As the Hawkeyes count down to the 2026 season, one name that repeatedly surfaces is defensive lineman Will Lockhart, who will wear the iconic No. 50.
Lockhart, a redshirt freshman from Denver, Iowa, arrives in Iowa City after a standout high school career that spanned both football and rugby. He accepted a preferred walk‑on offer from the University of Iowa, expressing excitement about representing his hometown on the big stage.
A Legacy in the Making
The number 50 carries a storied past at Iowa, most notably worn by former Hawkeye Hap Peterson, who earned first‑team All‑Big Ten honors and helped lead the team to the 1986 Rose Bowl.
Peterson’s legacy looms large, but Lockhart says he is focused on earning his spot on the field, knowing that practice will be the ultimate test of whether he can translate that heritage into his own contribution.