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The Iowa scouting report says Anthony Hawkins has performed well while filling in for Tyler Brown, who has dealt with an injury since spring. It identifies Zach Lutmer at safety, Deshaun Lee and Jaylen Watson at corner, and Jacob Wallace at CASH as the secondary's established structure; it supplies no firm return date for Brown.
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Iowa is starting Cam Buffington at MIKE and Jayden Montgomery at WILL, with experienced Landyn Van Kekerix at LEO. The reporter sees a more assertive group at the point of attack and useful pass-rush involvement after uneven linebacker play in 2025, an evaluation of the current group rather than a newly announced promotion.
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Iowa's defensive front remains comparatively inexperienced: Kenneth Merrieweather and Bryce Hawthorne were primarily rotation players last season, and the report describes a committee inside beginning with Will Hubert and Luke Gaffney. It also identifies Joseph Anderson as a pass-rush specialist on the edge, with front depth still a question despite encouraging speed.
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Beyond the already reported absence for Iowa State, this scouting report expects Iowa running back LJ Phillips' ankle injury to keep him out for a couple of weeks. That is a reported recovery expectation, not a guaranteed clearance date, and would extend reliance on Xavier Williams and Nathan McNeil behind Kamari Moulton.