**2026 Iowa Football Offseason and Transfer Portal Thread**

[ddevries]

If only there were a really obvious upside comp for Iose Epenesa.

It would be asinine to suggest Iose had a season anywhere near AJ’s for his freshman year.

 

[douglasbader]

It would be asinine to suggest Iose had a season anywhere near AJ’s for his freshman year.

Yeah, something nobody said.

 

[ddevries]

I’ll admit it was a poorly phrased question. Let’s put it this way: Will Iose end up having a better career than Llewelyn? I’m thinking probably not, lonely matches that career output at Iowa.

 

[Gushawk]

He’ll play the run better than Max and almost certainly have a better NFL career. I’m guessing their sack totals (at least on a per snap basis) will be comparable.

 

[CamelTones]

He’s likely to have 3 or 4 seasons of significant playing time vs 2 for Llewelyn. So I would guess he will surpass his production.

 

[demmert4]

I’ll admit it was a poorly phrased question. Let’s put it this way: Will Iose end up having a better career than Llewelyn? I’m thinking probably not, lonely matches that career output at Iowa.

He redshirted. How in the world is this your takeaway on him?

 

[AZmessDAWG]

Ol Pil Pharker will have to coach them new croots up

Knock it off

 

[6deuce]

He redshirted. How in the world is this your takeaway on him?

Because he’s a fucking retard with a sister that was repeatedly defiled by @26.2

 

[ddevries]

He redshirted. How in the world is this your takeaway on him?

It’s just purely speculation. And me being concerned that Iowa’s lack of a pass rush this year might continue.

 

[The Full Monte]

I’ll admit it was a poorly phrased question. Let’s put it this way: Will Iose end up having a better career than Llewelyn? I’m thinking probably not, lonely matches that career output at Iowa.

Based on some of the things I’ve heard about him, I think he’s going to have a VERY solid career. I wouldn’t read too much into him redshirting this year. I think it’s a rare situation where it made way more sense to redshirt a kid because of how deep Iowa was at the DE spot this season. I expect he will be a heavy contributor next year.

 

[CamelTones]

Iowa wasn’t really deep at DE this year. At least not like they were from 2017-2022.

 

[douglasbader]

Iowa wasn’t really deep at DE this year. At least not like they were from 2017-2022.

Yes and no. I think they were deep in the sense he wasn't ever going to start over Llewellen or Hurket as Seniors. Then you had Brian Allen as an upper classmen and Merriweather.

Best case scenario is they were going to burn his redshirt for about 6 games of meaningful snaps. I think they made the right decision getting his feet wet in the 4 games he played and can fully unleash him as a RS Freshman next year. I think they obviously love how he is coming along and trusted him enough to put him in the second half of a bowl game during a crucial stretch and he looked good.

 

[CamelTones]

I hope they bring in a P4 defensive tackle like Indiana did last year. Pace and Hawthorn were nice players, but they need a little more push up the middle than they got this year.

 

[douglasbader]

I hope they bring in a P4 defensive tackle like Indiana did last year. Pace and Hawthorn were nice players, but they need a little more push up the middle than they got this year.

They should have literal millions to spend on 4-5 key portal players. I hope they buy Phil some new toys to play with and give Lester a couple of actual WR's.

They need a lockdown CB as well. Lee has improved and Watson is pretty good, but they are midgets and I don't think have the top level ability to be that All-Big Ten type player. They need that and I would hope with lots of $$ and the best DB coach in the country they can find someone.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Considering the NIL numbers I’ve heard for Iose, im guessing that he is fine with his playing time

 

[Debit One]

They should have literal millions to spend on 4-5 key portal players. I hope they buy Phil some new toys to play with and give Lester a couple of actual WR's.

Sam Phillips didn't do it for you?

 

[RazHawk]

Yeah, lockdown corner, DT, and a fast WR that can catch should be the portal priorities, in that order.

 

[Gushawk]

I’d say 2 DTs who can be top 4, then WR with speed who’s not a midget, then QB better than Hank Brown with mobility, then CB.

we can roll with Lee, Wallace and Godfrey at CB if needed. Lutmer can play it in 4-3.

 

[RiotFan]

All this assumes the younger LBs are better than what was trotted out there this year. That was an awful display from Harrell, Montgomery, et al yesterday.

 

[CamelTones]

Not sure they’re really interested in going after portal corners.

 

[Gushawk]

One of the ISU guys would be a nice addition

 

[Lil Scamp]

I think they will still look for a QB. My guess is Lester is bluffing to try to keep Brown and what's his name around for spring

 

[Shawneemicks]

I think they will still look for a QB. My guess is Lester is bluffing to try to keep Brown and what's his name around for spring

I’m hoping this too

 

[RazHawk]

I have zero confidence that Iowa will go spend portal money efficiently at the QB position, while Gronowski helped the offense be more explosive this year, it was almost all with his legs, you don't need to spend $1M a year to throw for 120 yards per game.

Conversely, Phil's defense has always needed at least one lockdown corner to really shine, and I don't see that on the roster currently, maybe I'm wrong. DT worries me going into 2026 too.

They also kinda need a home run hitter at RB, I doubt they spend there, but a couple of those losses in 25 would have been wins with some more speed at RB. Moulton has good vision and is good at getting some tough yards, but he doesn't seem too have the top end speed/vision needed for the home runs Kaleb Johnson was hitting last year.

 

[The Dad]

McNeil will be a HR guy.

 

[Lil Scamp]

I have zero confidence that Iowa will go spend portal money efficiently at the QB position, while Gronowski helped the offense be more explosive this year, it was almost all with his legs, you don't need to spend $1M a year to throw for 120 yards per game.

Conversely, Phil's defense has always needed at least one lockdown corner to really shine, and I don't see that on the roster currently, maybe I'm wrong. DT worries me going into 2026 too.

They also kinda need a home run hitter at RB, I doubt they spend there, but a couple of those losses in 25 would have been wins with some more speed at RB. Moulton has good vision and is good at getting some tough yards, but he doesn't seem too have the top end speed/vision needed for the home runs Kaleb Johnson was hitting last year.

Gron was worth every damn cent

 

[RazHawk]

Gron was worth every damn cent

If you want to talk intangibles, maybe? No way to measure that objectively.

If you want to talk production, you don't pay seven figures for a QB in the portal to finish with fewer passing yards per game than Air Force, which is what Iowa just did.

Gronowski makes it very clear the statute QB needs to be abandoned at Iowa permanently, but they still have to figure out how to develop a consistent passing attack.

 

[Shawneemicks]

Not spending money on the single most important position in sports is, without a doubt the single dumbest thing ever said on halo.
And I’ve said some real dumb shit

 

[CurdMan]

If you want to talk intangibles, maybe? No way to measure that objectively.

If you want to talk production, you don't pay seven figures for a QB in the portal to finish with fewer passing yards per game than Air Force, which is what Iowa just did.

Gronowski makes it very clear the statute QB needs to be abandoned at Iowa permanently, but they still have to figure out how to develop a consistent passing attack.

You pay a QB to win you games. Before Iowa signed Gronowski, it was looking like Sullivan was going to be the guy. If you think Iowa gets close to 9 wins this year with Sullivan, idk what to tell you. Gronowski has limitations but he was head and shoulders above Iowas other options

 

[Hawkstrat]

I do hope they factor in the need for off season surgery the next time they buy a QB.

 

[Lil Scamp]

If you want to talk intangibles, maybe? No way to measure that objectively.

If you want to talk production, you don't pay seven figures for a QB in the portal to finish with fewer passing yards per game than Air Force, which is what Iowa just did.

Gronowski makes it very clear the statute QB needs to be abandoned at Iowa permanently, but they still have to figure out how to develop a consistent passing attack.

He had 26 TDS your high

 

[RazHawk]

Not spending money on the single most important position in sports is, without a doubt the single dumbest thing ever said on halo.
And I’ve said some real dumb shit

Over the course of 3 OCs and 5 QBs Iowa hasn't been able to figure out how to pass the ball consistently..... What are the odds it's a QB problem?

I'm not saying not to recruit/spend anything on QB, but I'm not sure spending $1M+ there gets you the return in the Iowa system you'd get spending that money elsewhere.

Spending seven figures for air force level passing numbers is what the goal is? Some of that was WR, some coaching I'm sure, but I'm not sure either of those things change significantly in 2026. They might spend on a portal QB, just hope they don't go crazy. Definitely get someone mobile if they do.

 

[RazHawk]

He had 26 TDS your high

He had 10 passing TDs and 7 INTs, it's not ideal for your QB to have around 50% more rushing TDs than passing TDs.

Gronowski can have both been a big improvement for the team and also not probably an efficient use of portal money, those things aren't mutually exclusive.

I think it was great watching him this year, he hopefully proved to Kirk that statue QBs should never be used again.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

He had 10 passing TDs and 7 INTs, it's not ideal for your QB to have around 50% more rushing TDs than passing TDs.

Gronowski can have both been a big improvement for the team and also not probably an efficient use of portal money, those things aren't mutually exclusive.

I think it was great watching him this year, he hopefully proved to Kirk that statue QBs should never be used again.

Who else were they going to get?

 

[WCFHawkeye]

He had 10 passing TDs and 7 INTs, it's not ideal for your QB to have around 50% more rushing TDs than passing TDs.

Gronowski can have both been a big improvement for the team and also not probably an efficient use of portal money, those things aren't mutually exclusive.

I think it was great watching him this year, he hopefully proved to Kirk that statue QBs should never be used again.

We don't beat Penn State or Michigan State without him, nor Vanderbilt. Not counting Vanderbilt (different bowl). We are 6-6 without him.

If healthy, we don't lose all 4 games. He indeed threw like a total faggot at times, but Iowa was much better with him than without, and he was well worthwhile.

 

[iowa4ever20]

He had 10 passing TDs and 7 INTs, it's not ideal for your QB to have around 50% more rushing TDs than passing TDs.

Gronowski can have both been a big improvement for the team and also not probably an efficient use of portal money, those things aren't mutually exclusive.

I think it was great watching him this year, he hopefully proved to Kirk that statue QBs should never be used again.

So the rushing TD’s just mean nothing to the offense? Did you see how Texas Tech just looked against Oregon or how OSU looked against Indiana? Iowa’s offense held their own just fine against some of the best defenses in the country.

 

[douglasbader]

Gronowski was the difference between the offense being total shit and pretty good by Iowa standards. He was worth every single penny.

 

[CurdMan]

We don't beat Penn State or Michigan State without him, nor Vanderbilt. Not counting Vanderbilt (different bowl). We are 6-6 without him.

If healthy, we don't lose all 4 games. He indeed threw like a total faggot at times, but Iowa was much better with him than without, and he was well worthwhile.

Yea..I’m not sure how else Iowa would spend that money to get a better return.

 

[douglasbader]

After seeing Gronowski finally healthy and throwing the ball with 2 legit weapons at the end of the year, I would suck every single fucking cock on Halo for another year of him and beg Kirk to give him $2m to stay.

If you had him next year with that schedule, you are looking at the CFP most likely.

 

[WCFHawkeye]

After seeing Gronowski finally healthy and throwing the ball with 2 legit weapons at the end of the year, I would suck every single fucking cock on Halo for another year of him and beg Kirk to give him $2m to stay.

If you had him next year with that schedule, you are looking at the CFP most likely.

You would keep the other $8.98 billion for yourself?

 

[douglasbader]

You would keep the other $8.98 billion for yourself?

In theory.

 

[Billy Butters]

After seeing Gronowski finally healthy and throwing the ball with 2 legit weapons at the end of the year, I would suck every single fucking cock on Halo for another year of him and beg Kirk to give him $2m to stay.

If you had him next year with that schedule, you are looking at the CFP most likely.

I think Gronowski was a great fit this year with his strengths but I'm ready to move on. Playing pathetic defenses like Nebrantska and Vandy could be a little misleading based on what we saw in all the other games. I give alot of credit to Lester and would love to see what he could do with someone who is mobile and more competent passing.

 

[douglasbader]

I think Gronowski was a great fit this year with his strengths but I'm ready to move on. Playing pathetic defenses like Nebrantska and Vandy could be a little misleading based on what we saw in all the other games. I give alot of credit to Lester and would love to see what he could do with someone who is mobile and more competent passing.

I think the point is that Gronowski is actually competent passing and has been his whole career outside a stretch this year when he was injured. As not great as the defenses of Nebrantska and Vandy are, he still had big moments passing against Oregon and even against Indiana he was starting to put it together right before he got hurt again.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

McNeil will be a HR guy.

we are only looking for Halo guys

 

[2HawkFans]

I think Gronowski leadership was as important as his throwing ability. He often checked plays and did things to keep us moving. Imagine if we had him another year, along with some of the young guys he's throwing to, working with Lester to better learn/practice the offensive schemes.

 

[Whatever]

Gronowski scored 17 non-passing touchdowns. Focusing on his passing stats is fucking stupid.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Gronowski scored 17 non-passing touchdowns. Focusing on his passing stats is fucking stupid.

Especially when any qb on our roster in the past 5 years would have scored zero TD’s in the same scenarios.

gronowski was our best use of the portal to date.

 

[YugoslavianMountainHound]

 

[douglasbader]

These letters are extremely gay.

 

[Renegade_ofFunk]

Couldn’t Lavar have poached Jayden Montgomery instead?