Iowa Hawkeyes 2023 Snapshot Profile: No. 18 Drew Stevens

The Iowa Hawkeyes have found their next star kicker in South Carolina native Drew Stevens!

A year ago, placekicker was a position of question for the Hawkeyes. Caleb Shudak had an extremely successful 2021 season, finishing as one of the most accurate kickers in school history. He was able to provide great stability after the departure of Keith Duncan the year prior. Duncan was one of the most successful kickers in program history, so Iowa really lucked out to have such a suitable replacement waiting in the wings.

Heading into the 2022 season, the Hawkeyes did not have their replacement for the graduated Shudak yet. There was a competition between junior Aaron Blom and true freshman Drew Stevens. We didn’t know who the placekicker was leading into the season’s first game.

All that changed quickly for the Hawkeyes. Stevens entered the season as the backup kicker but would earn his starting spot. The North Augusta product turned in a debut season for the record books, setting an Iowa freshman record with 16 made field goals.

Stevens was a player who joined the Iowa football program as an unknown walk-on. By the end of the year, he earned second-team All-Big Ten status from the league’s media, the Associated Press and Phil Steele. Stevens also was a second-team freshman All-American by College Football News. He was one of only two freshmen to be a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.

A year ago Stevens, wasn’t even projected to start. Now, he is a preseason first-team All-Big Ten choice by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. Here is a look at Iowa’s newest star kicker Drew Stevens.

Drew Stevens' Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: North Augusta, S.C.

Ht: 6-0

Wt: 199

Class in 2023: Soph.

Recruiting Profile

Before Iowa

• Named first-team Class 4A all-state kicker by the South Carolina coaches association as a senior

• First-team all-region and all-area as a senior

• Named to Touchstone Energy Bowl following senior season

Career Stats

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 8/1/2023.

Depth Chart Overview

There is no competition to win for Drew Stevens in 2023. After a stellar freshman season, the South Carolina native has earned his place as the starting kicker for the Iowa Hawkeyes. In addition, Stevens will also handle kickoff duties.

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Story originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire