CBS Sports takes note of Iowa Hawkeyes’ front seven entering 2023
The Iowa defensive line once again looks to be an area of strength heading into the 2023 season. While they do lose top-15 pick Lukas Van Ness to the Green Bay Packers, the Hawkeyes boast one of the most experienced front fours in the nation. Three senior starters return for one last run with the team, while junior Deontae Craig steps into a starting role just a year after leading the team in sacks with seven.
Iowa will trot out an incredibly talented defensive line, one that’s solid all-around with multiple players worthy of playing time. They are one of the best units in college football, even without a standout name on paper ahead of the season.
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Thanks to that fantastic defensive front, it has pretty much pushed any concern about the linebacker group out the window. Iowa will have to find a replacement for Butkus-Award-winning linebacker Jack Campbell, the 18th overall pick by the Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft. Seth Benson was also a staple of the defense, closing out his collegiate career with two seasons with over 90 tackles.
The confidence in the defensive front, the players coming up to become viable replacements, and Phil Parker’s ability to produce magic out of anything have led to some high confidence in Iowa’s front seven ahead of the 2023 season. They were most recently an honorable mention selection in Dean Straka’s look at the top-five front sevens in college football for CBS Sports.
Iowa finds themselves just outside of a powerful top five featuring: Georgia, Michigan, Penn State, Clemson, and LSU. Interestingly enough, Michigan, Penn State, and Clemson’s stellar linebacker player are specifically mentioned in their entries.
With the high level of returning defensive linemen, Iowa could be one of the nation’s elite in the front seven if their linebacker play can just come through!
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