Iowa absolutely rolled Northern Illinois on Saturday, chalking up a dominant 40-0 victory to kick off their season. But forget the score for a minute, because the biggest news is what we saw from the quarterback spot. It looks like the Hawkeyes found their guy, and the offense is already looking like a completely different beast than what we’ve seen recently.
Hank Brown Is THE Guy
All eyes were on the quarterback battle heading into this game, and while both guys showed flashes, Hank Brown made his case undeniable. The Auburn transfer went 12-of-20 for 129 yards and a touchdown, and get this: he didn’t even play a snap in the second half! The 6-foot-4 signal caller brought serious zip on his passes and made some great reads, showing off that great arm even with a couple of overthrows. He looked cool, calm, and collected in the pocket, and the offense just flowed so much more smoothly when he was in the game. Jeremy Hecklinski also got in there, going 7-of-16 for 76 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, including a pick in the end zone on fourth-and-goal. He showed some rapport with the tight ends and Reece Vander Zee, but after seeing Brown, there’s no question who should be starting. Brown earned the right to be the full-time starter against Iowa State next week, and honestly, going forward.
Diaz and Moulton Are Absolutely Electric
It wasn’t just Brown who shined. We’re talking about a potential star in Tony Diaz at wide receiver. The third-year wideout hauled in seven receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown, and the dude was open all afternoon! He legitimately could’ve had another 100 yards and two scores if the passes were a bit more accurate. Diaz looked different out there, like the best wide receiver to come through this program in the last decade. And then there’s the run game. These Hawkeyes were absolutely dominant on the ground, racking up 289 total rushing yards on an insane 7.6 yards per carry. Kamari Moulton exploded for 182 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries, doing most of his damage in the first quarter. This ground attack, led by Moulton, should be dominant this season.
The Only Real Worry? Injury Bug Bites Early
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, though. The only real concerning note from Saturday was the early injury bug. The Hawkeyes saw three major contributors depart the game early with injuries. Hopefully, those aren’t serious, because with how good Brown, Diaz, and Moulton looked, this team has some serious potential if they can stay healthy.
Next up is the rivalry game against Iowa State, and trust me, you’ll want to see how Brown handles that pressure as the full-time starter. If Diaz and Moulton keep this up, Iowa’s offense is going to be a problem for a lot of teams. Get ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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