10 Most Indispensable Hawkeyes for '23

Iowa Players the Team Can Least Afford to Lose

IOWA CITY, Iowa - I almost killed this long-running preseason piece this year. I've come close before. It survived at least one more trip around the sun, however. 

A list of Iowa's Top 10 players would work and spark debate. Still, the element of accounting for position depth when ranking the 2023 Hawkeyes adds context for team success. 

Now, none of us see what the decision makers see. That's literal. We ain't at practice. On top of that, we don't exactly know what they think about what they're watching. 

It's still fun. People that watch the sports want to predict what will happen. You may have heard. Wagering on these outcomes is pretty popular. 

So, we roll on for another year producing preseason content fueled by prognostications. You can read game-by-game predictions HERE, position rankings HERE and a list of five breakout Hawkeyes for '23 HERE. 

Next up? It's the indispensables, from 10 to 1: 

Joe Evans, DE

Evans earned second-team All-Big Ten laurels from conference media last season. He tied for the team lead in sacks (6.5) for a second year in a row. 

The Hawkeyes boast solid potential replacements in backup edges Ethan Hurkett and Max Llewellyn behind starters Evans and Deontae Craig (6.5 sacks in '22). Those guys likely will see rotational reps this fall. 

Iowa is deeper at tackle than end. It's a lot better at the latter with Evans terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. 

Kaleb Johnson, RB

Johnson's inclusion on this list speaks more to his high ceiling than a lack of trust in his backups. Leshon Williams and Jaziun Patterson are capable of filling in admirably. 

It's the glimpses of what we saw from Johnson in '22 that would create concern if he were absent, however. He was just scratching the surface of his tremendous upside last fall in rushing for 779 yards, a program record for freshman. 

If the offensive line finds consistency, Johnson can be one of the Big Ten's best backs. 

Quinn Schulte, FS

Iowa traditionally reloads its secondary. As a result, the worry level for replacing a starter with a backup ranks lower compared to other positions. 

Schulte (48 solo tackles, 2 interceptions in '22) showed that last season when stepping in for the departed Jack Koener as the starting free safety. He was named a first-team midseason All-America by Pro Football Focus. 

As the quarterback of the defense, Schulte will be leaned on more this season than last with losses at linebacker. That would be a lot on the plate of his backup, redshirt freshman Koen Entringer. 

Nick Jackson, LB

The Hawkeyes are replacing the Butkus Award winner in Jack Campbell along with fellow linebacker starters Seth Benson and Jestin Jacobs. That's a lot.

Enter Jackson, a portal addition from Virginia, where he twice was All-ACC. In '23, he can bridge the gap between the outstanding trio that departed and an interesting group of inexperienced, younger players at this position. 

The Hawkeyes might be fine if one of them was pressed into duty. They're likely better off with Jackson, who has 354 tackles in 33 career college starts.  

Jay Higgins, LB

Higgins gets his chance after learning behind Campbell and serving in an important role on special teams. His institutional knowledge of the program is incredibly valuable for a position group with very little game experience beyond he and Jackson.

The Indianapolis native's value increases when considering his versatility. He can line up in the middle or on the weak side. 

Jackson is used to being in the middle. If he is uncomfortable at WLB this month, Higgins can seamlessly slide over there. 

Nico Ragaini, WR

You may have heard - The Hawkeyes have experienced turbulence at this position for too long. Adding Seth Anderson (Charleston Southern) and Kaleb Brown (Ohio State) from the portal this offseason provided hope brighter days were ahead. Neither development was bigger than Ragaini coming back for his sixth season. 

Beyond his 125 career receptions, Ragaini brings valuable experience to a position that lacks it. Diante Vines (10), Alec Wick (2) and Kaleb Brown (1) are the only other wideouts on the roster with a college reception.  

Iowa's struggles at this position without Ragaini early last season illustrate his value. And the Hawkeyes are less experienced there this year than last. 

Drew Stevens, PK

Stevens broke out with the most field goals (16) ever for an Iowa freshman. He converted all but two of his attempts, both beyond 40 yards, and nailed all 24 of his extra-point tries. He made six of eight kicks from 40 and beyond. 

Stevens' value increased this offseason when it was announced that his backup, Aaron Blum, allegedly bet on Hawkeye football games. Stevens beat out Blom early last season for the starting gig. 

If you've watched any Iowa Football for the last quarter of a century under coach Kirk Ferentz, which I know you have, it's understood that it needs a strong place kicker. Nate Kaeding, Daniel Murray, Marshall Koehn, Keith Duncan and others secured free drinks in town with their heroics. 

Tory Taylor, P

Punting is winning at Iowa, where enjoying a field-position advantage serves as a key part of the philosophy. Taylor carries out that assignment as well as anyone that's played the position here, save, perhaps, Reggie Roby. 

The Associated Press named Taylor as a second-team All-American in '22 after he averaged 45.4 yards on 82 punts. More impressive was the fact that 47 percent of his punts during the last three seasons have pushed opponents inside of their 20-yard line. 

It's not just the raw statistics with Taylor. He has a knack for delivering in the clutch. 

Cooper DeJean, CB/PR

We saw what happened when DeJean was knocked out of last year's Nebraska game due to an injury. It wasn't good. 

That's not to say one or two of the inexperienced guys in the secondary couldn't fill in admirably if DeJean was unavailable. There's just no denying how important is his presence after a season that saw him produce 56 solo tackles, five interceptions (three Pick-6s) and 13 passes defended. 

In addition to being a lockdown corner for a team that lost Riley Moss to the Denver Broncos, DeJean showed last season he's dynamic as a punt returner. His 16.5-yard average on 10 attempts would have ranked second nationally if he had enough returns to qualify. 

Cade McNamara, QB

I strongly considered DeJean, Taylor and Stevens for the top spot. In the end, I settled on the sport's most important position. 

Iowa invested in McNamara, winning the Michigan transfer from the portal. He's captured a Big Ten Championship as a starting quarterback with the Wolverines in '21. 

Maybe Joe Labas or Deacon Hill could step in and not miss a beat. Perhaps Marco Lainez is the rare true freshman that hits the ground running. 

Those are unknowns with longer odds. We know McNamara can win games at this level. There's a lot riding on his right arm.