Iowa Hawkeyes QB Lands Major College Football Honor Before Season

Newsweek

3 days ago

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The Iowa Hawkeyes are entering the 2025 college football season looking to get their program back on track. Kirk Ferentz is back for another year as the head coach and is hoping to see his team take a big step in the right direction.
During the 2024 campaign, the Hawkeyes finished with a disappointing 8-5 overall record. That was accompanied by a 6-3 Big Ten schedule.
One of the biggest issues last year was the quarterback position.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes looks on before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on September 23, 2023 in State College, Pennsylvania.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes looks on before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on September 23, 2023 in State College, Pennsylvania.
Photo byTo start the season Cade McNamara was Iowa's starter. He turned in a brutal season, completing 60.5 percent of his pass attempts for 1,017 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions. Basically, he was a non-factor.
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Brendan Sullivan stepped in to replace him. He suffered an injury that hampered his ability and availability, but he completed 71.7 percent of his passes for 475 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions, while also running for 150 yards and four scores.
Heading into the college football offseason, adding help at the quarterback position was a clear priority for Ferentz and the Hawkeyes.
They were able to do just that.
Hank Brown was one addition in the transfer portal from the Auburn Tigers, giving the team a potential starting quarterback next season and the following year. However, it was another transfer portal addition that brought in Iowa's starting quarterback.
Ferentz was able to land a transfer commitment from former South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski. He is coming off of a 2024 season with the Jackrabbits that saw him throw for 2,721 yards, 23 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while completing 60.9 percent of his passes.
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Gronowski is also dangerous on the ground. Last year, he racked up 380 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing.
With that being said, Gronowski has received a major honor before the start of the 2025 season. He was named to the Maxwell Award watchlist, which is an award that is given yearly to college football's most outstanding player. Simply being included on the watchlist is a big deal.
Should he be able to play up to the level that seems to be expected of him, Iowa could be a team to watch in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes aren't likely to win the conference, but they should be able to take a big step in the right direction.
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