DES MOINES – The spring practice is over, and who Iowa quarterback Drew Tate will have at his disposal is still up in the air.

The Hawkeyes have talent at wide receiver, but experience is another matter. Nobody can say for sure who Tate’s targets will be when he takes center for the season opener against Montana on Sept. 2.

Tate doesn’t seem concerned. He knows there is plenty of time left for someone to emerge as replacements for Ed Hinkel and Clinton Solomon, and help keep one of the Big Ten’s top passing attacks up and running.

With Tate, running back Albert Young, an experienced offensive line and a strong group of tight ends returning, the starting wideout spots are Iowa’s biggest question mark on offense heading into the 2006 season.

“People have left, we’ve got new faces,” Tate said after the Iowa players finished up its spring practice on Saturday. “We’ve got a lot of stuff to do, but the good thing is it’s only April.”

Junior Herb Grigsby and senior Calvin Davis have emerged this spring as probable starters among a pool of talented candidates that include Trey Stross, James Cleveland, Eric McCollom, Andy Brodell and backup quarterback Jason Manson.

Grigsby has drawn raves from the coaching staff for his work this spring, and Iowa’s starting skill players say the 6-foot junior looks like he’s ready to improve on the 25 catches he made last fall in a secondary role.

Grigbsy said he and Davis see their potential new roles as ones that bring added responsibility, not pressure.

“We lost some good guys, but you’ve got to move on. It’s on some of the veterans now – myself, Calvin – we’ve got to move on, step in, fill their shoes. They’re big shoes to fill, so we’ve got to get it done some way.”

Davis is a speedster who has seen his career sidetracked by injuries. Finally healthy after a pulled hamstring and knee surgery effectively kept him out of the lineup the past two seasons, Davis was one of the stars of Saturday’s spring practice, held in lieu of the annual spring game.

For Davis, the 2006 season is a chance to show the Big Ten that the only thing that’s held him back is injury.

“No one wants to go through their whole career being thought of as someone who’s always injured,” Davis said.

“I want to be someone who’s out there making plays, helping us win.”

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz added a wrinkle to the receiving corps this spring by adding Manson to the list of possible targets for Tate.

Long a backup to Tate, Manson has been battling for reps at wide receiver this spring.

According to Ferentz, Manson will be listed at both quarterback and wideout heading into August. The move opened more reps for heralded freshman quarterback Jake Christensen, whom many believe will replace Tate in 2007, and helped give Manson a chance to get on the field after years of holding a clipboard.

“The main thing is he’s not polished,” Ferentz said of Manson. “But the thing is, he’s a guy the coaches can trust to do the right things, make the right decisions.”