When you look at where the Iowa wide receiver room was for the first few weeks of last season compared to now, the change is unprecedented. The Hawkeyes lined up for their games against Iowa State and Nevada with just one scholarship wide receiver available. It was Arland Bruce IV. He totaled four receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown in those two games. Bruce has since transferred out of the program, along with Keegan Johnson who was injured for the 2022 season. Iowa also lost Brody Brecht who will turn his focus to baseball.
The Hawkeyes will return a couple of veterans this year who got healthy mid-way through the 2022 season while adding some highly-touted wide-outs in the transfer portal. The overhaul of the wide receiver room this offseason was crucial for Cade McNamara and the Iowa offense to work to get out from the basement of FBS as far as offensive production.
Returning Wide Receiver Vets
With a handful of new players on offense including the quarterback, it’s extremely valuable for Iowa to have retained two veterans in the program. Nico Ragaini will be a sixth-year player in black and gold. He returns to the position with over 1300 yards and four touchdowns in his career. He caught the memorable touchdown pass against Penn State in 2021 to help lift the Hawkeyes to victory and vault the program to the number two ranking in the country – their highest ranking since 1985.
Diante Vines was listed as the other starting wide receiver on the preseason depth chart released just a few days ago. He is also a veteran in the program but has had less time on the playing field. He’s played in 12 games throughout his two seasons in Iowa City compared to Ragaini’s 49 games played. Vines will be a redshirt junior this season after coming off a 2022 season that gave him just 10 receptions and 94 yards. The uptick in numbers for Vines figures to be substantial given the talent and experience upgrades made this offseason on offense. To help Vines and Ragaini get open, Iowa brought in two additional, and significant threats to the passing game.
Transfer Portal Additions
The biggest name entering Iowa City, other than McNamara in December, was Kaleb Brown who committed to the Hawkeyes in May. His first real-time with the team will be during fall camp. Kirk Ferentz recognizes that Brown is more of a “leap of faith” with limited college film. He caught only one ball at Ohio State as a true freshman. However, Ferentz stated that their evaluation of Brown came down to whether he would recruit him from Ohio State if he were coming out of high school like they did a year ago. Ferentz’s answer to that question is “Yes.” Brown was a top-100 high school recruit from St. Rita High School in Chicago. The upside he brings to the passing game is immense and the staff feels good about what they’ve seen with him so far this summer. Tracking Brown in this offense through fall camp will be enticing.
Seth Anderson transferred in as the reigning Offensive Player of the Year in the Big South Conference. He finished his 2022 season with 628 yards on 42 catches with seven touchdowns. He’s a 6’-0” and 180-pound redshirt sophomore. The Iowa transfer actually went to the same high school in Georgia as former Hawkeye running back Tyler Goodson. Anderson led his team last season with five contested catches. Iowa will need a receiver threat who can elevate and Anderson can be that guy. Brown and Anderson are not listed on the newly released depth chart for fall camp, but they figure to be in the week one starting rotation.
Depth Pieces
The coaching staff has been impressed with what Reese Osgood and Jacob Bostick have done this offseason. They are currently listed at two and three behind Ragaini, respectively. Osgood redshirted in 2022 and did not see the field. He stood out during spring practice enough to jump to second on the current depth chart. Bostick is a receiver who may still very likely rotate in during the season. Bostick also redshirted last season. He is 6’-2”, one of the taller wideouts in the room, and could develop into a vertical threat for this offense.
A few other former walk-ons to mention are Alec Wick and Kaden Wetjen. Both of whom have caught some attention during spring and bowl practice. The thin depth chart early last season allowed Wick to start the team’s first two games. He played in eight additional games in 2022. It’s limited experience, but it’s great to have that deep in the depth chart. Wick is currently listed as the number two wide receiver behind Vines. Wetjen transferred to Iowa prior to the 2022 season and has made noise both this spring and last spring in the receiver room. The two won’t likely be regulars in the lineup with the addition of Anderson and Brown.
Keeping the receiver room healthy through fall camp could be a big difference-maker for this 2023 football season. The struggles of 2022 were immediate and had much to do with the lack of pass-catching options. Iowa’s 2023 wide receiver room has numbers, experience, and an uptick in talent. With a new quarterback in the system and an improved offensive line, Iowa’s wide receivers will be more productive. Especially considering the number of guys available.
Photo courtesy: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
