​IOWA CITY, IA – NOVEMBER 22: Iowa players swarm onto the field before a Big Ten Conference college football game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Iowa Hawkeyes on Nov. 22, 2025, at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, IA. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Kids Day at Kinnick Stadium gets underway on Saturday, August 15th at 11am. The open practice will be the first time Hawkeye fans will have an opportunity to see the team in person since spring practice ended four months ago. We have to remember this is simply an open practice, much like the non-spring game open practice in April. That means everything should be taken with a grain of salt and things will certainly look different on September 5th against Northern Illinois. But at the end of the day, it IS a chance for fans to watch the Hawkeyes in person and get a glimpse at how things are progressing through the early days of fall camp.With those caveats out of the way, let’s dive in on what to watch for in Kinnick on Saturday.The QB BattleLikely the top thing on most fans’ minds heading into fall camp is who exactly will be taking the reins from Mark Gronowski under center for the Hawkeyes. Year three of Tim Lester’s tenure in Iowa City gets underway shortly and the trajectory through the first two season has been phenomenal in all but one area: passing yardage.Early reports from camp seem to indicate that former Auburn transfer Hank Brown has a slight edge, but this is a true competition and Kirk Ferentz has indicated the battle may well bleed into the season. It’s unlikely that one open practice makes or breaks this position battle, but it will no doubt be something we are all keying in on.Brown feels like the Ferentz pick. He’s got a more prototypical build and he is slightly less mobile, though OC Tim Lester would tell you he’s quicker than you think he is. He is also less prone to turnovers and more risk averse, traits Ferentz has long favored. Contrast that with the smaller, quicker Hecklinski who is considered more of a gunslinger. That worked well for Iowa with former QB Drew Tate, but runs against the DNA of Ferentz and the program he has built. If Hecklinski can show consistency without turnovers he has a shot to win the job. Saturday won’t be the answer, but it could be a clue.Receiving MixThe hype train on UT-Rio Grande Valley transfer wide receiver Tony Diaz has not just left the station, it’s continued to gain steam to be an almost unstoppable force heading into September. He took first team reps back in the spring after being in the program only a few short months and since that time the comments, clips and photos of him have done nothing but stoke the flames that have Iowa fans hot and bothered.1️⃣0️⃣👉1️⃣4️⃣ pic.twitter.com/42eB1LYoFF— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) August 13, 2026But just how much of the receiving mix will shift to the WR position? A lot of th