IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa's Marvin McNutt is one of the nation's best receivers -- a 6-foot-4, 215-pound perfect fit and top option for the Hawkeyes.

McNutt might have trouble finding open space if Iowa can't find anyone else dangerous enough to attract some attention from the defense.

The player the Hawkeyes will likely look to first to provide breathing room for McNutt is junior wide receiver Keenan Davis, one of a number of inexperienced guys they'll be leaning on after losing 12 starters from a year ago.

Davis had just 11 catches in 2010 while playing behind McNutt and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. He'll get his first career start Saturday when Iowa opens the season at home against Tennessee Tech.

"I think we're all going to take that role," Davis said. "If we run our routes and play our role, then everything should be all right, and eventually it would take pressure off of Marvin so he can go out and make the plays he's always been making."

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Davis enters this fall with high expectations, in part because many thought he would be a focal point of Iowa's offense by now.

Davis grew up just up the road from Kinnick Stadium and was an electrifying talent for Cedar Rapids Washington High. Davis had 2,602 yards and 26 touchdowns in high school and was considered among the nation's best wideouts when he committed to Iowa.

He got on the field early, too, one of just three true freshmen to play during the Hawkeyes' Orange Bowl-winning season in 2009. His role expanded somewhat last season, as Davis contributed on kickoff returns and in a limited role at wideout.

The problem was, there were only so many balls to go around in Iowa's pro-style attack.

Johnson-Koulianos had a team-high 10 TD receptions in 2010. McNutt caught eight TD passes a year ago, with 53 grabs for 861 yards overall.

"He was in a tough spot," McNutt said. "Now he's in the spot where he's out there, and he has made strides. Not just in his play, but his confidence and in his mental aspects of the game — knowing where to be and how to get there."

Johnson-Koulianos is gone, as is tight end Allen Reisner, the team's third-leading receiver a year ago. Though sophomore Marcus Coker has clearly established himself as Iowa's top running back, the 6-foot, 230-pound bruiser could be used in more traditional role — like Shonn Greene was in 2008 — rather than catching passes out of the backfield.

In short, the Hawkeyes could really use a breakout season from Davis to complement McNutt.

"We know Keenan is very talented," said junior quarterback James Vandenberg. "Having both those guys, that really puts a strain on a defense."

Davis is hardly the only youngster Iowa will need to rely on. They've got newcomer in the secondary in safety Collin Sleeper, a rebuilt defensive line and sophomore Christian Kirksey at linebacker playing next to fellow sophomore James Morris, who was pressed into a duty a year ago.

"(Davis) is doing well. I think certainly last spring, in the spring scrimmage, he showed that he could potentially be a big-play guy. And now, the next step for Keenan and a lot of guys who haven't played much is get out there and actually demonstrate that on the game field," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

But outside of Vandenberg, perhaps no Hawkeye has more to prove than Davis, who'll also return kicks this season.

"I'm really excited to show the team that I can actually help and come out and play my hardest and see how I've grown," Davis said. "There's a lot of young guys on the team, and everybody has that type of mentality."