger players on the roster along the defensive line?

Given that Iowa is starting three seniors and one junior, that next wave is going to have to arrive soon. As soon as next year when that two deep is going to look very different.

One name to watch is obviously Kenneth Merriweather. Last year he was at 227 pounds. This year he’s up to 255. He’s very intriguing and could be following the Chauncey Golston starter kit. During spring ball Maddux Borcherding-Johnson had some good reps and showed promise at defensive tackle.

But, the super intriguing group is the incoming group of defensive lineman. Drew Campbell , Devan Kennedy , Joseph Anderson , and Chima Chineke are all going to likely need a year to hit the weight room and fill out their frame. But, this is a super intriguing group of players that should start popping up on the depth chart next spring.

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