Iowa football 2024 winter position breakdown: Defensive line

Editor’s note: This is the second of a nine-part series breaking down where each Iowa football position group stands at this point in the offseason.

IOWA CITY — Iowa’s defensive line did not get much outside recognition in 2023 — it did not have any all-Big Ten first- or second-team honorees — but the lack of recognition certainly did not stem from a lack of results.

The Hawkeyes ranked eighth nationally in yards allowed per rushing carry at 3.14 and, after a slow start, racked up a whopping 13 sacks in their last three games.

Looking ahead to 2024, here is a look at where the defensive line stands with more than a month to go before spring practices:

Who’s gone?

Joe Evans is the most notable departure after he exhausted his final year of collegiate eligibility in 2023. Evans, a team captain in 2023, had seven or more tackles for loss in three consecutive seasons. He had 13.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 2023.

Logan Lee will be another significant loss after starting at defensive tackle in the Hawkeyes’ last 41 games. He was an all-Big Ten honorable mention in the last two seasons and had three sacks in each of the last three seasons.

The Hawkeyes also will be without two-year starter Noah Shannon. While Shannon found a way to contribute off the field, Iowa already has gone a year without his on-field contributions because of a season-long sports wagering suspension.

Anterio Thompson, who transferred in from Iowa Western Community College, left via the transfer portal after one year. He predominantly contributed on special teams.

Other scholarship players departing: Chris Reames (graduation)

Who’s back?

Deontae Craig has played 200-plus defensive snaps in the last three seasons, per Pro Football Focus. He was an all-Big Ten honorable mention in 2023 (and was a surprising snub the year before when he had 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks).

Yahya Black, at 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, was tied for fifth on the team with five tackles for loss in his first season as a starter at defensive tackle and made a big impact in ways that do not show up in a box score.

Cedar Rapids native Ethan Hurkett will likely step into the starting role left by Evans’ graduation. Hurkett was third on the team with six tackles for loss, and he was responsible for an interception at a pivotal moment in Iowa’s win over Nebraska.

Max Llewellyn and Jeremiah Pittman, both juniors, will be key reserves. Llewellyn appeared in all 14 games last year, and Pittman saw action in 10 games.

Aaron Graves, the former MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year, is expected to step into the other starting interior role after quickly acclimating to the college level in his first two years at Iowa. Brian Allen, also a third-year player, could be an impact player in 2024 on the outside behind Hurkett, Craig and Llewellyn.

Former Linn-Mar standout Luke Gaffney could be a walk-on to keep an eye on in 2024. Gaffney appeared on Iowa’s punt coverage unit during the bowl game.

Other scholarship players returning (years of eligibility remaining): Griffin Liddle (two), Jeff Bowie (two), Caden Crawford (three), Maddux Borcherding-Johnson (four), Chase Brackney (four), Kenneth Merrieweather (four)

Who’s joining the mix?

Iowa added four high school recruits in the 2024 class — Joseph Anderson, Chima Chineke, Drew Campbell and Devan Kennedy. Anderson has a four-star rating from 247Sports, and the others have three-star ratings.

Those will be names to keep an eye on in a few years rather than in 2024. Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz has never started a true freshman defensive lineman in his 25 years as head coach at Iowa.

Way-too-early 2024 two-deeps projection

Defensive end

Defensive end

Defensive tackle

Defensive tackle

Outlook

There are plenty of reasons for optimism with Iowa’s defensive line.

Black could put himself in the conversation for an early-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft with a productive 2024 season. It would not be a surprise if Craig, Graves and Hurkett take home all-Big Ten recognition as well.

The question for this position group is depth.

Iowa’s defensive line has been at its best when it can rotate several players in. Take 2022 as an example when the Hawkeyes had nine defensive linemen who took at least 160 defensive snaps, according to PFF.

The Hawkeyes’ top six defensive linemen form quite a formidable group — Black, Graves and Pittman in the inside and Craig, Hurkett and Llewellyn on the outside. How many players make developmental strides in the spring and summer and join those two trios could determine how high the ceiling is for the defensive line.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com