IOWA CITY — The Iowa football program faces a unique hole in its special teams unit.
The Hawkeyes are the first program (ever) to enter an offseason facing the challenge of replacing an American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American long snapper. The AFCA named Iowa snapper and Neenah, Wisconsin native Luke Elkin its first All-American long snapper after adding the position to its annual honors last year.
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Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods walks on the field during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Charlie Neibergall
Earlier this offseason, head coach Kirk Ferentz called finding Luke Elkin’s successor the most intriguing position battle in the program.
Redshirt freshman Ike Speltz, a Van Meter native, entered the offseason as the lone long snapper on the roster before the program added Bryant Worrell as a transfer from Boston College in April.
During football media day earlier this month, Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods called the battle between Speltz and Worrell “pretty heated” after two weeks of fall camp.
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“Both of them bring something different,” Woods said. “Ike has been here for a little bit, knows how our program is run, knows the expectations within the room and within the program. He’s done a good job thus far. He had all the snaps here in spring. Then, enter Bryant Worrell, who snapped at different schools, different locations, but he hasn’t really done it here at Iowa. So, I feel like the competition is still neck-and-neck. There's no this guy is the first guy, this guy is the second guy because it’s still wide open right now and I’m excited about the competition.”
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Louisville wide receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (24) evades Boston College long snapper Bryant Worrell (46) during the second half of an NCAA football game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Chestnut Hill, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper) Greg M. Cooper
Woods also explained what he wants out of his long snapper and what to expect from the player who wins the battle.
“What a good snapper will do is he will allow the punter and the kicker to stay in rhythm and not have to bury anything,” Woods said. “He makes the holder’s job easy, he makes the punter’s job easy. Then, for us, that’s always been a threat in (kick) coverage as well.”
Elsewhere on Iowa’s special teams unit, the Hawkeyes face a two-man race for holder on the field goal unit.
Woods said punters Rhys Dakin and Ty Nissen split holding duties during the first two weeks of fall camp.
“They’re pretty even right now,” Woods said. “I would say Ty has the upper hand just because he has game experience right now, but I don’t think Rhys is far behind him.”
When asked about the potential for a quarterback to take on those duties, Woods did not completely rule out the possibility.
“I think all that’s on the table,” Woods said. “Typically, we will ask a guy, 'Did you do it in high school?' And, the guys that raise their hand that we feel have potential to do it in college, we test them out. We train them. We’ve done it with guys in the past as well.”
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Iowa place kicker Drew Stevens (18) celebrates with teammate Ty Nissen after kicking a 46-yard field goal during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Charlie Neibergall
Before dreams of a fake field goal with Ryan Fitzgerald, Jimmy Sullivan or Hank Brown hitting a wide open receiver for two (or six) could materialize, Woods clarified the holder competition remains solely between Dakin and Nissen.
“All of them (the quarterbacks) have held at some point,” Woods said. “But, right now, we haven’t been totally focused on those guys holding. The two we have right now have done a really good job.”
However, that does not mean a fake field goal is completely out of the cards.
“Ty can throw, Rhys can throw, Zach Lutmer can throw, (Ryan) Fitzgerald can throw,” Woods said. “All the guys that have worked as a holder for us (can throw). If you can’t throw, it’s going to be really hard to be a holder.”
Don’t expect to see Lutmer line up on Iowa’s field goal unit despite his inclusion in Woods’ list of potential options. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t do it.
“I did hold a little bit last year, practiced it a little bit,” Lutmer said. “I haven’t been practicing it lately. I have to get my holding skills down, but, if they need me there, I can try to slide there. … They might kick my finger if I go in.”
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Iowa's Luke Elkin (39) and Ty Nissen (99) carry the Heroes Game trophy off the field after an NCAA college football game against Nebraska, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Charlie Neibergall
Despite his lack of recent practice, the former Central Lyon star turned rising defensive back for the Hawkeyes said it is not an emergency scenario if he does take the field for a PAT or field goal.
“If we see No. 6 roll out there, it might be a fake,” Lutmer joked. “(No), that means he (Woods) has confidence in me so that means I did it well in practice.”
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Ethan Petrik is a University of Iowa beat writer for the Lee Enterprises network. Follow him on X or send him an email at ethan.petrik@wcfcourier.com.
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