Iowa spent the offseason patching holes with transfers, and the number alone tells you how much turnover this roster is dealing with. The Hawkeyes added seven defensive players, four offensive players and two special teamers, setting up a very different-looking depth chart and, eventually, a different stat sheet on both sides of the ball.
With that kind of roster churn, the key question isn’t just who arrived. It’s who’s going to matter.
Before sorting through each transfer, it helps to define the roles being used here. A “starter” doesn’t have to mean the first 11 names on the field. Iowa rotates at spots like running back, along the defensive line and at wide receiver, so a player can still be considered a starter even if he isn’t technically in the opening lineup, as long as he’s playing starter-level snaps.
Then there’s the “two-deep competitor” label. That’s for players who may not be on the field a ton right away, but still have a path to meaningful work. They could be the next man up if the starter gets hurt, or they might be used in certain packages where their skill set fits best.
That framework matters because Iowa didn’t just dip into the transfer portal for one or two fixes. The Hawkeyes went into it looking for help across the board, including talent from the FCS and Group of 5 ranks. The result is a roster that should look a lot different when the season gets rolling.
In Other News...
Former Iowa QB Mark Gronowski Just Got Another NFL Chance
Mark Gronowskis path to the NFL has already had one detour, but the former Iowa and South Dakota State quarterback is getting another shot to keep it moving. Miami brought him in on a three-year deal as an undrafted free agent in April, betting on a player whose college rsum is hard to ignore: the winningest quarterback in Division I history, two FCS national titles and the 2023 Walter Payton Award.
The Dolphins waived Gronowski on Aug. 7, a move that briefly threatened to stall his first summer in a pro quarterback room. But Miami now intends to bring him back, and the timing should let him resume practicing before the Aug. 22 preseason game against the Giants, keeping his chance alive to stay in the mix as camp continues. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Camp Depth Is Already Being Tested In A Brutal Way
Fall camp had barely settled in before Iowas depth was already getting pushed around. Kirk Ferentz said defensive back Kyler Gerardy and receiver Lance Beeghley have suffered significant injuries, a tough early hit for a roster that is still trying to sort out its back-end depth and find reliable bodies at several spots. Gerardy saw action in four games last season, while Beeghley arrived as a transfer from SMU hoping for a fresh start after not getting game action there.
The larger concern is how quickly the injury list can start to shape the competition tree before the season even begins. Iowa also has transfer safety Tyler Brown working through a muscle strain, which only adds to the sense that camp reps are becoming precious in a hurry. For a program that values accumulation of dependable depth as much as almost anything, this is the kind of early attrition that forces other players into bigger roles before anyone planned on it. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Latest Roster Update Leaves Two Young Hawkeyes In Limbo
Iowas roster picture for 2026 took a small but notable hit when Kirk Ferentz confirmed that Terrence Smith and Ben Kueter are not currently listed with the football team. For a program that has long valued versatility and development, the status of two young players with upside naturally draws attention, especially as the Hawkeyes continue sorting out depth and long-term plans on both sides of the ball.
Kueters path is already shifting after hip surgery cost him the 2025 football season, and he is now turning his full focus to wrestling. Smith, meanwhile, has enrolled at Iowa Western while working his way back from a health issue, leaving Iowa to monitor where things stand next. For a couple of promising names who once looked like part of the programs future, the next chapter remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]