#44

Kenneth Merrieweather

DL · Iowa · So. · #44

Returning to Iowa for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Kenneth Merrieweather

DL · Iowa · So · #44

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#809 national
CFB
College
Iowa
2024–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2024Iowa8-5HC: Kirk Ferentz · Run-heavy
2025Iowa9-4HC: Kirk Ferentz · Run-heavy, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Iowa1471.00.0------
2024Iowa1--0.50.5------
Career1571.50.5------

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 18 · 2025

W 34–27

at Vanderbilt

1 TOT

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 7 on the road.

How he plays

Play style

Wins his gap play after play.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Iowa

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive line · Iowa

Returning around him

  • 49% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
  • 7 Iowa players drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: +7 net (15 in / 8 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Iowa · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #42 · 2026 recruiting class #26

DNA match

Player DNA

Two-Gap Base

Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.

IDL

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Nathaniel Smith’s 2023 season.

Army · 2023

#2

Devin Morgan

Buffalo · 2024

81%
#3

Jordan Renaud

Alabama · 2025

81%
#4

Ja'Kerrius Wyatt

Middle Tennessee · 2022

81%
#5

Mays Pese

Arizona · 2025

81%

Matches Nathaniel on

Sack rate
Weight
Height

Differs from Nathaniel on

Class year (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Femi Oladejo's sophomore season at California (2022).

Femi Oladejo

84%match

California · 2022

#2

Donovan Dozier

Liberty · 2025

83%
#3

Trey Wilson

Baylor · 2024

80%
#4

Isaiah Shirley

NC State · 2025

78%
#5

Fred Johnson

South Carolina · 2025

78%

Matches Femi on

Class year
Height
TFL rate

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #8202

Final rank
#8202
Avg #8629.3
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #8202 this season.