Iowa football 2024 winter position breakdown: Defensive backs

IOWA CITY — Iowa football has developed quite the reputation for picking off opposing quarterbacks.

Iowa’s 234 interceptions since 2009 are the best in the FBS, and Iowa’s 34 pick-6s during that span are tied for fourth-best.

The Hawkeyes again had a productive secondary in 2023 although it was not because of their ball-hawking numbers. Iowa’s 10 interceptions were tied for 65th in the FBS. Iowa’s 5.06 passing yards allowed per attempt, on the other hand, was second-best behind Ohio State’s 5.05.

Here is an early look at how Iowa’s 2024 secondary looks ahead of spring practices:

Who’s gone

The Hawkeyes have the challenge of replacing Cooper DeJean, the unanimous All-American who is expected to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. DeJean set the Iowa single-season record for interceptions returned for a touchdown with three in 2022. He was the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year in 2023 despite suffering a season-ending injury in November.

Brenden Deasfernandes departed via the transfer portal. His in-game opportunities were almost exclusively on special teams in his four years in Iowa City.

Who’s back

Iowa retained Sebastian Castro, Quinn Schulte and Jermari Harris — all starters in 2023 — for their sixth seasons.

Castro had a team-high three interceptions last season as the starter at Iowa’s hybrid “Cash” safety position and was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press. Schulte and Harris both had one interception last season.

Xavier Nwankpa, the former five-star recruit who will now be in his third season in Iowa City, also is expected to return.

Deshaun Lee received his first starting opportunities last season — first filling in for Harris during his sports wagering suspension and later filling in for the injured DeJean — and likely will start again in 2024.

Other returning scholarship players to watch include Koen Entringer, John Nestor and T.J. Hall.

Entringer, who will be a sophomore in 2024, caught attention for his hustle play on special teams that saved a touchdown in the Big Ten championship game. Nestor was one of two true freshmen on the 2023 roster to use a year of eligibility (along with tight end Zach Ortwerth), appearing in 10 games.

Kahlil Tate, Zach Lutmer and Teegan Davis red-shirted in 2023 and have four more years of eligibility remaining.

Who’s joining the mix

Jaylen Watson and Rashad Godfrey will join the Hawkeyes as incoming freshmen. They both have three-star ratings from 247Sports. Watson is the nephew of former Hawkeye great Fred Russell.

Way-too-early two-deep projections

Cornerback

Cornerback

Strong safety

Free safety

Cash safety

Outlook

The secondary was one of the Hawkeyes’ biggest beneficiaries of the excellent re-recruitment efforts of seniors deciding whether to use their extra years of eligibility.

While losing DeJean is not something to be understated, Iowa returns four-fifths of its starters in the secondary that held opponents to 5.06 yards per passing attempt last year.

Depth could be a question mark for the position group — it only has six returning players who took 30-plus defensive snaps last year, per Pro Football Focus — but reigning Broyles Award winner Phil Parker has an obvious track record of developing defensive backs.

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

More Iowa football offseason position breakdowns

• Quarterback

• Running backs

• Tight ends

• Defensive line

• Special teams

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com