Aaron Graves arrived as a four-star signee per 247Sports. So, there’s always been lofty expectations on the Southeast Valley product from the moment he arrived on campus.
The 6-foot-4, 293 pound defensive lineman did a good job fueling the hype train during his true freshman season. Across 214 total snaps last season per Pro Football Focus, Graves tallied 15 tackles, six tackles for loss, five pressures and three sacks.
Based off last season’s production and sheer talent alone, Graves was going to seriously factor into Iowa’s plans in 2023 regardless. Now, after the news that fellow Hawkeye defensive tackle Noah Shannon has been suspended for the entirety of the 2023 season, it only amplifies the role that Graves will have on this football team.
Graves is currently listed as one of the Hawkeyes’ backup defensive tackles after Yahya Black on the opening depth chart. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said Graves has already stepped up his play.
“Yeah, he’s done that. He’s started that. He’s the one guy last spring, I made the comment—I don’t remember many guys in their first year that have been —he just practices at a really high tempo for a guy his size. It’s an unusual trait.
“Last spring, I was just impressed with the velocity he comes off with. He’s still got to learn how to play. I’m not minimizing that. So, it’s not like he’s out of place I guess with big guys, with the varsity.
“He’s done a good job in August, so obviously these last three plus weeks, four plus weeks have really helped move him forward as a football player, and Yahya Black has done a good job, and the other guys, Jeremiah Pittman, has really improved. A year ago, not even — he was a scout team guy, but right now he’s a legitimate player.
“That’s what you’re hoping for. You’re hoping to see young guys develop, and all those guys I just mentioned have done that,” Ferentz said of Graves.
Listening to Ferentz earlier this week, Iowa has been impressed with Graves dating back to his recruitment. His time in Iowa City has only reinforced that.
“I’d almost use the ‘freak’ word. I don’t want to do that. But he came in here with like 60 credits. He’s graduating next spring as a second-year guy. He’ll be teaching when some other guys are coming to school. Probably be teaching here.
“He’s a focused, driven guy, wrestled, played basketball, four or five sports in high school. He’s just a guy who achieves. He really has a great attitude and works hard,” Ferentz said.
Graves joins a group on the interior that features the aforementioned Yahya Black, Logan Lee and Jeremiah Pittman on the Week 1 depth chart.
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