Logan Jones, Tyler Elsbury step into starter roles in Iowa football’s preseason depth chart

First depth chart since spring sheds light on Hawkeye position battles

Jul. 26, 2022 8:30 am, Updated: Jul. 26, 2022 12:39 pm

Iowa offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) runs through a drill during Iowa spring football practice at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on April 23. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

INDIANAPOLIS — The last time Iowa took the football field, Logan Jones was a reserve on the defensive line.

Now, he’s the first-team center, according to Iowa’s preseason depth chart released Tuesday ahead of Big Ten Media Days.

Tyler Elsbury, a sophomore, has the first-team left guard spot left by Kyler Schott. Elsbury played 22 snaps on the offensive line in 2021, per Pro Football Focus.

Spencer Petras remains the starting quarterback, with Alex Padilla listed as the No. 2 option.

On the other side of the ball, Joe Evans assumed the first-team defensive end spot now that Zach VanValkenburg is in the NFL. Evans was tied for the team lead with seven sacks in 2021.

Lukas Van Ness, the other player with seven sacks, is a second-team defensive tackle.

Cooper DeJean is listed at Iowa’s “Cash” position, and Cedar Rapids native Quinn Schulte has the starting free safety spot.

True freshman safety Xavier Nwankpa, a former five-star recruit, is not listed on Tuesday’s two-deeps.

Sophomore Aaron Blom is the starting kicker, backed up by true-freshman Drew Stevens.

Four redshirt freshmen are listed on Iowa’s second-team offense — wide receiver Alec Wick, left tackle David Davidkov, center Michael Myslinski and right guard Beau Stephens.

Wick, a walk-on, earned the second-team spot after fellow wideout Jackson Ritter suffered a season-ending injury.