Iowa
Iowa football pre-spring position breakdown: Wide receivers
Kaleb Brown leads position group after productive second half of 2023
IOWA CITY — Iowa football’s attrition at wide receiver in recent years has not been pretty.
None of the scholarship wide receivers from Iowa’s 2021 recruiting class are still on the roster for what would be either their junior or senior years in 2024. Out of the seven wide receivers from the 2020, 2019 and 2018 high school recruiting classes, only one stuck around for his senior season.
Now, the wide receivers have a new position coach (Jon Budmayr) and new playcaller (offensive coordinator Tim Lester). Here is an early look at what Budmayr and Lester are working with as they look to bolster production at the position:
Who’s gone
Nico Ragaini exhausted his eligibility after six years in Iowa City. Ragaini had 156 receptions in his Hawkeye career, which ranked fifth in program history. That included 31 receptions in 2023 although he only caught 41.9 percent of his targets, according to Pro Football Focus.
Diante Vines transferred to Old Dominion after four years in Iowa City. The Danbury, Conn., native had 12 receptions (on 24 targets) for 134 yards as a junior.
Who’s back
Kaleb Brown, the former Ohio State wide receiver, highlights the list of wide receivers expected to return in 2024. After not having any receptions in the first two months of the season, he had 22 receptions for 215 yards in Iowa’s last six games.
Seth Anderson had 11 receptions for 150 yards in 2023 after transferring from Charleston Southern. He hauled in 35.5 percent of his targets, per PFF.
Walk-on Alec Wick did not have any catches last season; the former Iowa City Regina standout had two catches for 31 yards in 2022, though.
After that, Iowa does not have any other wide receivers who have caught a pass in a Hawkeye uniform.
Breakout candidates include Jacob Bostick, Alex Mota, Jarriett Buie and Dayton Howard. Bostick will be a sophomore in 2024 while the others will be redshirt freshmen.
Who’s joining the mix
K.J. Parker and Reece Vander Zee will join the Hawkeyes as incoming freshmen. Parker is from Bellwood, Ill., and was coached by former Hawkeye Matt Bowen. Vander Zee, one of seven in-state recruits in the 2024 class, hails from Rock Rapids. Both have three-star ratings from 247Sports.
Way-too-early two-deep projections
Given Iowa’s depth at tight end, Iowa fans could be seeing a lot of 12 personnel (which would mean having two wide receivers on the field):
Wide receiver
Wide receiver
- Seth Anderson
- Jarriett Buie or Alec Wick
Outlook
Wide receiver is one of the biggest question marks for the Hawkeyes going into spring practices after years of meager production.
Brown is not someone to sleep on in 2024, especially if Lester can find creative ways of getting the ball in his hands.
But even at tight end-loving Iowa, the Hawkeyes realistically need at least another two wide receivers to emerge as viable threats for the offense to reach its full potential in 2024.
Editor’s note: This is the ninth of a nine-part series breaking down where each Iowa football position group stands at this point in the offseason.
More Iowa football offseason position breakdowns
• Quarterback
• Running backs
• Tight ends
• Offensive line
• Defensive line
• Linebackers
• Defensive backs
• Special teams
Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com
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Iowa State basketball forward Joshua Jefferson on being All-American
Iowa State basketball forward Joshua Jefferson on being a first team All-American.
Iowa State basketball forward Joshua Jefferson sat in the stands of the Barclays Center, the site of the 2026 NBA Draft, before he was selected in the first round on June 23.
Now he’ll be taking the court and calling that arena home. The Barclays Center is also the home venue for the Brooklyn Nets. Jefferson was drafted 28th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he was traded to the Nets shortly thereafter.
“Just seeing what they need for their team, they felt that I fit in a lot of spots because of my versatility,” Jefferson said of his pre-draft communication with the Nets organization. “I think I’m where I need to be. The Nets took a great chance with me, and I’m very thankful for that.”
The versatile 6-foot-9 Jefferson continues to put himself in exclusive Iowa State basketball company. A consensus All-American, Jefferson is the first Cyclone to be drafted since Tyrese Haliburton was taken 12th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Dating back to 2000, Jefferson is the sixth Iowa State product to be a first-round draft selection, joining Marcus Fizer, Jamaal Tinsley, Craig Brackins, Royce White and Haliburton.
He’s looking forward to playing alongside other versatile big men, new Nets teammates Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr.
“So much knowledge between the two, and I’m just going to be a sponge,” Jefferson said. “Asking them questions all the time and learning as much as I can. They’ve been through the ups and downs of the league, and it’s going to be on me to make sure that I’m seeking information.”
After starting out as a three-star recruit from Las Vegas, Nevada, Jefferson arrived at Iowa State as an under-the-radar transfer coming off a knee injury after two seasons at Saint Mary’s.
Once healthier, Jefferson had a breakout junior year in 2024-25 when he became the first player in Big 12 Conference history to record more than 450 points, 250 rebounds, 100 assists, 70 steals and 25 blocks in a season.
He followed up on his impressive introductory season in Ames with an All-American campaign as a senior in 2025-26. The do-it-all forward elevated his game in nearly every aspect on the court and showcased an improved perimeter jumper.
He averaged a career-best 16.4 points, with 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He shot 47.1% overall and 34.5% from long range. Jefferson became the first player in school and Big 12 history to record multiple triple-doubles during conference play in a season.
Jefferson achieved the feat with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against West Virginia on Jan. 2, then followed up with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists in a turnover-free outing in a win over UCF on Jan. 20.
He graduated from Iowa State as a two-time All-Big 12 player and the first Cyclone to earn consensus All-American honors since Georges Niang did so in 2016. He racked up 1,367 points, 737 rebounds, 352 assists, 179 steals and 70 blocks over his four years of college basketball, which includes two seasons at Saint Mary’s and two more at Iowa State.
Jefferson stands out with his versatility and toughness on both ends of the court. He can rumble down low but also possesses skills like a guard, from his playmaking ability, good decision-making and court vision. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions and is a strong rebounder.
“The thing about my game that’s going to translate pretty quickly is my physicality,” Jefferson said. “The NBA is a physical game right now, you have to be physical in the playoffs to win and that’s what I’m going to bring.
“Then, just going to continue working on my shot. Shooting it really well throughout this pre-draft process, a lot of reps. I think if I continue to do that, it’s going to keep me on the floor, and defending on both sides.”
Unfortunately for Jefferson, he didn’t get a proper ending to his collegiate career. He suffered an ankle injury in the opening minutes of the Cyclones’ first-round rout of Tennessee State in the NCAA Tournament. He missed the remainder of his team’s run in the Big Dance, and the short-handed Cyclones fell to Tennessee in the Sweet 16.
Now healthy and his NBA dreams realized, Jefferson is looking to start the next chapter of his basketball journey strong.
“When that injury happened, I feel like a lot of things were jeopardized from that, but going into pre-draft, I was like, just make the most of your workouts and attack rehab and then everything’s going to go how it needs to go,” Jefferson said. “Very blessed for this position that I’m in and just very thankful.”
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5
This story has been edited from its original publication to clarify that Jefferson was drafted by Minnesota and then traded to Brooklyn.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KUOO) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources continues to recommend no swimming at one beach in the Iowa Great Lakes.
Iowa DNR officials say Crandall’s Beach on the north shore of Big Spirit Lake continued to have high levels of E. coli bacteria in the latest tests conducted last week.
The agency says Emerson Bay, which was on the list of recommended no-swimming locations a week ago, has been removed from the designation as the levels there had dropped below the advisory guideline. Ainsworth Beach on the south side of Big Spirit Lake, along with those at Gull Point, Pikes Point and Marble Beach, were all listed as safe for swimming.
Officials caution that bacteria levels can change quickly depending on weather and other conditions.
Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxland’s News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app.
Copyright 2026 KTIV. All rights reserved.
It’s an underrated storyline that I can’t help but think will rear its head at some point this season for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The complete overhaul of the special teams unit is a massive change for this team after years of continuity under LeVar Woods, who is now coaching at Michigan State.
The Hawkeyes will see a new placekicker, punter, and return man. Drew Stevens is kicking in the NFL, Rhys Dakin followed Woods to Michigan State to punt, and Kaden Wetjen took his return talents to the NFL as well.
Chris Polizzi is at the helm now and has a blank canvas to fill out with his depth chart before Week 1 versus Northern Illinois.
Kicker
Kicker: Eli Ozick
The Hawkeyes only roster two kickers, Eli Ozick and Caden Buhr, who will compete for the starting job.
Ozick comes to Iowa from the North Dakota State Bison, where he was 16-for-18 last year, which earned him Second-Team FCS All-American notoriety. That performance translates well to Iowa, where I think he gets the nod in Week 1.
Should things go sideways, Caden Buhr could step in to kick. He was with Iowa last year and has one kickoff under his belt.
Punter
Punter: Boston Everitt
Only at Iowa is the starting punter such a focus. It’s what makes Iowa, well, Iowa. Iowa has dipped into its Australian pipeline with Boston Everitt, who comes from the University of Melbourne. Iowa’s trend of Australian punters gives Everitt the slightest of nods.
The other punter rostered is Tanner Philpott, a D3 AP All-American last year at Simpson College. Philpott has much more collegiate experience and could easily push for the job. It won’t be a shock to see Iowa give him in-game opportunities.
Long Snapper
Long Snapper: Ike Speltz
Long snappers simply don’t get enough love. No one knows their name or hears of them unless the snap has gone bad. It’s a thankless job, but someone has to do it.
Ike Speltz saw some long snapping action in 2025, which gives him the track here. He is also Iowa’s only long snapper listed on the roster.
Kick and Punt Returners
Punt Returner: Zach Lutmer
Kickoff Returner: Nathan McNeil
I make this prediction very begrudgingly. Zach Lutmer is going to be such a focal point on defense that exposing him to injury here is a bit scary. He is that talented with the ball, though.
Other names to watch for in the return game come from the running back room. I think Iowa could give kickoff return duties to the running back room. Nathan McNeil or Brevin Doll, two athletic backs, could get their chance on kickoffs.
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