Iowa/ISU...this year's portal...

AndreTheHawk

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
956
1,948
93
Looking at the Natty results, the portal transfers were pretty much a disaster.

For Clones...Poulin/Zerban/Dean/Elam.
For Hawks...Peterson/Bailey/Williams.

Not a 2026 AA in the bunch.

Regardless of the reasons, that's a piss poor ROI.
Peterson was a whisper away from All-American status. He didn't have the offense to make it happen, but he did have some guts and seemed to give a damn, so props to him for that.

The other two...........this is as nice as I can say it..........I wish you well wrestling anywhere but Iowa in 2026/2027.
 

maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,939
6,409
113
Iowa State had some bad injury luck like we did last year. Hate to see that but their fans were gleeful last year when Teemer and Pargo were hurt.

Unfortunately it seems like transfers don’t work out more often than they do. A point I was trying to make in a different thread is that I think we should reframe the lense through which we look at potential transfer portal options.

Just because a guy is available that is better than the one we have doesn’t always mean we should always go after him. There needs to be a realistic measurable gain from a NCAA team point perspective. Just my opinion.

Hopefully we see some good options emerge in the portal this offseason.
 

dtripp26

Heisman
Oct 29, 2003
10,340
30,876
113
Looking at the Natty results, the portal transfers were pretty much a disaster.

For Clones...Poulin/Zerban/Dean/Elam.
For Hawks...Peterson/Bailey/Williams.

Not a 2026 AA in the bunch.

Regardless of the reasons, that's a piss poor ROI.
No failed portal list can be complete with Endene. What a fiasco!

However, it gave Gabe the opportunity to do great things. Hopefully next year were looking at a top 4 @ 174.
 

sdvike

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2016
908
2,033
93
Peterson was a whisper away from All-American status. He didn't have the offense to make it happen, but he did have some guts and seemed to give a damn, so props to him for that.

The other two...........this is as nice as I can say it..........I wish you well wrestling anywhere but Iowa in 2026/2027.
I think the talent is there for the LR2. It's hard, really hard but they got to commit to the conditioning part of Hawk wrestling. They have a whole off-season to get there. I think 1 is up to it, not so sure about the other.
 

maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,939
6,409
113
I think the talent is there for the LR2. It's hard, really hard but they got to commit to the conditioning part of Hawk wrestling. They have a whole off-season to get there. I think 1 is up to it, not so sure about the other.
I hope they stick around. I think Jordan could benefit from going back to 149. Not sure about Bailey going back down, I think he just needs to stay healthy and improve his conditioning like you said.
 

sdvike

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2016
908
2,033
93
I hope they stick around. I think Jordan could benefit from going back to 149. Not sure about Bailey going back down, I think he just needs to stay healthy and improve his conditioning like you said.
Hawks will need to portal 33 or 41 either way. I have a feeling NB will be back and looking a lot different next year. Bet Block will want 57 next year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: maxpain

TheREALSpooner

All-Conference
Dec 16, 2022
850
2,825
93
Iowa State had some bad injury luck like we did last year. Hate to see that but their fans were gleeful last year when Teemer and Pargo were hurt.

It isn’t “luck.” ISU was wrecked by injuries last season and now this one.
Iowa State had some bad injury luck like we did last year. Hate to see that but their fans were gleeful last year when Teemer and Pargo were hurt.

Unfortunately it seems like transfers don’t work out more often than they do. A point I was trying to make in a different thread is that I think we should reframe the lense through which we look at potential transfer portal options.

Just because a guy is available that is better than the one we have doesn’t always mean we should always go after him. There needs to be a realistic measurable gain from a NCAA team point perspective. Just my opinion.

Hopefully we see some good options emerge in the portal this offseason.


It isn’t “luck.” ISU was wrecked by injuries last season and now this one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Squatch96

Anon1750875978

Heisman
Dec 26, 2018
6,470
11,240
113
The high mileage portal guys should be a red flag.

Dresser really limited Elam this year and he still broke down.
There's more guys like Elam than there are guys like Buchanan.

Not my decision, but 1 year plug-ins wouldn't be my preference.

What's hilarious was the chest puffing Clone fans this winter.
 

dtripp26

Heisman
Oct 29, 2003
10,340
30,876
113
The high mileage portal guys should be a red flag.

Dresser really limited Elam this year and he still broke down.
There's more guys like Elam than there are guys like Buchanan.

Not my decision, but 1 year plug-ins wouldn't be my preference.

What's hilarious was the chest puffing Clone fans this winter.
Well they were good enough in nov/dec to get him a very big win.

With covid years done we should be at the end of the old beat down guys like Teemer and Elam.
 

Dean111!

Sophomore
Mar 12, 2003
105
150
43
Looking at the Natty results, the portal transfers were pretty much a disaster.

... Regardless of the reasons, that's a piss poor ROI.
... Peterson, Bailey, Williams ... portal ... Return on Investment (ROI)? Financial commitment to these ball players, small change; utility infielders.
 
Last edited:

Major League Yabos

All-Conference
Sep 14, 2003
859
1,380
93
Looking at the Natty results, the portal transfers were pretty much a disaster.

For Clones...Poulin/Zerban/Dean/Elam.
For Hawks...Peterson/Bailey/Williams.

Not a 2026 AA in the bunch.

Regardless of the reasons, that's a piss poor ROI.
Elam and Dean both tore ACLs in the Big 12 tourney. It’s not a push.
 

BigTenHawkeye

Freshman
Jan 9, 2005
21
53
13
Anyone with more knowledge able to share other current season transfers that did or didn't AA (generally for the top teams)

Like AJ at Neb = 6th
Welsh at PSU = 1st/2nd
Oklahoma St had Swederski 8th, Figueroa No AA, Facundo No AA , Ryder 8th
Ohio St = Fishback No AA
 
  • Like
Reactions: maxpain

redghost1974

Senior
Jan 22, 2006
183
534
93
It's always an unknown the extent of an injury these guys are dealing with, but Bailey looked like he quit a few times this season. All options need to be looked at, who can be poached? Would love some of those Stanford guys.
 

AndreTheHawk

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
956
1,948
93
It's always an unknown the extent of an injury these guys are dealing with, but Bailey looked like he quit a few times this season. All options need to be looked at, who can be poached? Would love some of those Stanford guys.
I was surprised by Stanford. 4 AA's I think? Every time I looked up looked liked they had a guy going. Them and a few N.C. State guys that were over seeded. 😉
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cali_Nittany1

redghost1974

Senior
Jan 22, 2006
183
534
93
I will say the football team use to have the ARBHG that plagued the team. Maybe it wasn't running backs he hated but tendons/ligaments and he decided to start messing with the wrestling team. Can someone get a live chicken and a voodoo priest to get the curse off the Hawks?!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Squatch96

sdvike

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2016
908
2,033
93
Refs were decent in finals. Independent reviews were great. Still no idea what stalling is and now Manning opens up a big ole can of worms by challenging it.
 

Libertylover

All-Conference
Dec 17, 2020
876
1,518
93
No failed portal list can be complete with Endene. What a fiasco!

However, it gave Gabe the opportunity to do great things. Hopefully next year were looking at a top 4 @ 174.
Who would have thought his scam would be the best thing that could have happened for Gabe. Crazy. Too bad the media was drooling over these few super frosh while riding Taylor’s and carls D. Gabe should have been the Cinderella story of the tournament. If it was PSU or OSU back up 174, taking 7th at 197, they would have done a documentary on it.
 

Libertylover

All-Conference
Dec 17, 2020
876
1,518
93
I think the talent is there for the LR2. It's hard, really hard but they got to commit to the conditioning part of Hawk wrestling. They have a whole off-season to get there. I think 1 is up to it, not so sure about the other.
Baileys hands are a mess. Said he had 2 hand surgeries this year, one in late January. Hope he can get some decent healing in this spring.
 

Libertylover

All-Conference
Dec 17, 2020
876
1,518
93
The high mileage portal guys should be a red flag.

Dresser really limited Elam this year and he still broke down.
There's more guys like Elam than there are guys like Buchanan.

Not my decision, but 1 year plug-ins wouldn't be my preference.

What's hilarious was the chest puffing Clone fans this winter.
Ya, we finished 40 points ahead this year after losing the meet. Guess they didn’t pass us.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Squatch96

Libertylover

All-Conference
Dec 17, 2020
876
1,518
93
No problem with Peterson. He filled in well for one year before Delucca takes over. Only wish he could have got that AA, so close. He did pretty much what was expected with hopes for AA.
In the end he just couldn’t shake that inconsistency he had for 4 years a Rutgers. Too bad. Just don’t know how you give Lillidauhl his toughest match of the tournament, then lose next match to an inferior guy.
 

AndreTheHawk

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
956
1,948
93
would you care to elaborate
I've done so many times. What exactly would excite anybody about seeing Nasir Bailey in a Hawkeye singlet again? He's Jacori Teemer lite, and that's a **** show I never want to see again. His surgery on his fingers isn't changing that. He can prove me wrong somewhere else.

He and Jordan Williams were a combined 24-13 in their 3rd year of DI wrestling, that doesn't scream must bring back to me.
 

TherealGrip220

All-Conference
Oct 14, 2025
482
1,449
93
I've done so many times. What exactly would excite anybody about seeing Nasir Bailey in a Hawkeye singlet again? He's Jacori Teemer lite, and that's a **** show I never want to see again. His surgery on his fingers isn't changing that. He can prove me wrong somewhere else.

He and Jordan Williams were a combined 24-13 in their 3rd year of DI wrestling, that doesn't scream must bring back to me.
I disagree about Bailey. I believe his hands were a huge problem and if he can get the strength back in his Grip he will be a high AA. He has great skills and was incredible at riding and tilts since his hands have become more of a problem he doesn't have the strength in them to be effective.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MissouriHawkeye