The Iowa Hawkeyes recently checked in as the No. 25 team in the preseason Associated Press top 25 poll.
Before the AP poll dropped, Iowa registered the identical No. 25 ranking in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.
Clearly, the coaches and pollsters nationally have respect for what Iowa and Kirk Ferentz have accomplished of late and in what the Hawkeyes return for the 2024 season.
247Sports’ Brad Crawford shared every preseason top 25 team’s primary reason for optimism on Thursday.
For Iowa, Crawford said the Hawkeyes’ defensive dominance is the primary reason for optimism.
This one’s too obvious, right? Kirk Ferentz only needs his offense to register a pulse to have a shot in the Big Ten this fall given the personnel back on Phil Parker’s side of the football for the Hawkeyes. – Crawford, 247Sports.
Iowa brings back a ton of talent defensively. The back end of the defense is especially gifted.
It starts with Iowa’s two starting linebackers, fifth year Jay Higgins and graduate Nick Jackson. That duo was just tabbed to the preseason Butkus Award Watch List.
Higgins matched a single-season Iowa program best with 171 tackles last season. The 6-foot-2, 232 pound linebacker also added five tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception in 2023.
Meanwhile, Jackson racked up 110 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. It was the fourth straight season where Jackson has eclipsed the 100-plus tackle plateau.
In the secondary, Iowa returns starting graduate CASH Sebastian Castro, starting graduate cornerback Jermari Harris and its two starting safeties in junior Xavier Nwankpa and graduate Quinn Schulte.
That quartet combined for 216 tackles, 22 pass breakups, 13.5 tackles for loss, and six interceptions last season.
Up front, Iowa returns starting senior defensive end Deontae Craig and starting senior defensive tackle Yahya Black. That duo tallied 105 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hurries, 6.5 sacks and six pass breakups a season ago.
Collectively, Iowa returns 192 career starts.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.
Follow Josh on X:@JoshOnREF