With Mark Gronowski taking the reins at quarterback, Iowa’s offense found a gear it hadn’t shown in years - and it wasn’t just about arm strength. Gronowski brought a dual-threat dimension that added real bite to the Hawkeyes’ playbook. Sure, he could throw it, but it was his legs that did the talking last season.
Gronowski ran for 545 yards and 16 touchdowns - both single-season records for an Iowa quarterback. Those numbers weren’t flukes.
They were the product of a deliberate shift under offensive coordinator Tim Lester, who’s clearly leaning into the mobility of his quarterbacks. The ground game from the QB spot is no longer just a wrinkle in Iowa’s system - it’s becoming a staple.
Looking ahead, that trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Jeremy Hecklinski, the projected starter for 2026, fits that mold.
He’s another signal-caller who can make plays off-script and move the chains with his legs. And the recruiting board suggests Iowa’s doubling down on that identity.
Enter Jamison Roberts, a 2027 dual-threat quarterback out of Saraland High School in Mobile, Alabama. Roberts recently trimmed his list of top schools to eight, and Iowa made the cut. Joining the Hawkeyes on that list are Auburn, Oklahoma, Duke, Ole Miss, Northwestern, Arkansas, and Kentucky - a mix of SEC muscle and Power Five contenders.
What stands out? Alabama, the in-state powerhouse, didn’t make the list. Whether the Tide didn’t offer or Roberts simply saw a better fit elsewhere, it’s notable when a top-tier talent from Mobile looks beyond Tuscaloosa.
Roberts has been climbing recruiting boards thanks to a monster junior season. He threw for 3,370 yards and 37 touchdowns while adding 641 yards and 21 scores on the ground.
That’s not just dual-threat - that’s full-throttle production. He’s the kind of quarterback who forces defenses to account for every inch of the field, and he fits the mold of what Iowa’s offense is evolving into.
Recruiting services are taking notice. Rivals pegs Roberts as a three-star prospect, ranked No. 16 overall in Alabama and No. 27 nationally among quarterbacks in the 2027 class. 247Sports is in a similar ballpark, slotting him at No. 15 in the state and No. 21 among quarterbacks.
While Iowa’s in the mix, the early buzz points to Oklahoma as the frontrunner. Still, the Hawkeyes have positioned themselves well. With a clear offensive identity and a recent track record of letting mobile quarterbacks thrive, Iowa presents a compelling case for a player like Roberts.
If the Hawkeyes can land him, it would be another step in their transformation - from a traditional, pocket-passing program to one that embraces the modern, dynamic quarterback. And in today’s game, that’s the kind of shift that can change a program’s ceiling.