Iowa Post-Spring Position Analysis: S

Quinn Schulte Comes Back, Xavier Nwankpa Steps In

Iowa safety Quinn Schulte calls out a play during a game against South Dakota State's on Sept. 3, 2022 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)

QB Analysis

CB Analysis

RB/FB Analysis

LB/Cash Analysis

OL Analysis

DL Analysis

TE Analysis

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Iowa's dominant 2022 defense lost key pieces at each position group. Lineman Lukas Van Ness, cornerback Riley Moss, and linebackers Jack Campbell and Seth Benson all have hooked on with NFL teams. Their losses were written about in position analysis linked above. 

At safety, that guy is Kaevon Merriweather, who signed a free-agent deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Hawkeyes must replace his performance and, equally as important, his leadership. 

Pro Football Focus tabbed Merriweather as a first-team All-American in the Fall, while the Sporting News and Associated Press named him to their second-teams. The Michigan native picked off three passes, defended six passes, forced a fumble and recorded a pair of tackles for loss. 

Merriweather arrived at Iowa as a lightly recruited prospect who some scouts thought would end up playing college basketball. That pedigree differed from his expected replacement. 

247Sports ranked second-year sophomore Xavier Nwankpa (6-2, 210) as a five-star prospect, the top safety in the country for the '22 Class and the No. 53 player overall in the cycle. Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame and just about everyone else in the country wanted him. 

Nwankpa served notice during December's Music City Bowl against Kentucky that the hype could be for real. The Pleasant Hill (IA) Southeast Polk graduate delivered a 52-yard Pick-6, defended another pass and recorded seven solo tackles. He spent most of his first college season standing out on Iowa's dominant special teams. 

Former walk-on Quinn Schulte (6-1, 208) returns after starting all 13 of the Hawkeyes' games at free safety in '22. Pro Football Focus named him a mid-season, first-team All-American. He racked up 71 tackles (43 solo, .5 for loss) with an interception and seven passes defended. 

The leadership lost with the graduation of Merriweather, a team captain, shifts to Schulte in '23. He can ease in Nwankpa's transition to starter, allowing the sophomore to focus on his assignments. 

Sebastian Castro (5-11, 207) is expected to start at Cash. The  senior from Illinois is discussed in our linebacker/cash analysis. He could slide to one of the safety spots should either Schulte or Nwankpa be sidelined by injury. 

That's partially because nobody else at the position has college game experience on defense. Castro is down as the No. 2 strong safety on the latest depth chart, while redshirt freshman Koen Entringer (6-0, 199) shows up as the second-team free safety. 

Walk-on Jaxon Rexroth (6-2, 213) is ascending at safety and cash. The Cedar Rapids Xavier product would be a candidate to take over at the cash spot if Castro was needed at safety. 

Another walk-on, junior Jamison Heinz (6-0, 205) played cornerback against Nebraska in the '22 regular-season finale. He was lining up at safety during the open practice last month. 

Walk-on Kael Kolarik (6-0, 211) returns for his second college season. Incoming recruits from Chicago, Kahlil Tate and John Nestor, along with classmates Zach Lutmer and Teegan Davis are arriving in June. 

The added depth from the '23 recruiting class is much needed. It will be interesting to see how that group develops and who ends up where in the secondary. It's an important time for them.