Transfer Portal Visitors
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Not seeing any crystal ball prediction for him to PSU, and Cam Wallace just returned after entering the portal. They landed James Peoples and Carson Hansen already.
GD, this class is really coming together. If the Hecklinski has a decent year and the DL comes together, next year might be a fun one.
SD running back committed
South Dakota RB transfer LJ Phillips Jr. commits to Iowa
South Dakota RB transfer LJ Phillips Jr. commits to Iowa
Just curious- why do you think the offense will be so good? They are replacing 3 OL and the QB. The presumptive heir at QB has thrown two passes in his collegiate career.
I hope you are right but I don't see it.
I think Lauck, Dotzler, Pieper is a great start.
I agree not sure why all the optimism next year? It will be another year of the same as I do not see any consistent game changers/stars, but I'm tainted from the last several years, so...........
This seems fairly simple. While the line may take a step back next year, it won't be that much of a drop off. 3rd team all-big selection Lauck will anchor the line at LT, I'm taking my guess at Dotzler will be the RT starter, Myslinski getting an extra year will move in at C, Pieper is the returning starter at RG, and Leighton Jones who saw a decent amount of time will step in at the LG spot.
The skilled position players are getting a bump as well. RVZ when healthy could be a huge weapon, Tony Diaz along with the current roster of WRs is going to be a step up compared to last year. I don't think we even need to talk about the TE position.
Next season is going to entirely depend on the DL coming together and the QB play.
Wonder if McNeil and X are willing to be 3rd and 4th team...could see another RB move on.
It’s a good question. And my answer does rely on my disclaimer that the OL has to come together. If they do, then my optimism stems from:
1) year 3 for Lester’s offense in general - AND while I’m not sold on Hecklinski necessarily (we just don’t have enough body of work to tell yet), it will be the first time our QB has been in Lester’s offense before the season begins. I think that alone will make him serviceable (but hopefully better than that).
2) with RVZ and our stable of TEs - and I’m high/hopeful for a guy like Tony Diaz - our passing game should have actual experience and threats across the board.
3) we have the depth and talent at RB to fuel a run heavy offense and BIG schedule. Surprised the heck out of me we got a RB portal transfer, and getting a guy that is both proven and hungry to prove himself at the next level is going to raise the bar in that room.
all of those could be wrong - but it’s officially the offseason so hope springs eternal!
Well, they have 5 days left to decide. Really hope they can hold onto McNeil, he appears to have the shiftiness of a great back.
I agree with most of that. Yes, QB will be huge and it always is. Hecklinski MIGHT be good-great eventually but has shown nothing yet. Myslinski has been injured his entire career. Even if the individual pieces on the OL are capable replacements, it takes time for a unit to gel and you can be assured that more than one of the guys will get injured preseason and be out for some or all of the season. I agree that WR should be better but my goodness that is a low bar. RVZ definitely flashed late but no one else on the roster has done anything. Diaz looks good but he played at a much lower level and he is very small. My only hope is that KF allows Lester freedom like he did in the bowl game. I think TL is a legit OC.
The only thing for certain is that the offense will look like **** for spring practice, it's a regular occurrence. I am looking forward to having QBs go through spring without medical procedures.
Good analysis!It’s a good question. And my answer does rely on my disclaimer that the OL has to come together. If they do, then my optimism stems from:
1) year 3 for Lester’s offense in general - AND while I’m not sold on Hecklinski necessarily (we just don’t have enough body of work to tell yet), it will be the first time our QB has been in Lester’s offense before the season begins. I think that alone will make him serviceable (but hopefully better than that).
2) with RVZ and our stable of TEs - and I’m high/hopeful for a guy like Tony Diaz - our passing game should have actual experience and threats across the board.
3) we have the depth and talent at RB to fuel a run heavy offense and BIG schedule. Surprised the heck out of me we got a RB portal transfer, and getting a guy that is both proven and hungry to prove himself at the next level is going to raise the bar in that room.
all of those could be wrong - but it’s officially the offseason so hope springs eternal!
I am optimistic because of the following:
WR: RVZ is the man. And now we just added what could be a second one in Diaz. DJV at TE is a weapon too. Definite upgrade here.
RB: Return a strong group of B10 quality RB’s with experience. As always, you’re going to need 3-4 RB’s to make it through a B10 season. Added a highly productive FCS RB that may supply some of the “to the house” factor that’s been missing. Some will disagree here, but I like the chances of Phillips at least making up for Jaz, if not an improvement. Upgrade here too.
OL: Losing 3 from a Joe Moore Award winning OL is always tough. Getting back Lauck, Pieper is a good nucleus. By all accounts Dotzler made a leap this last year, if he and Myslinski take steps forward going into 2026, will go a long way in determining the success of this OL. Along with Leighton Jones. Downgrade here, but by how much?, goes a long way in determining 2026 success.
And finally QB: Finally have a potential gunslinger in the QB ranks. Can he utilize the good of having good/great arm talent, while minimizing the potential bad of trying to fit passes into too tight of windows at times?
I’m excited that we may have a weapon at QB once again. That can scramble/run if/when needed. He needs to learn from what Sullivan did wrong when he does run. Don’t take unnecessary shots(BS essentially took himself out of the starting QB position by getting himself hurt unnecessarily), protect yourself and the ball.
I think this guy will make the makeables at a higher rate than we’ve seen in years. He will also have the ability to make some plays that may not initially appear to be there. Just can’t be a turnover machine, playing smart is Iowa football.
Ss Grayhair pointed out, all of this is wishful thinking until proven on the field. I am just enthused that we didn’t feel the need to go after a portal QB. And I just have a feeling that Lester knows what we have here. No reason to proclaim it to the world during portal season. All just a feeling that could end up being totally wrong, but hopefully not!
Going with a push here as Gronowski was a proven winner. But, we must be cognizant that Gronowski 2nd half of year vs. 1st half of year were not comparable.
Hecklinski will likely improve as the year goes on, but hopefully just from experience not from an injury. His lack of experience in relation to Gronowski, is hopefully made up for with what he will provide in the passing game. Making the Offense much more balanced, even if he just makes the makeables.
QB section was long, that’s because it is going to be the biggest part of determining 2026 Offensive Success. And the part we know the least about. Do we finally have the horse in the QB stable we’ve been pining for?
Good stuff
I also like that they didn't go after a portal QB.
Starting to think that. I’m okay with it. Think he’s plenty athletic enough to make that move.
Safeties are DB's.....We still have Watson, Wallace, Lee, and Godfrey and Lutmer could probably move their.
I'm not him, but I think a part of it for a lot of fans is the off-season and the hype and hope that comes with it. I'm hopeful.
Every year before the season starts, poster say "this could be a special season." Even during the worst of the worst of the Brian years.
Crazy that going going 10-3 and 7-1 in conference is floundering, but that's the standard they've set.
I think Bama will be fine and keep racking up plenty of wins. But the Saban dynasty years are certainly over (thank god).
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The OL will be interesting, but Lauck, Peiper, Jones is a good start. I'd certainly hope that between Winter, Nolan, McCaslin, Janowski, Allgeyer, Krough and Leanard they can come up with some solid players. Most of those guys will be in year 2-3 in the system and have seen some game action. Very good class coming in and like I said I think Parliment could move right into the two deeps. He's a beast.
The Hawks are close on a couple more that will make Hawk fans VERY happy. I can’t give details because nothing is finalized and there are other teams making a last minute push.
Yep. Dotzler should have been in the original group with Lauck, Pieper, and Leighton Jones as a part time starter this season, not the new group.....Dotzler
My (uneducated) guess is he's the starter at RT this upcoming season and Cannon Leonard takes over the year after.
X is smooth and sneaky shifty if you look at a few of this longer runs
X graduated, 2 safeties transferred out and we lost Bell, 4 out 3 in
I hope you are correct. I am sure Diaz played against much less than Big 10 caliber dbacks but he seems fast and he was catching everything on those highlights. we have had some receivers recently like Kaleb Brown who couldnt put a highlight reel of catches together.
I am not tryin got bad mouth the young player but I saw his not have his hands in a correct catching position more than once when he dropped a pass. I would have our receivers use that Juggs machine a lot and have coaches or others watch them to diagnose their bad hand position tendencies