IOWA CITY — The quarterback play at Iowa football’s spring open practice confirmed what head coach Kirk Ferentz and offensive coordinator Tim Lester have echoed over the last few weeks: This is a tight competition and doesn’t appear close to being resolved.
Neither Jeremy Hecklinski nor Hank Brown was a cut above the other in their performances at Kinnick Stadium on April 25. Neither was terrible. Neither was great.
“It’s really pretty close,” Ferentz said of the starting quarterback race. “Overall, I think we’re gaining ground. There’s some things that would give you some reason for optimism. But it’s always tough to judge, too, because you’ve got guys in and out right now and it’s been tough to keep receivers out there on the field for the duration of spring ball. But when we get them all out there, I think we’ll be a little bit better and see some things that are encouraging.”
In the 11-on-11 scrimmage, Hecklinski was unofficially 10-of-22 for 107 yards. The redshirt sophomore was inconsistent with his accuracy. But it wasn’t all bad. Hecklinski also made some good throws, including a gorgeous deep ball to receiver KJ Parker, who showed great concentration to come up with a contested catch.
Meanwhile, Brown was unofficially 3-for-10 for 67 yards. On paper, that looks significantly worse than Hecklinski. But Brown’s outing wasn’t as poor as the numbers might indicate. Receiver Reece Vander Zee drew a penalty in the end zone on a ball thrown by Brown. One of Brown’s incompletions was a catchable ball to tight end Thomas Meyer, who wasn’t able to come up with it. On another, Brown was under heavy duress by defensive back Zach Lutmer, who went untouched on a blitz.
The Hawkeyes’ defense did not have a bunch of holes. That isn’t the sexiest storyline, considering how much attention there is around Iowa’s passing game, but that side of the ball was sturdy during the open practice. Another one of Brown’s incompletions came as a result of a notable pass breakup in the end zone by Marcello Vitti.
The true freshman defensive back, who flashed in coverage and showed off his physicality, is a young player to keep tabs on.
“He’s done a good job,” linebacker Jayden Montgomery said of Vitti. “Throughout spring ball, he’s had some opportunities where he had to step in with some of the ones and twos groups, where he generally, as a freshman, you probably wouldn’t. So, he’s done a really nice job. He’s learning quick, which is good. That’s all you can ask for out of a young guy.”
One of Brown’s three completions also came on a deep ball to KJ Parker, who climbed the ladder over two defenders to haul it in. Parker was one of the standouts during the open practice, displaying big-play potential and concentration in traffic.
Iowa’s wide receiver room was not at full strength. Tony Diaz and Evan James, a pair of transfers who combined for nearly 1,700 receiving yards last season, did not participate. Jarriett Buie and Terrence Smith were also out. So when evaluating Iowa’s passing game, it’s important to know that Hecklinski and Brown didn’t have a full arsenal of pass-catching weapons at their disposal.
“In an ideal world, everyone would be out there,” Ferentz said. “I was thinking about that the other day, too: It would’ve been a better world if Brody Brecht hadn’t gone to baseball. He might’ve been (Reece) Vander Zee, right? That’s really how we evaluated him. We projected him that way. But we also knew he was a Major League Baseball talent. I’m so happy for Brody. It’s worked out beautifully for him, and he did the right thing. But those kinds of things disrupt. Medical issues you can’t control. So, it’s just part of the game.”
Iowa’s running game was quiet. That unit, which is loaded with Kamari Moulton, L.J. Phillips Jr., Nathan McNeil and Xavier Williams, did not produce any major highlights. That’s unlikely to be a sign of things to come, but it was just surprising that they had such a forgettable day.
On the bright side of the QB1 battle, neither Hecklinski nor Brown committed a turnover. Ball security is something important to Ferentz when choosing the starter, whenever that decision might come.
“Ball security,” Ferentz said. “You don’t want a quarterback thinking about that all the time, but they have to have a proper respect for the ball. It is the most important position that way because they touch the ball every play, so that’s a big part of it. And then ultimately, it’s just about moving the team. Does the team follow the lead? And are they able to execute whatever it is that we ask them to do? That’ll change player to player, probably, as you go through it.”
Hecklinski and Brown each threw one touchdown during an 11-on-11 red zone situation before the scrimmage began. Brown dropped a beautiful ball to tight end DJ Vonnahme, who made an incredible effort to come down with the catch. Hecklinski threw a strike over the middle to Dayton Howard.
It’s worth mentioning that Iowa had four healthy quarterbacks available — Hecklinski, Brown, Jimmy Sullivan and Ryan Fitzgerald. It’s a step in the right direction that Iowa’s presumptive starter, whether that be Hecklinski or Brown, has been participating this spring, considering the program’s recent injury troubles at that position.
And remember, neither one of these quarterbacks is especially experienced at the college level. Brown made just two starts at Auburn. Hecklinski has still yet to make a collegiate start.
Iowa’s spring practice is now over. But the battle for the starting quarterback job between Hecklinski and Brown is not.
“We’ll see how it looks in August,” Ferentz said. “But it could even be during game competition when you make decisions. You just never know how it’s going to go. So, we’ll just play it as it unfolds and take whatever appears.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Analyzing performances of Jeremy Hecklinski, Hank Brown at Iowa open practice
Reporting by Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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