There's a lot of new faces on this unit this year, and like several other positions, Iowa is going to rely on the "Next Man Up" mentality to succeed.
Iowa football has experienced a lot of turnover at several key positions this year, but the position that may have been impacted the most was the defensive line.
Aaron Graves, Ethan Hurkett, and Max Llewellyn all played a major role in another successful defensive season for the Hawkeyes in 2025, combining for 19.5 sacks, but the trio graduated in the offseason, leaving a massive hole in this unit.
That wasn't all, though. Jonah Pace also graduated, and Brian Allen Jr., who chipped in 16 tackles, transferred to Vanderbilt.
It's safe to say that defensive line coach Kelvin Bell and defensive coordinator Phil Parker will have to find a lot of new contributors in 2026, but who will that be?
Here's your 2026 Iowa defensive line preview.
Returners
Kenneth Merrieweather: Merrieweather has never been a starter before, but he does have 18 games of experience (including all 13 games last year), so he's one of the best options for Bell to turn to. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Merrieweather tallied 14 tackles and one QB pressure last year, which are promising numbers as he prepares for an increased role this season.
Bryce Hawthorne: The other returning man that will likely see an increased role this year is Bryce Hawthorne. The South Dakota State transfer made a nice impact in his first season as a Hawkeye last year, collecting 15 tackles, three of which were for loss. Phil Parker has already mentioned the 6-foot-3, 298-pound Hawthorne as someone he's hoping to see contribute this year, so it appears Hawthorne is indeed in line for a big role for this group this year.
Other Names To Watch
Kahmari Brown: Brown was one of the best pass rushers in the Coastal Athletic Association (formerly the Colonial) in 2025, totaling a league-best 12 sacks and three forced fumbles. Brown left the Phoenix tied for the all-time career sack record (16.5), and became the first Elon player to ever tally double-digit sacks in a season. Brown is a really intriguing name to watch, especially early in the season. He was a fantastic pass-rusher for Elon at the FCS level, but how quickly can he translate that success to the Big Ten?
Iose Epenesa: There's another Epenesa in the black and gold, folks. Everyone knows the stories of A.J. and Eppy Epenesa, but what will Iose, the youngest Epenesa, accomplish during his Hawkeye career? The highly-anticipated five-star recruit played in just four games last season, but it's safe to say the probably be called upon a lot more this year.
Brice Stevenson: The Holy Cross transfer tallied 37 tackles for the Crusaders last year. Like Brown, we still need to see if he can produce at the Power Four level, but he will be a good depth piece. It's worth mentioning that Stevenson is only 6-feet tall, which is shorter than the average defensive lineman, but at 287 pounds, he's the type of guy that is perfect to take space in the interior.
Lance Ignold: Ignold only played six games for a 3-9 Northern Illinois team last year due to injuries, but did impress in limited action, recording 17 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Ignold's best game came against Mississippi State, where he registered a career-best seven tackles. The 6-foot-5, 271-pound Ignold will miss the first half of the season due to a back injury, but when he gets healthy, he's a promising depth piece for this Hawkeye team.
Luke Gaffney: Could Gaffney be yet another walk-on success story for the Hawkeyes? The Robins, Iowa native has slowly worked his way up the depth chart during his time in Iowa City, which has culminated into playing time in each of the last two seasons. The 6-foot-2, 288-pound Gaffney was one of eight seniors named to the 2026 Player's Council, which means he was chosen by his peers to help shape team policies.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
