Kirk Ferentz is facing the biggest special teams rebuild of his 26-year tenure at Iowa. LeVar Woods, the longtime special teams coordinator, bolted for Michigan State on December 17. Thirteen days later, starting punter Rhys Dakin followed Woods to East Lansing, leaving Iowa without a punter, a coordinator, or a clear plan. Ferentz has brought in North Dakota State kicker Eli Ozick and promoted defensive analyst Chris Polizzi to special teams coordinator. But the punter situation? That’s where things get interesting.​

On Saturday, Iowa landed a commitment from Simpson College transfer punter Tanner Philpott. Philpott is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound Waukee Northwest product who has dominated at the Division III level over the last two years. He has two years of eligibility remaining. 

He announced his decision on Instagram with a message, “I want to thank God, my family, and friends for their support in this decision. I also want to thank Simpson for all of the opportunities that I was given, which helped me achieve things that I never thought was possible. With that being said, I will be transferring to the University of Iowa to finish my collegiate career with two years of eligibility. I can’t wait to see what this incredible opportunity has in store. GO HAWKS!”

The numbers back up Iowa’s decision to take a chance on the local product. Over two seasons at Simpson in Indianola, Iowa, Philpott punted 90 times for an average of 40.3 yards. He dropped 31 punts inside the 20-yard line. What’s more impressive is the trajectory. He averaged just 37.5 yards per punt as a freshman before exploding to 43.9 yards per punt as a sophomore. He nearly matched what Dakin averaged over his two years as a Hawkeye. 

His ability to pin opponents deep improved as well, going from 15 punts inside the 20 as a freshman to 16 as a sophomore despite having 10 fewer attempts. That kind of growth suggests he’s far from a finished product, which is exactly what Iowa needs after losing Dakin’s consistency and Taylor’s All-American pedigree over the past two years.​

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Philpott’s sophomore season was nationally recognized. He earned AFCA Division III Coaches’ second-team All-American honors and Associated Press D-III third-team All-American recognition. Coming out of Waukee Northwest in 2024, he was ranked as the 61st-best punter nationally by Kohl’s Kicking, so the tools were always there. Now he’s getting the chance to prove he can compete at the highest level. And Iowa’s special teams situation couldn’t be more wide open. With no proven punter on the roster and a new coordinator in Polizzi trying to establish his own identity, Philpott has a legitimate shot to step in and contribute immediately.​

Polizzi steps into big shoes

Chris Polizzi has his work cut out for him. But landing Tanner Philpott shows he’s not wasting any time making his mark. Ferentz announced Polizzi’s promotion from defensive analyst to special teams coordinator in early January after LeVar Woods departed for Michigan State.

Polizzi, who spent the 2025 season working with defensive coordinator Phil Parker, brings a diverse coaching background that includes stops at Tulsa, UT Martin, UCLA, and Utah. “I am honored by the opportunity to be the Special Teams Coordinator at the University of Iowa,” Polizzi said when his promotion was announced.

“I appreciate the trust Coach Ferentz has placed in me. I look forward to contributing to a program focused on tough, smart, and physical football.”

At UT Martin, Polizzi served as co-special teams coordinator for kickoff and kickoff return before becoming defensive coordinator. He helped the Skyhawks win back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Championships in 2021 and 2022.​

Kirk Ferentz’s decision to promote from within rather than hire externally shows his confidence in Polizzi’s ability, which has been a “foundational part of our program’s success,” according to the head coach. “Chris is an excellent coach with a proven track record, and his background with several programs gives him the experience and insights that will continue to contribute to our program,” Ferentz said.

Polizzi wasted little time proving Kirk Ferentz right, hosting Philpott for a visit earlier this month and convincing the D-III All-American to make the jump to Big Ten football.