Welcome again to our countdown to the 2026 Iowa football season!
Since May 28, we have been counting down the ultimate 100 days till the Hawkeyes swarm out of the Kinnick Stadium tunnel for his or her season opener in opposition to Northern Illinois on Sept. 5.
Advertisement
Each day of the countdown has primarily featured an article profiling one of the current members of the 2026 staff based mostly on their jersey quantity.
Reading this countdown is extremely beneficial that will help you go the grueling summer season months earlier than soccer begins, and it might be exhausting to consider it, however we’re getting nearer to 1 month till the season.
Today marks 44 days till kickoff, so which means it is time to try No. 44 – defensive lineman Kenneth Merrieweather.
Get to know him right here.
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
High School: Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School
Year: Junior
Height: 6-foot-3
Advertisement
Weight: 263 kilos
Other notable gamers to put on No. 44: A recognizable title that wore No. 44 continues to be a very fashionable title right this moment. That participant is in fact former tight finish Dallas Clark. Clark solely performed two years in Iowa City, however turned a family title for his All-American efficiency throughout Iowa’s good Big Ten season in 2002.
Like many Iowa gamers, Merrieweather (who is not associated to former security Kaevon Merriweather) has slowly labored his method up the depth chart and gained worthwhile expertise from veterans alongside the way in which.
The Hawkeyes had been loaded at defensive finish the final two seasons, however the room has seen a significant overhaul this offseason. Ethan Hurkett, Aaron Graves, Max Llewellyn, and Brian Allen all graduated/transferred, leaving a significant place up for grabs.
Advertisement
There’s a variety of names you may throw in these roles, however one would assume Merrieweather is in line to fill one among them. He earned enjoying time in each sport throughout the 2025 season, recording 14 tackles and one quarterback stress.
Merrieweather’s three tackles throughout the USC had been a brand new career-high, and it is worthwhile sport expertise in high-leverage conditions like these that may assist put together him for a beginning function in 2026.
To assist provide you with an concept of what kind of participant Merrieweather is, take a look at this detailed scouting report from from former 247Sports recruiting analyst Allen Trieu:
“Plays with good motor and has agility allows him to beat blockers in a short area and has a good spin move as well as inside moves,” Trieu wrote. “Active, disruptive, finds his way into passing lanes. Likely a strongside end but not impossible he grows into having value as an inside guy also.”
Advertisement
Don’t miss out on our Roundtable neighborhood and the newest information! It’s utterly FREE to affix and offers you the possibility to win FREE Hawkeye swag.
Share your ideas, interact with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the FREE Roundtable APP and keep much more related and get notified when new articles are posted.
Click here to affix the enjoyable!
HawkeyeRoundtable writer Brad Schultz has coated the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To ship him story concepts, scoops, or criticize his writing, attain him at [email protected]