Iowa's quarterback competition for Week 1 against Northern Illinois is between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown. Both players have spent the previous season as backups and are vying for the starting position.
Key points
Iowa's QB competition is between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown
Mark Gronowski has left the team
Both quarterbacks were backups last season
No clear leader emerged during spring practice
Iowa will play Northern Illinois in Week 1
Iowa HawkeyesNorthern Illinois HuskiesJeremy HecklinskiHank Brown
The storylines of the summer and into fall camp for the Iowa Hawkeyes are headlined by one major component: who is going to be starting for Iowa at quarterback in Week 1 when they welcome the Northern Illinois Huskies to Kinnick Stadium?
Beyond that, does that individual necessarily have the starting job locked up, or could it continue into the regular season? The battle is between Jeremy Hecklisnki and Hank Brown after the departure of Mark Gronowski. The duo each spent last year in a backup role to Gronowski while learning the scheme of offensive coordinator Tim Lester.
The competition saw no clear leader through spring practice, with the two splitting reps with the first-string offense rather evenly as things carried on. With the summer months and training camp ahead of us to decide who is going to be QB1 for the Hawkeyes, get to know Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown a bit more.
Vitals
Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Oct. 25, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Oct. 25, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Jeremy Hecklinski
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 188 pounds
Q&A
Who are the Iowa Hawkeyes' quarterbacks competing for the starting job?
The quarterbacks competing for the starting job are Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown.
What happened to Mark Gronowski, the previous Iowa quarterback?
Mark Gronowski has departed the team, opening the competition for the starting quarterback position.
How did the Iowa quarterback competition perform during spring practice?
During spring practice, there was no clear leader, with Hecklinski and Brown splitting reps evenly with the first-string offense.
When will Iowa face Northern Illinois in the upcoming season?
Iowa will face Northern Illinois in Week 1 at Kinnick Stadium.
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Class: Sophomore
Hank Brown
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 215 pounds
Class: Junior
Background
Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) throws a pass during a football game agains the Massachusetts Minutemen Sept. 13, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) throws a pass during a football game agains the Massachusetts Minutemen Sept. 13, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Jeremy Hecklinski
High School: Walton High School
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
Previous College: Wake Forest
Hank Brown
High School: Lipscomb Academy
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Previous College: Auburn
Recruiting
IOWA CITY, IA - OCTOBER 25: Quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates after running in a touchdown in the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on October 25, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IA - OCTOBER 25: Quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates after running in a touchdown in the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on October 25, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz gives team updates during a press conference as spring training begins Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa.
Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz gives team updates during a press conference as spring training begins Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa.
Jeremy Hecklinski
Jeremy Hecklinski would be quite the fiery, gunslinging mentality manning the quarterback position for the Iowa Hawkeyes. At 5-foot-11, he has to use his mobility to find clear throwing lanes and extend some plays outside of the pocket.
This can come with a high-risk versus-reward battle for Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes. How much risk will they take on with Hecklinski's moxie, which could see some turnovers, to take off the training wheels and find out what his upside looks like, forcing the ball down the field?
Hank Brown
Hank Brown is your classic Iowa football quarterback. And when I say that, it is not at all meant in a derogatory way. Hank Brown is very smart and careful with the football. He knows the defense that Iowa has, and if he can manage the game, protect the ball, and make a few throws, the Hawkeyes are going to be in pretty good shape.
The question for Hank Brown comes in games where Iowa's defense gets tested, and the Hawkeyes are forced to open it up a bit more and let it rip. He has the size to stand in the pocket and let it rip, but it would be coming out of his shell to do this if needed.
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