Hecklinski Shines as Iowa's QB Race Heats Up at Kids' Day
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa Hawkeyes opened the doors to Kinnick Stadium on Saturday for the 18th annual Kids' Day scrimmage, giving roughly 2,000 fans their first and only look at the 2026 squad before the season opener. While the team won't play a real game for three more weeks, the quarterback competition took center stage — and one contender made a strong statement.
Hecklinski Pulls Ahead in Quarterback Battle
Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown both struggled early, but once the scrimmage shifted to 11-on-11 drills, Hecklinski separated himself from the pack. The young quarterback finished with an unofficial stat line of 17-of-25 for 205 yards and five touchdowns, including several impressive throws that drew cheers from the Hawkeye faithful.
His first touchdown came on a four-yard fade to Evan James, and he continued to find success throughout the day. Hecklinski connected twice with tight end DJ Vonnahme on perfectly placed balls in tight coverage, and also hit Reece Vander Zee in stride for a highlight-reel score.
Brown, meanwhile, struggled to find his rhythm. The quarterback showed good mobility with 25 rushing yards, but his passing left much to be desired. He finished 9-of-21 for just 42 yards and no touchdowns, missing open receivers on multiple deep attempts.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz was quick to caution against reading too much into a single practice.
“I'd look at them over nine days. I think they've done some good things, and some things have got to get better, like every position. It's clearly cloudy right now,” Ferentz said.
Evan James Emerges as Playmaker
While the quarterback battle grabbed headlines, Furman transfer Evan James made his case as a key weapon in Iowa's offense. The second-year receiver was making plays all morning, building on a 2025 season where he collected 796 receiving yards and seven touchdowns at the FCS level.
Ferentz praised the young receiver's development after practice.
“He's a good football player. He's really young guy. I think this is his second year on campus, and so I think he's got a good future, but it's just day to time,” Ferentz said.
Kicking Competition Wide Open
The battle to replace Drew Stevens is far from settled. North Dakota State transfer Eli Ozick and second-year kicker Caden Buhr both took attempts from various distances, with Buhr outplaying Ozick on Saturday.
Buhr converted 5-of-6 attempts, while Ozick went 3-of-7, including a 57-yard try that fell well short. Special teams coordinator Chris Polizzi indicated the race remains competitive, and Ferentz acknowledged the kicking game needs improvement.
“It was better Wednesday night when we were in here. But right now we got to zero in on that and just keep going,” Ferentz said.
What's Next for the Hawkeyes?
Iowa opens the 2026 season against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5 at Kinnick Stadium. With fall camp continuing, the coaching staff will use the remaining practices to evaluate the quarterback position and other key battles before making final decisions.
For Hawkeye fans, Saturday offered an encouraging glimpse of the offense's potential — especially if Hecklinski can build on his standout performance.