Iowa fans are well versed in the fact that the Hawkeye coaching staff got to work retooling and supplementing its roster via the NCAA transfer portal. In all, Iowa brought in eight from the portal in an Extreme Hawkeye Makeover.
It’s a notable set of additions, especially offensively. Still, the Iowa Hawkeyes‘ transfer portal haul isn’t necessarily regarded in the same vein as likely College Football Playoff contenders such as Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, LSU, or USC.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t one of the nation’s finest bits of transfer portal work from Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff. On3’s Jesse Simonton is helping to spread the word about what the Hawkeyes have done during this offseason. Simonton included Iowa among his five most impressive 2023 transfer portal classes that the nation doesn’t know about.
The Hawkeyes didn’t add the volume of transfers compared to these other programs, but Kirk Ferentz finally realized the portal is an avenue to immediately address major needs. And Iowa did just that, making moves at quarterback, offensive line, receiver and linebacker.
Of the eight additions in the 2023 cycle, seven project to start for the potential Big Ten West preseason favorites — with the lone outlier at backup quarterback.
Iowa had the Big Ten’s worst offense in 25 years last season, and that unit should take a significant step this fall with former Michigan QB Cade McNamara, who led the Wolverines to a conference title in 2021, Michigan tight end Erick All (Michigan), Ohio State wideout Kaleb Brown and CSU wideout Seth Anderson. Iowa flipped Daijon Parker from heading to Virginia, and the Division II Saginaw Valley State standout projects to start at right tackle for the Hawkeyes.
Nick Jackson was one of the best linebackers to enter the portal this offseason, and the former Virginia starter is expected to replace Jack Campbell in the middle of Iowa’s defense. – Simonton, On3.
It’s a good rundown from Simonton. Iowa has helped itself immensely via the transfer portal.
Quarterback Cade McNamara’s arrival from Michigan gets a lot of the headlines, but the Hawkeyes really helped out his potential fortunes by addressing their offensive line. Adding projected starters at both guard and tackle in Miami (Ohio) transfer Rusty Feth and Saginaw Valley State transfer Daijon Parker is gigantic.
Iowa’s offensive line has had its fair share of struggles the past two seasons. It culminated in the nation’s second-worst total offense last season. The Hawkeyes averaged just 94.9 rushing yards per game, which ranked 124th nationally. Iowa also surrendered 2.92 sacks per game, ranking 105th in that category.
The 5️⃣ most impressive 2023 transfer portal classes you don't know about, per @JesseReSimonton🔥
Read: https://t.co/swTDMwyWyQ pic.twitter.com/bEzEkKLCnh
— On3 (@On3sports) June 13, 2023
Of course, Iowa’s passing offense was every bit as bad. The Hawkeyes threw for only 156.7 yards per game, placing Iowa 123rd in the country.
That’s why the additions in the passing game of former Charleston Southern wide receiver Seth Anderson and former Ohio State wide receiver Kaleb Brown are so important.
Anderson was named the Big South Offensive Freshman of the Year, a second-team Big South offensive selection and as a finalist on the Jerry Rice Award watch list after hauling in 42 grabs for 612 receiving yards with seven scores. Meanwhile, Brown’s 247Sports composite ranking coming out of high school would have represented Iowa’s highest-rated wide receiver signee if he had chose the Hawkeyes then.
It’s two massive skill additions to go along with one of the Big Ten’s best tight ends during the 2021 season in fellow Michigan transfer Erick All.
Then, defensively, Iowa plugged the loss of Butkus Award winner Jack Campbell and presumed starter Jestin Jacobs with Nick Jackson. Jackson’s arrival is getting overshadowed by the offensive additions, but it could wind up equally as impactful.
The 6-foot-1, 235 pound linebacker tallied triple-digit tackles in each of the past three seasons with Virginia and garnered second-team All-ACC status both of the past two seasons with the Cavs.
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