IOWA CITY, Iowa (KWQC) – Iowa football welcomed fans back to Kinnick Stadium for spring practice Saturday as the Hawkeyes work to replace graduated quarterback Mark Gronowski as well as several key players drafted into the NFL.
Hank Brown took reps at quarterback, throwing to standout sophomore tight end DJ Vonnahme.
Three of last season’s Joe Moore Award-winning offensive linemen were drafted. One is returning: Kade Pieper.
Pieper said the team is focused on building its own identity.
“I feel like we’re just trying to be our own group. Last year was 2025, this year was 2026,” Pieper said. “We’re just trying to have fun, get better every single day. And that’s just what makes it fun. It’s getting better every day.”
Defensive back Deshaun Lee said spring practices have helped the team sharpen skills ahead of fall.
“I feel like it’s a great learning experience, especially just to sharpen your tools for the fall, man. Just being able to go against a different variety of receivers,” Lee said. “You got to change up your technique depending on who you’re going against. And that’s a part of just having that situational awareness and knowing who you’re going against and how you got to play and having a plan. So I feel like it’s making us all better at the end of the day.”
Copyright 2026 KWQC. All rights reserved.