Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Jay Niemann across Football.
Offensive lineman Will Hahn, a redshirt freshman from Decorah, Iowa, is featured in the countdown to the 2026 Iowa football season, highlighting his high school legacy and recruitment journey.
The Iowa Hawkeyes defensive line will look markedly different when the 2026 season opens, after the program lost 24 of the 25 sacks it recorded a year earlier. The departure of those pass‑rush producers has left a void that the coaching staff is eager to fill with a blend of experience and untapped talent.
The Iowa Hawkeyes lost 24 of 25 sacks from last season, prompting a search for new leaders on the edge. Veteran Kenny Merrieweather, high‑upside transfer Kahmari Brown and recovering Drew Campbell headline a group that must step up under head coach Kirk Ferentz.
Iowa’s defensive coordinator Phil Parker sees in Brown the explosiveness and adaptability needed to fill the void left by departed linemen and to compete in the Big Ten.
The Hawkeyes lost three starting linemen from the 2025 roster, but a mix of transfer portal talent and home‑grown prospects aims to fill the void before the 2026 campaign.
The Hawkeyes lost three starting defensive linemen and are turning to four transfer‑portal recruits, including standout pass‑rusher Kahmari Brown, while returning veterans and emerging talents aim to fill the gap ahead of the next campaign.