2021 Iowa football preview: Depth chart, schedule, position breakdowns and more

After a year of nearly-empty stadiums, shortened schedules and postponed games, the start of the Iowa football season brings even more excitement in 2021 than most years.

Plus, Kinnick Stadium now has beer for sale.

Ahead of No. 18 Iowa’s opener against No. 17 Indiana, scroll through the depth chart, schedule and The Gazette’s preseason features to get ready for Saturday.

Watch on YouTube

Podcast: Subscribe to the On Iowa Sports network, home of Hawk Off The Press

Newsletter: Subscribe to Leah Vann’s weekly Hawk Off The Press newsletter

Twitter: Follow @LVann_Sports, @Hlas and @GazetteOnIowa

2021 Iowa football depth chart

Here is what the two-deeps look like entering Iowa’s season opener Saturday.

Quarterback

Starter

7 Spencer Petras, 6-5, 233, jr. (San Rafael, Calif.)

Backup

8 Alex Padilla, 6-1, 197, soph. (Greenwood Village, Colo.)

Position preview: Iowa quarterbacks bond through unique fits to the same offense

Running back

Starter

15 Tyler Goodson, 5-10, 199, jr. (Suwanee, Ga.)

Backup

21 Ivory Kelly-Martin, 5-10, 200, sr. (Plainfield, Ill.)

Position preview: Ivory Kelly-Martin overcomes mental battle with ACL injury to be Iowa’s trusted second running back

Fullback

Starter

38 Monte Pottebaum, 6-1, 246, jr. (Larchwood)

Backup

40 Turner Pallissard, 6-0, 245, jr. (Frankfort, Ill>)

Wide receiver

Starters

3 Tyrone Tracy Jr., 5-11, 201, jr. (Indianapolis, Ind.)

89 Nico Ragaini, 6-0, 191, jr. (East Haven, Conn.)

Backups

6 Keagan Johnson, 6-1, 197, fr., (Bellevue, Neb.)

16 Charlie Jones, 6-0, 188, sr. (Deerfield, Ill.)

Position preview: New Iowa football receivers complement the veterans

Tight end

Starter

84 Sam LaPorta, 6-4, 249, jr. (Highland, Ill.)

Backup

85 Luke Lachey, 6-6, 248, r-fr. (Columbus, Ohio)

Position preview: Son of an Ohio State legend, Luke Lachey is finding his way at Iowa

Offensive line

Starters

LT: 79 Jack Plumb, 6-7, 296, jr. (Green Bay Wis.)

LG: 73 Cody Ince, 6-4, 282, jr. (Luck Wis.)

C: 65 Tyler Linderbaum, 6-3, 290, jr. (Solon)

RG: 63 Justin Britt, 6-4, 302, soph. (Indianapolis, Ind.)

RT: 56 Nick DeJong, 6-6, 292, soph. (Pella)

Backups

LT: 78 Mason Richman, 6-6, 296, r-fr. (Leawood, Kan.)

LG: 76 Tyler Elsbury, 6-5, 301, r-fr. (Byron, Ill.)

C: 54 Matt Fagan, 6-5, 287, jr. (Council Bluffs)

RG: 75 Josh Volk, 6-4, 308, r-fr. (Cedar Rapids)

RT: 77 Connor Colby, 6-6, 298, fr. (Cedar Rapids)

Position preview: Former Cedar Rapids Kennedy prep Connor Colby pushing for playing time as a true freshman

Defensive line

Starters

LE: 92 John Waggoner, 6-5, 266, jr. (Des Moines)

LT: 99 Noah Shannon, 6-0, 289, jr. (Aurora, Ill.)

RT: 94 Yahya Black, 6-5, 287, r-fr. (Marshall, Minn.)

RE: 97 Zach VanValkenburg, 6-4, 267, sr. (Zeeland, Mich.)

Backups

LE: 13 Joe Evans, 6-2, 248, jr. (Ames)

LT: 91 Lukas Van Ness, 6-5, 264, r-fr. (Barrington, Ill.)

RT: 85 Logan Lee, 6-5, 277, soph. (Orion, Ill.)

RE: 45 Deontae Craig, 6-3, 263, r-fr. (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

Position preview: Joe Evans on the edge of being Iowa’s next big playmaker on the D-line

Linebacker

Starters

MLB: 31 Jack Campbell, 6-5, 243, jr. (Cedar Falls)

WLB: 44 Seth Benson, 6-0, 229, jr. (Sioux Falls, S.D.)

Cash/Leo: 4 Dane Belton, 6-1, 205, jr. (Tampa, Fla.)

Backups

MLB: 34 Jay Higgins, 6-2, 227, soph. (Indianapolis, Ind.)

WLB: 37 Kyler Fisher, 5-11, 225, soph. (Farnhamville)

Cash/Leo: 5 Jestin Jacobs, 6-4, 236, soph. (Englewood, Ohio)

Position preview: About 50 pounds later, Jestin Jacobs looks to contribute at linebacker for Iowa

Secondary

Starters

LC: 8 Matt Hankins, 6-0, 185, sr. (Lewisville, Texas)

RC: 33 Riley Moss, 6-1, 194, sr., (Ankeny)

SS: 26 Kaevon Merriweather, 6-0, 211, jr. (Belleville, Mich.)

FS: 28 Jack Koerner, 6-0, 204, sr. (Des Moines)

Backups

LC: 27 Jermari Harris, 6-1, 185, soph. (Chicago)

RC: 22 Terry Roberts, 5-10, 180, jr. (Erie, Pa.)

SS: 29 Sebastian Castro, 5-11, 204, soph. (Oak Lawn, Ill.)

FS: 30 Quinn Schulte, 6-1, 201, soph. (Cedar Rapids)

Position preview: Terry Roberts makes the most of his opportunities

Kicker

Starter

10 Caleb Shudak, 5-8, 178, sr. (Council Bluffs)

Position preview: In Year 6, Caleb Shudak finally has placekicking duties

Punter

Starter

9 Tory Taylor, 6-4, 231, soph. (Melbourne, Australia)

2021 Iowa football schedule

Sept. 4 — No. 17 Indiana, 2:30 p.m. (BTN)

Sept. 11 — at No. 7 Iowa State, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Sept. 18 — Kent State, 2:30 p.m. (BTN)

Sept. 25 — Colorado State

Oct. 1 (Friday) — at Maryland, 7 p.m. (FS1)

Oct. 9 — Penn State

Oct. 16 — Purdue, 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 30 — at Wisconsin, 11 a.m.

Nov. 6 — at Northwestern

Nov. 13 — Minnesota

Nov. 20 — Illinois

Nov. 26 (Friday) — at Nebraska, 12:30 p.m. (BTN)

Dec. 4 — Big Ten Championship (at Indianapolis), 7 p.m. (Fox)

Which of these games are the most tantalizing? The Gazette’s Mike Hlas published his rankings over the offseason.

1. Iowa State

2. Indiana

3. Wisconsin

4. Northwestern

5. Penn State

6. Illinois

7. Nebraska

8. Minnesota

9. Purdue

10. Maryland

11. Colorado State

12. Kent State

Must-read Iowa football features

» For Iowa football, a fast start is imperative in 2021

» What the transfer portal means to Iowa, and how it compares to Big Ten opponents

» For Iowa football in 2021, just being good won’t be good enough

» Hey Iowa fans, the Hawkeyes missed you

» Iowa football Book Club: What the team read this offseason