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Hawkeyes open Big Ten play with similar depth chart from last week
Iowa football has been without its top running back and veteran receiver since the start of the season
Sep. 15, 2025 2:44 pm, Updated: Sep. 15, 2025 3:50 pm
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IOWA CITY — Heading into Big Ten action, Iowa football still is without two key weapons.
After missing the first three games of the regular season, the Hawkeyes’ depth chart didn’t have wide receiver Reece Vander Zee or running back Kamari Moulton listed.
Following Iowa’s win over UMass last week, head coach Kirk Ferentz said he wasn’t positive if Moulton would be ready for Friday’s game at Rutgers, but would know by Tuesday.
“He's really made progress pretty steadily,” Ferentz said postgame Saturday. “The trainer seemed optimistic at the end of last week, just where he's heading. Hopefully he'll be ready to go.”
Iowa’s offense has dealt with early-season injuries, including tight end Addison Ostrenga’s season-ending Achilles injury in Week 2. Running back Xavier Williams left Saturday’s game against UMass with his arm in a sling.
“I don't think there's anything broken, but he's sore,” Ferentz said. “So we'll have to take that a day at a time.”
Williams was listed in his normal spot on the depth chart against Rutgers.
Vander Zee was ruled out after dealing with a last-minute foot injury. He traveled with the team to Iowa State in Week 2, and didn’t have a boot on during Saturday’s game against UMass.
The 6-foot-4 sophomore started in eight games at wide receiver last year, scoring three touchdowns and catching 14 passes. He had the most receiving yards of any returning Hawkeye this season.
Moulton, a 5-9 sophomore running back, had three carries in the season-opener against Albany before leaving the game in a right arm sling.
Other notes
Receiver Kaden Wetjen was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday afternoon. He became the first known player in Iowa football history to record a rushing, receiving, punt return and kickoff return score in his career.
Wetjen scored a 20-yard run and had a 95-yard punt return against UMass. He’s already surpassed his career-high touchdowns in a single season.
Wetjen is the first Hawkeye to receive a conference player of the week honor this season.
The Big Ten also announced the Iowa’s game against No. 19 Indiana will be at 2:30 p.m. on Peacock. The game is sold out.
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