Iowa might have really found something in young wide receiver Reece Vander Zee

The wide receiver group for Iowa has been the butt of the offense for years, but now it seems like some of that could be changing. With the Hawkeyes being out a few guys in Week 1 and now possibly even Week 2, Iowa might have found a star in a new young receiver.

When the offense began to pick up in the second half against Illinois State in Week 1, quarterback Cade McNamara threw to his comfort zone, the tight end position, but he might have found a new comfort zone.

When Iowa needed a touchdown in the second half in order to show they could get the offense going, instead of going to trusty tight end Luke Lachey, McNamara instead threw the ball seven yards to freshman receiver Reece Vander Zee for the Hawkeyes' first touchdown of the season and Vander Zee's first college career touchdown.

Vander Zee continued to make his presence known on the field as he scored another touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter, and an impressive touchdown at that where he climbed the latter for the catch. The young Iowa native finished the day with five receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns.

Coming out of high school as a three-star recruit, Vander Zee was not one of the most highly sought-after receivers by power conferences with offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Air Force, Eastern Michigan, Furman, Montana State, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Western Michigan, and Yale.

The Rock Rapids, Iowa native chose to commit to Iowa and became a star in his first fall camp.

There is no wonder now how he became a star with the coaches in fall camp with his first game with the Hawkeyes. With the wide receiver group not being the strongest for Iowa this season and for the past couple of seasons, Vander Zee has now found himself as a starter on the depth chart for Week 2.

If McNamara can play the way he did in the second half for the rest of the season, Vander Zee could have a breakout year in his freshman season. Iowa knows how to produce tight ends, but now they might be able to produce a quality receiver in due time.