Tim Lester taking additional time to evaluate Iowa’s quarterbacks
Iowa Offensive Coordinator Tim Lester calls out a play to quarterback Hank Brown during spring practice Saturday April 26, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Hawkeyes are getting close to making a decision on who’s going to be the starting quarterback for this upcoming season, and their Offensive Coordinator has the inside scoop.
Tim Lester is patiently evaluating an intense competition between Jeremy Hecklinski, and Hank Brown. He understands that one of them will complete the puzzle of an offense that appears to be on the rise. Iowa fans are eager to find out who’ll get the nod, but there’s a process, and Lester wants to see one of the gunslingers separate himself from the other.
“There are millions of attributes, and it’s about which ones you choose to prioritize,” Lester said. “I think the biggest thing is you have to let it play out.”
Mechanics, footwork, timing, delivery and overall knowledge of the playbook goes a long way in Lester’s eyes. However, it gets even deeper than that. Lester is also putting Hecklinski and Brown in pressure situations, watching how they perform in the red zone, and their execution in short-yardage situations.
Brown has the stronger arm of the two, and better accuracy on the deep balls. Meanwhile Hecklinski has a faster release on the ball, and the mobility to escape the pocket and extend plays. Lester is throwing a lot at them to see how much they can handle. After all, it worked last year with Mark Gronowski, and Lester has specific packages that fits each of their strengths.
“We are not even done installing everything yet, so we need to get them in all the different scenarios because you have to be able to do everything as a quarterback,” he said. “We have to put them in two-minute drill situations to see if one is naturally better than the other as the decision gets closer.”
There’s high anticipation for the 2026 campaign, considering Iowa is No. 22 in the preseason AP Poll, and Lester doesn’t want to disappoint in his third year orchestrating the offense.
The Hawkeyes are set at the skill positions, and have an All-American anchoring the offensive line, so the quarterbacks won’t have to carry the heavy workload. Lester just wants each quarterback to limit the mistakes as far as turnovers, distribute the ball efficiently and take what the defense gives them.
“We are going to let it run its course, but it is going to come down to something small, whether it is two-minute drill execution or special situations, that is a big part of the offense,” the 49-year old said. “Running the ball, creating explosives, and utilizing every blade of grass on the field are essential.”
At the end of the day, great quarterbacks make others around them better, and with fall camp coming to a close, all eyes will be on the quarterback room. It’s no mystery that solid quarterback play could make the Hawkeyes Big Ten contenders. Regardless, patience is a virtue, and Lester is feeling no pressure during the evaluation process, knowing the Hawkeyes could potentially be fielding their best offense this decade.
“I have told the quarterbacks that they have a great group around them, a great line in front of them, and great running backs, so they all have to go out there and play, but they have people around them who can win one-on-one matchups.”
