Grad Transfers

NikeHawk21

Well-Known Member
What positions should we be targeting in the grad transfer market this offseason?

I would say:

1. OLine. If Wirfs and Jackson go we could use some immediate help, whether it be on the interior or at Tackle. OSU got Jonah Jackson this year and he will be an all conference player as a grad transfer. I think there could be some draw for some immediate play time at Iowa.

2. DLine. I think we could look at both ends and DTs. I’m not as concerned about DT depth, mainly because I think Logan Lee is going to be a stud. I wasn’t too impressed with VanValkenburg so wouldn’t mind another DE. Waggoner should be solid.

3. Punter. Obviously we just got one, and at the very least he was an upgrade to our other option. I don’t know how common grad transfer punters are though.

Basically I think we could look at grad transfers at the positions we are looking at potential early attrition to the draft. The coaches have gone down this path in recent years and shown a willingness to do it. It will be interesting to see what names come up.
 
Honestly, we should just look at getting a grad punter every year.

Whether Wirfs and/or Jackson leave, we should be looking at JC or grad transfer for the Oline to fill the gap between the younger, promising guys and guys leaving this year.
 
With any of these things it’s hard to say what’s out there. In many cases there are probably reasons these guys are transferring. The nice thing is a one year grad transfer is relatively low risk. If Iowa can find the right fit on the Oline or Dline, I say go for it. They kicked the tires on the DT from Rice last year, but luckily we got Nixon back who had a solid year.
 
Isn't Iowa pretty healthy on the D line for depth?
Depends on if Golston goes pro. Then you’d be looking at Waggoner and VanValkenburg for ends. Evans as a pass rusher. Could use some help there.

At DT I think we are in good shape with Nixon, Lee, Shannon, and Shulte. Logan Jones and Isaiah Bruce coming in carrying some good size already.
 
Honestly, we should just look at getting a grad punter every year.
This. Let someone else do the work of figuring out if a guy can kick or not.

Punting ability is independent of what conference or level of football you play in. You can either punt or you can’t. Out of the last four punters, Colluzi, Rastetter, Gersonde, and Sleepy, the only two that didn’t completely suck were the grad transfers.
 
This. Let someone else do the work of figuring out if a guy can kick or not.

Punting ability is independent of what conference or level of football you play in. You can either punt or you can’t. Out of the last four punters, Colluzi, Rastetter, Gersonde, and Sleepy, the only two that didn’t completely suck were the grad transfers.

I think our view of punters has been warped by Rastetter in 2017 & 2018. I refuse to believe its that hard to find a functional punter.

For whatever reason they went with a guy who miraculously could get a rugby style punt to stop dead cold after it hit the turf and sometimes even roll backward. The whole point of a rugby kick is the trajectory often prohibits the PR from trying to catch it and you get a roll.

I bet you'd have a hard time finding another punter who could actually get a rugby style kick to do that if they tried.
 
I think our view of punters has been warped by Rastetter in 2017 & 2018. I refuse to believe its that hard to find a functional punter.
I get it, but why take the risk of a Rastetter or Gersonde if there are proven commodities available in the grad transfer pool. Our luck has certainly been better lately going that direction since we can’t seem to evaluate high school punters.
 

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