Not to be overshadowed by the 2026 NFL Draft, Iowa wrapped up spring ball with an open spring practice to give everyone a first glimpse into what the squad might look like this season.
Spring games are often not a great look at what the squad will be, as players are held out for injury concerns, and even at full speed, it is still far too early in the evaluation process to make any concrete determinations.
That being said, here are the three biggest takeaways from Iowa's final spring practice of 2026.
The starting QB spot is still very much up for grabs
It was hard to evaluate quarterbacks Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski because multiple wide receivers did not play in the scrimmage, but we got our first full look at what the two can do at full speed.
Hecklinski got a bulk of the reps with the first team and lived up to his "gunslinger" reputation. He was slinging it all over the field, and while his accuracy was not what you would want (10/20 for 99 yards), he showcased the ability to throw on the run and make tight-window throws.
Brown spent most of his day with the second team, and while he did have a nice touchdown pass to star tight end DJ Vonnahme, he struggled mightily against pressure. He did showcase his big arm and accuracy when he had a clean pocket.
Hecklinski appears to have a slight edge, but we are no where close to a decision.
KJ Parker is proving why everyone is so excited his potential
As wide receiver KJ Parker got more reps at wide receiver last, people started to see why everyone is so excited about his future with the program.
That continued over the weekend as he made multiple incredible catches with defensive backs draped all over him.
Parker has all the athleticism and skills needed to make an impact next season, and with Reece Vander Zee and Tony Diaz also in the mix, Iowa's WR group has the potential to be very dangerous.
The defensive line still has a lot of question marks
Going into the spring open practice, one of the biggest question marks was who was going to fill the multiple open slots on the defensive line, and that continued after this past weekend.
Iose Epenesa and veteran Kenneth Merriweather looked like locks for the defensive end spots, with the interior of the line looking spotty at best.
Joseph Anderson had a great pick-six, albeit against the third-stringers, and Bryce Hawthorne has been limited due to an MCL sprain.
Iowa has multiple talented players vying for snaps, and there is still plenty of time to sort out who will line up at DT this fall, but the line did not look overly impressive over the weekend outside of a few players, and that is worrisome.
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