The Iowa Hawkeyes have a rich history with some of the game’s titans suiting up in the black and gold. Hawkeyes Wire is taking a look back at Iowa’s finest offensive playmakers, defensive standouts, specialists and coaches from its entire history.
Who makes the cut on Iowa’s all-time offensive two-deep? Which quarterbacks define the Hawkeyes’ history books? How about the running back position? Who has stolen the show in Iowa’s backfield?
Along the skill positions, which wide receivers and tight ends make it among the Hawkeyes’ all-time two deep. Who has been paving the way on Iowa’s offensive line historically? Let’s take a look at the best offensive players in Hawkeyes history.
Check out our other College Wire all-time lineups: Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin
Starting QB: Chuck Long
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
There’s really no other answer at the top. Chuck Long was the 1985 Heisman Trophy runner-up, won the Maxwell Trophy and was an unanimous consensus All-American. He ended his Iowa career with 74 passing touchdowns and he became the first quarterback in NCAA history to ever pass for more than 10,000 career yards. Still today, Long’s 10,461 career passing yards are more than 2,000 passing yards clear of the next-closest Hawkeye’s total.
Backup QB: Brad Banks
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
In 2002, Brad Banks was simply electric. Banks earned Associated Press National Player of the Year, was the 2002 Davey O’Brien Award recipient and was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. He passed for 2,573 yards and 26 touchdowns en route to a Heisman runner-up finish.
Starting RB: Nile Kinnick
Des Moines Register via USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa’s lone Heisman Trophy winner. Nile Kinnick won the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Trophy and the Walter Camp Trophy in 1939. The Hawkeyes’ football stadium, Kinnick Stadium, is named after Nile. Kinnick passed away in the Caribbean sea in a crash of his fighter plane while on a training flight June 2, 1943, as an ensign in the United States Navy.
Backup RB: Shonn Greene
Matthew Holst/Iowa City Press-Citizen
Look, because of the history, it’s hard to supplant Kinnick at No. 1 on the all-time Iowa running back depth chart. Shonn Greene…