IOWA CITY, Iowa – Who are the 10 players that the 2016 Iowa football team could least afford to lose?

That’s not same as asking who are the 10 best players on the Iowa football team because role and circumstance help to determine individual importance.

That explains why Iowa’s starting kicker is ranked fourth on my list even though we don’t know who it is at this stage. Mason City native Miguel Recinos was listed as the starting kicker throughout spring practice, but a lot can happen between now and the Sept. 3 season opener against Miami (Ohio).

The top two spots were easy choices, unlike the rest of the list, especially when it came to putting the eight players in order.

1. C.J. Beathard, 6-2, 215, Sr., quarterback: He is the heart, soul, arm, and sometimes, the legs of the Iowa offense. It’s scary to think of the offense without Beathard, who has a 13-2 record as Iowa’s starting quarterback. That’s meant more as praise for Beathard than criticism of the other quarterbacks.

2. Desmond King, 5-11, 200, Sr., defensive back: Iowa rarely has had a shutdown cornerback as talented as King. It’s rare for Iowa to even have a shutdown cornerback. Adding to King’s value is that the Detroit native also excels as a punt and kick returner.

3. Sean Welsh, 6-3, 288, Jr., offensive lineman: The Ohio native has come a long since being burned out and missing spring practice in 2015. He is now Iowa’s latest star on the offensive line and can play tackle, guard or center, where he is currently listed as the starter.

4. Miguel Recinos, 6-1, 190, So., kicker: Considering Iowa’s history of playing in close games under Kirk Ferentz, you could argue that the starting kicker should be ranked even higher. It’s reasonable to think that field-goals could determine two or three games this season, which could be the difference between finishing 10-2 or 7-5.

5. Josey Jewell, 6-2, 235, Jr., linebacker: The Decorah native is a leader in every sense of the word. He led Iowa with 126 tackles last season, earning second-team all-Big Ten accolades. He also excels as a team leader, using his toughness and work ethic to inspire others.

6. Parker Hesse, 6-3, 250, So., defensive end: It’s imperative that Iowa put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and who better to do that than the most experienced defensive end on the team? Hesse doesn’t have to be the second coming of Drew Ott, but he also can’t be average, either.

7. Matt Vandeberg, 6-1. 190, Sr., receiver: The South Dakota native won’t wow you with his athleticism, but he will catch almost every pass thrown his way. He led Iowa with 65 catches for 703 yards and four touchdowns last season. His 65 receptions rank third in school history for a single season. Iowa needs other receivers to step up, but VandeBerg has to pick up where he left off last season for the offense to reach its full potential.

8. Jaleel Johnson, 6-4, 310, Sr., defensive tackle: The Illinois native is what every Big Ten defense covets as a physical run stopper who plays nasty at times. He started all 14 games last season and finished with 45 tackles. Johnson was snubbed for postseason honors, though, so he could have a chip on his shoulder to go along with his aggressive playing style.

9. George Kittle, 6-4, 246, Sr., tight end: He doesn’t have his cousin to rely on anymore at tight end with Henry Krieger Coble now competing for a roster spot with the Denver Broncos. But Kittle already has established himself as a playmaker who can stretch defenses with his quickness. He now has to expand his game in order to fill the void left by his cousin, who excelled as a receiver and blocker. Kittle wasn’t asked to block much during his first three seasons, but that’ll change this fall.

10. LeShun Daniels, 6-0, 225, Sr., running back: The Ohio native is a force running between the tackles when healthy. His biggest problem has been staying healthy. That’s why junior running back Akrum Wadley also was considered for the 10th spot. Iowa is at its best when the running game is highly productive, as was the case last season when the Hawkeyes averaged 207.4 rushing yards per game.