Iowa Football: Hawkeyes Release Week 8 Depth Chart vs. Wisconsin

You know the old saying: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, the Iowa Hawkeyes certainly don’t appear to be broken. While we may have had our doubts early on against Illinois, the Hawkeyes came back to score 35 unanswered points en route to their fifth straight win of the season and seventh straight win over the Illini.

Following yet another victory, this week’s depth chart is predictably similar to a week ago with really only two changes of note.

Noted Changes

• After missing the last two weeks, Mark Kallenberger is back on the depth chart this week as the backup right tackle behind Jack Plumb, who took the starting job last week
• With Kallenberger back, grad transfer Coy Cronk is now sitting third string at right tackle behind the starter Plumb and backup Kallenberger
• Julius Brents has fallen off the depth chart after being listed as the backup left corner behind Matt Hankins all season
• Brents is replaced by redshirt freshman Jermari Harris

Takeaways

The biggest thing here is really the disappearance of Julius Brents from the depth chart. Brents is absent because, as of Monday afternoon, he’s not expected to play for the Hawkeyes again following his entrance into the transfer portal.

Despite the high ranking and major recruiting win Brents was, he hasn’t been a significant contributor for the Hawkeyes. As noted above, he did have one interception and four passes defended on the year, but Hawkeye fans likely recall hearing his number called most on special teams this year with Riley Moss locking down the starting corner role.

With Brents gone, Jermari Harris will get his shot should anything happen to Moss. Harris doesn’t have the same length or recruiting cache of Brents, but he was a Phil Parker special two years ago and shows promise.

On the other side of the ball, the only real change this week is the return of Mark Kallenberger to the depth chart. Kallenberger has missed the last two games and it remains to be seen whether he can go this week, but the potential of added depth against a defensive front from Wisconsin that has given Iowa fits is a major plus.

We’ll see if Kallenberger or grad transfer Coy Cronk works in at all this week after missing time. If history is any indication, the Hawkeyes may need to try a few combinations up front before they find anything that works against the Badgers.