Jaden Harrell, Karson Sharar, Jaxson Rexroth and Zach Twedt have what can’t be taught – experience. With training camp getting underway this week, Iowa’s senior linebacking foursome will utilize what they’ve learned while competing with a talented group lacking experience.

The Hawkeyes graduated a dynamite trio of starters after last season. Jay Higgins, Nick Jackson and Kyler Fisher consistently delivered on the second level of the defense. Their departures opened up opportunities for guys on the 2025 roster, however.

Derek Weisskopf, Cam Buffington and Preston Ries were highly-regarded, instate linebackers in the 2024 Class. The same could be said about incoming freshmen Burke Gautcher and Carson Cooney. Juniors Landyn Van Kekerix and Jayden Montgomery, along with sophomore Nolan DeLong, also will be hunting for game reps.

Harrell is aiming to replace Higgins at middle linebacker. Higgins developed behind Butkus Award winner, Jack Campbell, until his fifth season at Iowa. Between special teams and practice reps, Higgins was ready when his time came. Harrell sees that in himself.

“I’ve kind of got the linebacker thing down,” he said. “Now, it’s just knowing the overall defense. How can I know what the safeties are doing in front of me and just a better idea of what the front is doing to help me out.

Rexroth looks to take over at LEO for Fisher, who also walked onto the program. Like Fisher, Rexroth is striving to be a starting linebacker and serve on four special teams’ units.

“I still want to have a huge impact on special teams this year while also having an impact on defense,” Rexroth said. “To be able to do both is important to me. (Fisher) was always helping out young guys. That’s something that started with me in January. I’ve been trying to get them going.”

Sharrar is best suited for weak-side linebacker and is the favorite to replace Jackson at that spot. Twedt brings versatility to the position. Both guys have battled injuries throughout their time in college, so good health will be a prerequisite to cracking the lineup.

Special teams have served as the pathway to playing time for Iowa’s quartet of veteran linebackers. They’ve received limited work on defense outside of special situations, injury replacement or during blowouts. Higgins, who became just the 16th student-athlete in program history to be a unanimous consensus All-American last season, waited his turn to play defense while developing in special teams. So did Fisher.

Harrell also can lean on important experiences during the last two seasons if he’s on the field defensively in Week 1. The Urbandale High graduate was a key player in a goal-line stand during a win at Northwestern two seasons ago. Last year, he received meaningful reps at UCLA when Higgins was hurt.

“You can’t really put into words how valuable the experience was,” Harrell said of UCLA. “Even through the game wasn’t won, it was an experience I can take into this year and not the first snap of the first game this year being my first live rep.”

During the Music City Bowl last December, Rexroth absorbed important reps at LEO. His effort was aided by having someone very familiar with the position tutoring him when he was out of the game.

“It was definitely valuable to get in-game experience and having Kyler Fisher on the sideline telling me tips and things to look for definitely helped,” Rexroth said. “It just allowed me to feel more comfortable out there. It was a good boost going into this season.”

Despite being behind Higgins and Campbell on the two-deep, Harrell soaked up the experience. It wasn’t always easy, but he found value in contributing in ways he could.

“Being patient in the linebacker way, it was tough. But in other ways I was still on the field, special teams, a couple of goal-line plays. It still worked out. I was still getting time on the field,” he said.

The program’s emphasis on special teams is rewarding for their contributors. It’s realization can take time, though.

“That was definitely learned,” Rexroth said. “It doesn’t happen in a lot of other places. You had Jack Campbell and Seth Benson play on the punt team while they were starting for two or three years.

“Coach (Kirk) Ferentz says (special teams are) one of our three pillars. It’s defense, special teams, and strength and conditioning. I think sometimes it’s overlooked, but here we realize every rep is important and just to have an impact on the field at any time.”

It feeds into each guy doing whatever it takes to win.

“That’s important to me. I mean, there’s no guarantee you’re ever going to get on the field when you come come here and play. So just being able to get as many reps you can has always been important to me, especially coming as a walk-on,” Rexroth said.

A lesson for linebackers that don’t win time on defense this fall.