Iowa football: Three breakout candidates for 2025 season
And that's most definitely the case for the Iowa football team entering the 2025 season.
The Hawkeyes have many well-known and established stars on their 2025 roster. From preseason All-Americans like Logan Jones and Gennings Dunker to fan-favorites like Kaden Wetjen and Rhys Dakin. All of those players will be critical to Iowa's success this season. But, they can't do it alone. They'll need the rest of the roster to step up and match their level.
This includes players who may be flying under the radar right now, just waiting to break out. Who exactly are those players for the Hawkeyes in 2025?
Let's take a look at three breakout candidates for Iowa football this season.
Reece Vander Zee
Iowa fans have been waiting a long time for a star wide receiver to break out. The last wide receiver to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season was Marvin McNutt back in 2011. The Hawkeyes have had great receivers like Matt VandeBerg, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and Brandon Smith since then, but none of them have passed that 1,000-yard mark. I think Vander Zee could do that at some point during his Iowa career.
The 6-foot-4, 207-pound sophomore made some splash plays as a true freshman last season, catching 14 balls for 176 yards and three touchdowns. He only played in nine games due to injury and played with a rotating carousel of middling quarterbacks. Vander Zee has the size and speed to be a matchup nightmare on the outside, and another year in Tim Lester's West Coast system should help.
Add in some better and more consistent quarterback play, and I think Vander Zee could be in for a huge 2025 season. Maybe not 1,000 receiving yards this season, but I think he'll establish himself as a great wide receiver with the potential to reach that mark in the coming years.
Derek Weisskopf
Derek Weisskopf was a stud in high school. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound redshirt freshman linebacker was an Adidas All-American at Williamsburg High School. As a senior, he was the Gazette's Co-Player of the Year and District MVP, as well as being invited to the Shrine Bowl. Weisskopf was a four-star signee in Iowa's 2024 class, the 197th-best prospect in the country and the top recruit in Iowa's class.
Weisskopf's resume certainly speaks for itself, but that's not the biggest reason why I'm predicting him to break out in 2025. The linebacking room is thin entering this season following the departures of Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson. While Weisskopf is listed as a backup to Jaxon Rexroth right now, there will be an open battle for playing time. And I think Weisskopf could be on the field more than many fans might expect.
With that additional playing time, don't be surprised if Weisskopf shows why he was so highly touted coming out of high school. I think Hawkeye fans have their next great linebacker on the roster in Weisskopf, and he'll get to show off his talent this fall.
Zach Lutmer
If you asked me the player I'm most confident in to break out this season, my answer would be Zach Lutmer. The 6-foot, 205-pound sophomore safety impressed a ton on special teams last season and will now get the chance for an increased role on defense. Lutmer had 14 tackles last season and snagged his first career interception against UCLA. And I think the sky is the limit for Lutmer.
Lutmer is currently projected as the backup to Koen Entringer (who I think will have a great season), with senior Xaver Nwankpa on the other side. I think Lutmer will be hard to keep off the field, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of three-safety sets in 2025 with Lutmer, Entringer, and Nwankpa on the field at the same time. I think Lutmer has the mindset, physical traits, and knowledge of the game to be a great safety at Iowa.
I'm predicting a breakout for Lutmer and for him to be the Nwankpa replacement in 2026. The coaches think highly of him, his teammates respect him, and I think many Iowa fans will learn Lutmer's name in 2025.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
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