transfer portal news

[Zstatman]

The dates for the transfer portal this year are January 2-16, 2026.

We should start seeing news between now and the bowl game.

I saw on facebook and X that Jackson Stratton announced he is entering the portal. Can't blame him as he is 4th on the depth chart, as best we know, and has one year of eligibility left. This should give him one year to start somewhere. He's been a good Hawkeye, 2-0 as a starter in tough circumstances.

 

[haydensly]

He indicated on social media that he has two years of remaining eligibility. Either way, smart move on his part. He was not going to crack our depth chart. I wouldn't be surprised to see him move to either a Group of 5 school or FCS.

 

[CP87]

Leistikow and Dochterman agreed that WR was the #1 transfer portal position. Here is the current WR room...


Here is the production from this season...


We are graduating Phillips (1st WR in yards, 0 TD), Gill (2nd WR in yards, 1 TD), Wetjen (4th WR in yards, 1 TD), and Seth Anderson (6th WR in yards, 2 TDs). In total, 726 yards and 4 TDs.

We return RVZ (soph, leading WR in yards/game), Dayton Howard (soph), KJ Parker (RS Fr, 18 yds and a TD), Jarret Buie (soph, no receptions this year), and Terrence Smith (true Freshman who RS this year) as scholarship WRs.

To me, RVZ is a prototypical X and has all the talent of a B. Smith or Tevaun Smith. Howard is a nice backup X who can go up and get a ball and has also shown himself to be an excellent blocker. We just don't have an ISM to go along with that X position.

According to Tyler Barnes, Iowa does NOT plan on portal-shopping for a QB unless something changes with their returning QB room. So, what can you get out of the transfer portal in the way of an explosive Z? They also have to be okay with only 5 or so targets a game, must be a good blocker, and must fit with Iowa's culture. But on the plus side, they should be competing for the CFP next year.

Random bonus stat: Mark Gronowski was tied for 3rd on the team for receiving TDs this year (with 1).

 

[Fryowa]

Leistikow and Dochterman agreed that WR was the #1 transfer portal position. Here is the current WR room...
View attachment 11810

Here is the production from this season...
View attachment 11811

We are graduating Phillips (1st WR in yards, 0 TD), Gill (2nd WR in yards, 1 TD), Wetjen (4th WR in yards, 1 TD), and Seth Anderson (6th WR in yards, 2 TDs). In total, 726 yards and 4 TDs.

We return RVZ (soph, leading WR in yards/game), Dayton Howard (soph), KJ Parker (RS Fr, 18 yds and a TD), Jarret Buie (soph, no receptions this year), and Terrence Smith (true Freshman who RS this year) as scholarship WRs.

To me, RVZ is a prototypical X and has all the talent of a B. Smith or Tevaun Smith. Howard is a nice backup X who can go up and get a ball and has also shown himself to be an excellent blocker. We just don't have an ISM to go along with that X position.

According to Tyler Barnes, Iowa does NOT plan on portal-shopping for a QB unless something changes with their returning QB room. So, what can you get out of the transfer portal in the way of an explosive Z? They also have to be okay with only 5 or so targets a game, must be a good blocker, and must fit with Iowa's culture. But on the plus side, they should be competing for the CFP next year.

Random bonus stat: Mark Gronowski was tied for 3rd on the team for receiving TDs this year (with 1).

It would be criminal not to get RVZ a lot of deep passes next year. That kid is just as talented as Smith-Marsette and I truly think he has McNutt potential if he had the right guy throwing to him.

I REALLY hope Hecklinski can throw the ball and that his height doesn't become a hindrance in the passing game.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

I think we also have 3 receivers coming in with this next class. One is a transfer out of Florida from UCLA. But I am thinking we will be in pretty good shape next season. I would like to see a healthy Dayton Howard and RVZ next year at the wideouts. Both have size. IF Hecklinski can get it to them, we could definitely upgrade our passing offense. Sprinkle in Vohnamme and Ostrenga at TE, and you have some decent pass catchers. I would think CJ Parker could be a viable replacement at slot.

I'm more concerned how we backfill our O-line.

 

[kameltoez102]

My opinion the biggest issue with WR is we need a position coach that has played the position not a guy that played QB. WR is one position that has so many little nuances that can help and if you have not played the position or have gotten coached up at the position I think you see the issues we have with guys getting separation and catching.

Budmayr from what has been reported is a great guy and a competent coach that has brought value but I think we can do better at that specific position that has been a weakness for many years.

 

[Fryowa]

I'm more concerned how we backfill our O-line.

Hawks are real good at turning guys like this:



into this:

 

[MelroseHawkins]

288 yrds the most by one receiver. Killin' it!

 

[haydensly]

Hawks are real good at turning guys like this:

View attachment 11813

into this:

I'm not that concerned with the O-Line next year. You have Lauck and Pieper returning. Both were very solid and have All B1G potential next year. You have Dotzler who will probably fill in for Dunker at right tackle next year; he backed up Lauck and is said to be pretty solid. Leighton Jones will probably start at right guard. He filled in for Beau Stephens when he was injured against USC and by all accounts did a really good job. And was pretty heavily recruited. And Mike Micklinski is coming back for a sixth year. Either he or Pieper will probably start at center, the other at right guard. Lucas Allgeyer was a true freshman this year and the coaches raved about him. He could challenge for a starting position or be a major contributor. And there are a few others waiting in the wings.

George Barrnett has done a really good job of restocking the room. It was bare when he took the job. I don't think next year's line will be as good as this year but I predict it will be a very solid group.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

I'm not that concerned with the O-Line next year. You have Lauck and Pieper returning. Both were very solid and have All B1G potential next year. You have Dotzler who will probably fill in for Dunker at right tackle next year; he backed up Lauck and is said to be pretty solid. Leighton Jones will probably start at right guard. He filled in for Beau Stephens when he was injured against USC and by all accounts did a really good job. And was pretty heavily recruited. And Mike Micklinski is coming back for a sixth year. Either he or Pieper will probably start at center, the other at right guard. Lucas Allgeyer was a true freshman this year and the coaches raved about him. He could challenge for a starting position or be a major contributor. And there are a few others waiting in the wings.

George Barrnett has done a really good job of restocking the room. It was bare when he took the job. I don't think next year's line will be as good as this year but I predict it will be a very solid group.

I forgot both Dotzler and Jones had some decent playing time. That is definitely a breath of fresh air. Dotzler, Jones, Pieper and Lauk all have some level of experience. Would love to see Allgeyer take the next step. You make a very serviceable O-line out of those guys and I don't see much drop off from this year.

 

[Fryowa]

I forgot both Dotzler and Jones had some decent playing time. That is definitely a breath of fresh air. Dotzler, Jones, Pieper and Lauk all have some level of experience. Would love to see Allgeyer take the next step. You make a very serviceable O-line out of those guys and I don't see much drop off from this year.

Dunker is projected as the #3-#7 OL taken in the draft depending on where you look, getting back to the days when we had gigantic, Iowa-trained specimens getting taken early like that will only help recruiting too. He was a 3 star and ranked #14 in Illinois behind a lot of guys who never panned out in college.

Develop, develop, develop...

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

Dunker is projected as the #3-#7 OL taken in the draft depending on where you look, getting back to the days when we had gigantic, Iowa-trained specimens getting taken early like that will only help recruiting too. He was a 3 star and ranked #14 in Illinois behind a lot of guys who never panned out in college.

Develop, develop, develop...

From what I know his story is even better. Iowa was actually going to watch another teammate and saw him and actually ended up offering him instead. Love seeing stories like this where we take a kid and let him buy into our culture and program and they reap the rewards.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

If the information can be believed that Lester is good with the QB room as is, then we can expect more passing next season. Heck beat out Hank as the season progressed and I don't see him giving it back absent injury. He is undersized, but so was Drew Tate. What we have returning at WR that has any sort of track record is size, but not speed. We need to go find another Sam Phillips in the portal. Next year's offense is going to look a lot different than this years, and there will be a lot more spinning the ball.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Leistikow and Dochterman agreed that WR was the #1 transfer portal position. Here is the current WR room...
View attachment 11810

Here is the production from this season...
View attachment 11811

We are graduating Phillips (1st WR in yards, 0 TD), Gill (2nd WR in yards, 1 TD), Wetjen (4th WR in yards, 1 TD), and Seth Anderson (6th WR in yards, 2 TDs). In total, 726 yards and 4 TDs.

We return RVZ (soph, leading WR in yards/game), Dayton Howard (soph), KJ Parker (RS Fr, 18 yds and a TD), Jarret Buie (soph, no receptions this year), and Terrence Smith (true Freshman who RS this year) as scholarship WRs.

To me, RVZ is a prototypical X and has all the talent of a B. Smith or Tevaun Smith. Howard is a nice backup X who can go up and get a ball and has also shown himself to be an excellent blocker. We just don't have an ISM to go along with that X position.

According to Tyler Barnes, Iowa does NOT plan on portal-shopping for a QB unless something changes with their returning QB room. So, what can you get out of the transfer portal in the way of an explosive Z? They also have to be okay with only 5 or so targets a game, must be a good blocker, and must fit with Iowa's culture. But on the plus side, they should be competing for the CFP next year.

Random bonus stat: Mark Gronowski was tied for 3rd on the team for receiving TDs this year (with 1).

So as far as anyone returning who's been playing and catching anything at all RVZ and Howard are about all we have. Parker has barely played here and there. Terrance Smith was a pretty big recruiting win landing him so hopefully after a RS yr he can get in there. But besides RVZ there's a whole lotta question marks so I could see us going after a couple of guys pretty easily. What's Kaleb Brown up to down at UAB bring him back haha.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Dunker is projected as the #3-#7 OL taken in the draft depending on where you look, getting back to the days when we had gigantic, Iowa-trained specimens getting taken early like that will only help recruiting too. He was a 3 star and ranked #14 in Illinois behind a lot of guys who never panned out in college.

Develop, develop, develop...

It'll be interesting at least to me how Dunkers career goes compared to that 74 that went down to Bama. If Dunker was a LT he'd be looked at higher I'm sure but the dude is going to have a great career in the NFL I have no doubt about it.

From what little I've kept up with Proctor he's not been anything close to what he's been hyped up to be. Has all the tools and size but hasn't put it together on the field. He doesn't dominate and stand out at all like he should. How the NFL looks at him will be interesting. He shoulda been a top 5 border line top overall pick caliber LT. Doesn't sound like he's gonna be anywhere close to that unless he just blows everyone away at the underwear olympics and a team just falls in love with him.