Iowa Finds a Star in Mark Gronowski, Eyes Next Transfer Portal Gem in Marcus Stokes
When Iowa dipped into the transfer portal last offseason, they were looking for a spark at quarterback. What they got was a full-on firestarter. Mark Gronowski, the former South Dakota State standout, delivered a record-breaking season in his lone year in Iowa City - and in doing so, he may have changed the way the Hawkeyes approach the portal moving forward.
Gronowski arrived with a résumé that already turned heads: over 10,000 passing yards and 93 touchdowns at the FCS level. But his transition to the Big Ten didn’t come without early adversity.
A shoulder injury delayed his start until the summer, and even once he got on the field, it took a few games for him to hit his stride. Once he did, though, he didn’t just meet expectations - he rewrote them.
By season’s end, Gronowski had etched his name into the Iowa record books, setting program highs for both rushing yards (491) and rushing touchdowns (15) by a quarterback in a single season. That dual-threat ability gave the Hawkeyes’ offense a new dimension - one they’ve sorely lacked in recent years - and helped fans move on from previous portal swings that didn’t quite connect.
Now, with Gronowski finishing out his college eligibility, Iowa is once again scanning the portal for their next quarterback - and they’ve already shown interest in one of Division II’s most electric playmakers: Marcus Stokes.
Stokes, who just wrapped up a standout season at West Florida, is on the radar of several FBS programs after putting up eye-popping numbers. The 6'2", 210-pound signal caller threw for 3,297 yards and 30 touchdowns this season, while also rushing for 367 yards and adding 10 more scores on the ground. That kind of production earned him a spot as a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy - DII’s version of the Heisman.
Before his breakout at West Florida, Stokes was a four-star recruit out of Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida - the same program that produced Tim Tebow. He was once committed to Florida, and despite a detour in his journey, his talent has never been in question. According to 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins, Stokes is a quarterback who “isn’t afraid to take risks,” drawing comparisons to NFL quarterback Kenny Pickett for his playmaking style.
For Iowa, the interest in Stokes makes sense. With Gronowski moving on, the current quarterback room features three young passers - Jeremy Hecklinski, Hank Brown, and Jimmy Sullivan - none of whom have seen meaningful college snaps. The Hawkeyes also flipped Tradon Bessinger from Boise State, adding another intriguing, but unproven, name to the mix.
Still, there’s no substitute for experience, especially at the most important position on the field. And after watching Gronowski thrive in a one-year stint, Iowa knows firsthand the value of bringing in a seasoned, battle-tested quarterback who can hit the ground running.
Whether Stokes ends up in Iowa City or not, one thing is clear: the Hawkeyes are no longer hesitant about the portal. They’ve seen what the right quarterback can do - and they’re not about to leave that to chance.