Transfer Portal Visitors
- Thread starter Manfredi
- Start date
Agree here. With thousands of guys in the portal why do you need to resort to D2 players that haven't proven anything on even the FCS level. We're a premier B1G football program come on.
Tell Ben McCollom and Bennett Stirtz that. The Heisman runnerup, tool that he is, was a zero star coming out of high school so he played for two years at New Mexico Military Institute and then New Mexico State, both big boy football powers as you know, before finding his way to Vanderbilt. Just a couple of examples from a multitude. Talent is talent no matter where you find it, and many times talent gets overlooked.
I think Villanove is Div 1AA or FCS but that defensive back looks great at 6-3 inches etc etc
I am sure PParker can look at his take and get other data to know if he has the footwork, hip swivel technique, speed and hands to play at Iowa
I don’t mind a given these FCS kids a look but that shouldn’t be exclusively where we look. Not in a year where your budget isn’t sapped by a QB. Need at least two proven guys at the FBS level this year. A DT and a WR.
Rusty Feth came from the MAC, KBrown came from Ohio St, I am sure the hawks are balancing need vs money vs talent. They have to get some DLinemen with Allen leaving and the guys graduating.
Our dbacks are Big 10 caliber but not as sticky as needed like Moss, Jackson, King, and others we have had the last 10 years. So a lockdown corner can enable your defense to roll coverage the other way and double team another wideout.
Desmond King didnt take into account that by coming back his senior year he wouldnt even have that many passes thrown his way. It didnt hurt him in the pros in the end but he probably should have left Iowa after his 3rd year of playing. But that is how a great corner can really help your defense
Given his injury history I'm assuming a medical red shirt year
Villanova lost in the semis so playing for one of the better schools this past year.
Iowa should just sign all of the best P5 transfers. Its stupid not get the best guys from big schools.
Iowa made a. huge mistake signing Gronowski and passing on on the former 5 star Oregon QB who ended up at Tulane.
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From all reports, the coaches are pretty happy with what we have. AND that they are looking for the right fit.
I take that, as we are in a pretty good position for our roster, so they can be more selective... Which is a good thing.
Plus there are still 6 teams playing yet(you have to count FCS championship teams - Gronowski), and there will be another 100 hitting the portal.
That noted, we are only one day into the portal being open...
Gronowski!
Keeping up with all the transfer portal happenings is nearly impossible. Found a recent activity article with a good summary shared below:
Holy Cross defensive tackle Brice Stevenson was reportedly set to visit Iowa City this weekend.
Southwest Minnesota State defensive back Parker Knutson is also reportedly visiting Iowa this weekend, as are Elon defensive end Kahmari Brown and Villanova defensive back Anthony Hawkins.
Knutson finished this season with 39 tackles and eight interceptions. He has two years of eligibility.
Brown had 66 tackles this season, including 16 for loss, and 12 sacks.
He is expected to visit Purdue after his Iowa visit.
Hawkins was named an FCS Freshman All-American this season. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder finished the 2025 season with 58 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions.
He also is expected to visit Kentucky and Wisconsin after his Iowa visit.
Here is the article link: https://hawkfanatic.com/2026/01/03/updating-analyzing-iowa-footballs-transfer-portal-status/
Holy Cross defensive tackle Brice Stevenson was reportedly set to visit Iowa City this weekend.
Southwest Minnesota State defensive back Parker Knutson is also reportedly visiting Iowa this weekend, as are Elon defensive end Kahmari Brown and Villanova defensive back Anthony Hawkins.
Knutson finished this season with 39 tackles and eight interceptions. He has two years of eligibility.
Brown had 66 tackles this season, including 16 for loss, and 12 sacks.
He is expected to visit Purdue after his Iowa visit.
Hawkins was named an FCS Freshman All-American this season. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder finished the 2025 season with 58 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions.
He also is expected to visit Kentucky and Wisconsin after his Iowa visit.
Here is the article link: https://hawkfanatic.com/2026/01/03/updating-analyzing-iowa-footballs-transfer-portal-status/
Love the production, hope he’s got a serious burst though. 6’2”, 220 is very small for an edge rusher.
Had a couple of weekend visitors commit -Ozick & Hawkins -both seem like very good pick-ups. Any intel on how the other visits went?
FWIW, Brice Stevenson now shown as 85% likely to Iowa.
FWIW, Brice Stevenson now shown as 85% likely to Iowa.
I have more. but Kirk Ferentz wants to spend it on players that "fit his culture" Im so mad.
Should have at least that for next year or more. No more than we're spending this year. I assume it carries over anyway.
"Iowa should just sign all of the best P5 transfers. Its stupid not get the best guys from big schools."
He was using sarcasm.
His videos were really impressive. He punishes other players and plays through the whistle.
Maybe, but I actually think there are posters on this board that feel that way.
GTFO, Gronowski was very good for the Hawks. Tulane got hammered by Ole Miss.
Two defensive commits and a kicker. Good start in the portal.I watched Stevenson's video, strong, low center of gravity and good hands. Nice get.
There are plenty of examples of kids growing/developing after they enter college. Many times these kids have better fundamentals than the 4 and 5 stars who often get their ratings because of their early physical maturity.
Remember when people laughed and ridiculed for signing George Kittle on the last choice on signing day back then? He was a scrawny kid and maybe a two star.
Jacob Wallace's name has been thrown around by Phil, he was a late addition to last years class as well.
I was just waiting until I read the thread before posting the same thing, so thanks for saving me my time. I'm also pretty sure Kirk Ferentz and his staff are pretty good at evaluating talent regardless of whatever level they are playing at.
So what is his real weight? I have seen - 260, 280 and 295. Hope he is around 290 so he plugs the middle.