Two years after getting a brief glimpse of action as Auburn’s QB1, Hank Brown may now be poised to claim the starting role for the Iowa Hawkeyes heading into the 2026 college football season.
ESPN’s Max Olson believes Brown who has a more classic NFL quarterback frame than his primary rival, Wake Forest transfer Jeremy Hecklinski could finally solve Iowa’s long-standing struggles with generating explosive pass plays.
Olson wrote: “Third-year Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester has an interesting decision to make between two passers who bring different playing styles to his system. Brown is a 6-foot-4 passer who started two games at Auburn and appeared in three games with the Hawkeyes last season. Lester praised his efficiency and ability to generate explosive plays this spring, an encouraging sign for an offense with the fifth-fewest 20-plus yard completions (45) in FBS since 2024. Hecklinski, a former Wake Forest transfer, is listed at 5-foot-11 and prides himself on being more of a playmaker and risk-taker. He is more unproven with 12 career snaps over his first two seasons. Lester saw encouraging improvement from both this spring and has no timetable for a decision.”
Hank Brown never truly received a fair shot at Auburn. Did Hugh Freeze make a mistake?
After Freeze grew dissatisfied with Payton Thorne’s performance in a shocking Week 2 loss to Cal during the 2024 season, Brown was given an opportunity against New Mexico. Despite facing modest competition, Brown completed 68% of his passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns. However, in another surprising defeat—a 24-14 loss to Arkansas—Brown threw three interceptions in the first half, effectively ending any postseason hopes before October.
Brown never took another snap at Auburn. By 2025, he and the rest of the quarterbacks had left the program. Now, with Kirk Ferentz and Iowa considering handing him the starting job, it’s reasonable to ask whether Freeze might have let a valuable asset slip away.
Still, it’s unfair to dwell too much on that thought. Thorne proved by the end of the season why he was the starter, and frankly, Brown would likely have fared worse than the 26 sacks Thorne absorbed that year. Brown’s biggest drawback was his lack of mobility. It’s hard to envision him evading pass rushers like R Mason Thomas and his crew any better than Thorne did or surviving the Georgia Bulldogs’ Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and his teammates.
In truth, it’s difficult to see Brown thriving in Iowa City. The Big Ten now features quicker, more athletic players. If Brown starts in 2026, he’ll face elite edge rushers such as Michigan’s John Henry Daley, Minnesota’s Anthony Smith, and Ohio State’s Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
We’ll find out whether Ferentz follows through on what could be an extremely risky decision—one that, nonetheless, would undoubtedly intrigue Auburn fans.
Leave a Reply