Lincoln Kienholz

_Mjolnir_

Sophomore
Aug 23, 2025
89
186
33
Would love to see Iowa go after the former Ohio St backup. He would be the perfect QB to replace and attempt to replicate Mark Gronowski. He is a big QB with a solid arm, improved accuracy who offers an offense something extra with his legs.

He is an ideal QB for an offensive system similar to Iowa's. Running offense, with Short/Mid range throws and the option for a QB to pick up 3rd and short with his legs.

Out of all the QB's in the portal Kienholz won't demand a lot of cheddar. He also isn't big enough to scare off Iowa's current QB's from a healthy competition. Bonus he has two year left. Two years of Gronowski would have been nice.

Side note looks like Nebby is really close to signing ND backup Kenny Minchey who I also thought would be a perfect replacement for Gronowski. Could be a really good get by Nebby.
 

_Mjolnir_

Sophomore
Aug 23, 2025
89
186
33
I will add that a big reason the Ohio St QB competition went all the way through summer practice was due to Kienholz improved accuracy as well Kienholz providing Ohio St with the ability to run an offensive scheme similar to one they ran with Will Howard the season prior. Sayin offered next to nothing with his legs but ultimately his big arm with Ohio St's WR's were too much.

Many Ohio St fans believe Sayin's lack of a threat with his legs hurt the Ohio St run game this season. Ohio St's last two games they couldn't establish the run.
 

2HeartedHawk

Junior
Sep 9, 2008
3,340
298
83
Would love to see Iowa go after the former Ohio St backup. He would be the perfect QB to replace and attempt to replicate Mark Gronowski. He is a big QB with a solid arm, improved accuracy who offers an offense something extra with his legs.

He is an ideal QB for an offensive system similar to Iowa's. Running offense, with Short/Mid range throws and the option for a QB to pick up 3rd and short with his legs.

Out of all the QB's in the portal Kienholz won't demand a lot of cheddar. He also isn't big enough to scare off Iowa's current QB's from a healthy competition. Bonus he has two year left. Two years of Gronowski would have been nice.

Side note looks like Nebby is really close to signing ND backup Kenny Minchey who I also thought would be a perfect replacement for Gronowski. Could be a really good get by Nebby.
Kleinholz made $1M+ as OSU’s backup. He’s not coming to Iowa.
 

Chesapeake Bay Dog

All-Conference
Dec 19, 2015
781
1,571
93
Would love to see Iowa go after the former Ohio St backup. He would be the perfect QB to replace and attempt to replicate Mark Gronowski. He is a big QB with a solid arm, improved accuracy who offers an offense something extra with his legs.

He is an ideal QB for an offensive system similar to Iowa's. Running offense, with Short/Mid range throws and the option for a QB to pick up 3rd and short with his legs.

Out of all the QB's in the portal Kienholz won't demand a lot of cheddar. He also isn't big enough to scare off Iowa's current QB's from a healthy competition. Bonus he has two year left. Two years of Gronowski would have been nice.

Side note looks like Nebby is really close to signing ND backup Kenny Minchey who I also thought would be a perfect replacement for Gronowski. Could be a really good get by Nebby.
Nope to much money and not a true culture fit.
 

_Mjolnir_

Sophomore
Aug 23, 2025
89
186
33
Only if he costs nothing, which I don’t think he would. Too many other gaps that need addressing.
In todays world of college football QB is by far the most important position. Not even a close second. What would Iowa's record this season be without Gronowski? Would the run game have been as solid? Other positions you can mask some areas of weakness. Not QB.

Iowa is currently going after cheap depth pieces to fill holes in the two deeps. Last year they did that plus added Gronowski who was a much more expensive QB.
 
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_Mjolnir_

Sophomore
Aug 23, 2025
89
186
33
Kleinholz made $1M+ as OSU’s backup. He’s not coming to Iowa.
He was making that based on the fact Ohio St needed to have a QB competition. They needed to keep him on roster. They didn't have an experienced QB nor were they bringing in a transfer.
 

DuddyB

All-Conference
Jul 14, 2022
1,553
2,701
113
In todays world of college football QB is by far the most important position. Not even a close second. What would Iowa's record this season be without Gronowski? Would the run game have been as solid? Other positions you can mask some areas of weakness. Not QB.

Iowa is currently going after cheap depth pieces to fill holes in the two deeps. Last year they did that plus added Gronowski who was a much more expensive QB.
Maybe they think the two guys on campus with what will two years in the system will be as good or better than what they can realistically afford.

I do agree with your second point, I feel like are reported targets aren’t what I was hoping for with the extra “cap” money.
 
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_Mjolnir_

Sophomore
Aug 23, 2025
89
186
33
Teams being mentioned by media. Alabama (only if Ty leaves), Kansas St (Not happening now), Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Louisville, Northwestern, Nebraska (Not happening if things are true with Kenny Minchey), Penn St (Likely not happening now), and IOWA. Iowa makes the most sense based on fit.
 

DuddyB

All-Conference
Jul 14, 2022
1,553
2,701
113
Teams being mentioned by media. Alabama (only if Ty leaves), Kansas St (Not happening now), Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Louisville, Northwestern, Nebraska (Not happening if things are true with Kenny Minchey), Penn St (Likely not happening now), and IOWA. Iowa makes the most sense based on fit.
If he ends up at Iowa, then the coaches were blowing smoke about JH and HB. And I would then expect one or both of them to leave.
 
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oldxbbc

All-American
Sep 19, 2013
1,743
7,197
113
With other Iowa departures via graduation and Portal I think we need to address those positions and not about, especially on defensive side.
 

Anon1751457816

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
899
1,671
93
Only if he costs nothing, which I don’t think he would. Too many other gaps that need addressing.
Season 3 Nbc GIF by The Office
 

Hawkfan_08*

All-American
Jul 2, 2025
3,004
8,020
113
If he ends up at Iowa, then the coaches were blowing smoke about JH and HB. And I would then expect one or both of them to leave.

I'm still sweating a bit about Heck to VA Tech to compete with Grunkameyer (sp?).
 

AndreTheHawk

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
1,067
2,205
113
Does Iowa win the Rutgers, Penn St, MSU, and Vanderbilt games without Gronowski? QB is such an important piece. A downgrade next year could be devastating.
Uuuummmm, yeah. Same as every year. At some point Iowa might actually recruit and retain competent QB's, which they used to do pretty regularly. Fingers crossed they get back to that.
 

Ripcord

Junior
Aug 30, 2016
222
294
63
No way. Has a very good shot at starting job. And you know Kirk once you have the job it won’t get yanked quickly.
It seems like to me that if Hecklinski left to go to VA Tech, he would be giving up a (presumed) starting job just to be a backup to Grunkenmeyer, which really does not make much sense.
 
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Jonesy5960

Heisman
Feb 1, 2023
5,966
12,298
113
If he ends up at Iowa, then the coaches were blowing smoke about JH and HB. And I would then expect one or both of them to leave.
Coaches are always going to portray the players they have in a positive light, as they should. In today's portal age they also have to be open to any opportunity to bring in talent they believe can improve the roster. None of these things are at odds with one another and if they do and someone leaves then it is what it is.
 

10001110101

All-Conference
Sep 1, 2003
1,125
1,495
113
If he ends up at Iowa, then the coaches were blowing smoke about JH and HB. And I would then expect one or both of them to leave.
Tim Lester knows what he has in JH and/or HB. I trust his opinion on if Iowa should bring in another QB. I do not trust KF quite as much on that.

But I think KF will listen to Tim.