Latest news with #MarkGronowski
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa Hawkeyes creeping up in College Football Playoff sleeper team picks
Iowa Hawkeyes creeping up in College Football Playoff sleeper team picks Since its inception in 2014, the College Football Playoff has opened the door for many more teams to have a chance at a national championship. Once you get into the field, fans have learned that anything can happen. With the field now expanded to 12 teams, there is more hope to be spread around among college football fan bases. One team and fan base that has been knocking at the door but not yet entered the College Football Playoff party is the Iowa Hawkeyes. A perennial winning program, Iowa has been on the cusp of making an appearance multiple times, only to fall one game short. With a new quarterback in Mark Gronowski, who many view as a large upgrade for Iowa, and a roster constructed to blow by their projected win totals, could 2025 be the season Iowa kicks down the door and enters the College Football Playoff? On3's college football reporter Ari Wasserman believes that could be the case. He has the Iowa Hawkeyes included among his Big Ten and SEC teams that could make noise in the 2025 College Football Playoff. Iowa When you think about Iowa football, you think about laughably bad offense and great defense. It seems to be the same there every single year. But guess what? Iowa brought in quarterback Mark Gronowski from South Dakota State. If you haven't watched his tape, do it. The Hawkeyes have a chance at a semi-explosive offense with a healthy Gronowski at the helm. It's a borderline lock that the Hawkeyes will have an elite defense. Dare to dream. - Wasserman, On3 With a defense that is always steady under defensive coordinator Phil Parker, Iowa has a puncher's chance with a competent offense that shows a pulse. If they can get life from the offense, they become a very dangerous team that could take down a title contender to punch their own ticket to the postseason. Other Big Ten teams pegged as sleepers by Wasserman include the Illinois Fighting Illini who are ascending rapidly under head coach Bret Bielema who is paired with elite QB Luke Altmyer, the Nebraska Cornhuskers who are looking to continue their growth under head coach Matt Rhule, and the Washington Huskies, a newer team in the Big Ten looking to make a big splash. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football QB Mark Gronowski ranks as one of ESPN's top NFL draft prospects
Iowa football QB Mark Gronowski ranks as one of ESPN's top NFL draft prospects Whether it is fair or not, the 2025 Iowa Hawkeyes football season is beginning to look like it is going to see its success rest on the shoulders of the offense once again. A trend that has become commonplace for Iowa with their stout defense, the offense continues to be the biggest question mark. Iowa improved last year and enters the second year with Tim Lester calling plays, which should only continue to see the offense open up more and gain traction. Leading his offense is proven talent Mark Gronowski, a quarterback transfer from South Dakota State. While Mark Gronowski chose to join the Hawkeyes, he had NFL interest last year and could have taken the leap to go pro with a likely chance to make a roster. Despite snubbing the NFL last year, he still finds himself ranked as one of ESPN's top NFL QB draft prospects in the 2026 draft. Mark Gronowski, Iowa Gronowski had a historic career at South Dakota State, leading the Jackrabbits to two national championships and tying for the most-ever wins (49) for an FCS starting quarterback. He flirted with entering the 2025 NFL draft and even got an invite to the combine but decided to go to Iowa, whose offense showed improvement in 2024. The 6-3, 230-pounder is a densely built passer who can also make plays with his legs. - Jordan Reid, ESPN Gronowski's dual-threat ability makes him unique and intriguing to NFL teams, as his speed, arm talent, and rushing ability, paired with his big frame, is a mix that is not often found. If Tim Lester can unlock the same dual-threat ability that Gronowski displayed for the Jackrabbits, where he won two national championships at the FCS level, the Hawkeyes instantly get an upgrade at the quarterback position with arguably their best talent at the spot in the last half-decade. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football QB Mark Gronowski leads the pack of best Big Ten returning quarterbacks
Iowa football QB Mark Gronowski leads the pack of best Big Ten returning quarterbacks As the summer months continue to slowly creep by as the 2025 college football season kickoff looms, there is a growing sense of expectations and excitement surrounding the Iowa Hawkeyes and the noise they could potentially make this fall. The reason for the anticipation rests on the shoulders of their new quarterback, South Dakota State Jackrabbits transfer Mark Gronowski. Expected to be one of the most impactful transfers in the Big Ten, the Hawkeyes and their faithful are hoping that he can continue the dominance that he showed at the FCS level while winning two national championships. Mark Gronowski's arm talent and running ability are undeniable, and that combination of skill sets has him ranked as the top returning quarterback in the Big Ten entering 2025, per Pro Football Focus. While at South Dakota State, Mark Gronowski threw for 10,330 yards and 93 touchdowns while adding 1,767 rushing yards and 37 rushing touchdowns on the ground to prove that defenses have to game plan for him in a multitude of ways. Other Big Ten quarterbacks returning in 2025 that could lead their teams to a successful year, or even a College Football Playoff run, include Penn State's Drew Allar, UCLA's new QB Nico Iamaleava, Indiana's new QB Fernando Mendoza, and Luke Altmyer, the signal caller of the Illinois Fighting Illini. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa star QB among CBS' Big Ten football transfers poised for instant impact
Iowa star QB among CBS' Big Ten football transfers poised for instant impact Every year at this time, the same song and dance is said about the Iowa Hawkeyes. If their offense can find life, they can be a dangerous team due to their always strong defense and special teams. It feels like a time warp of the same story each summer, but could it actually change this season in 2025? The one stark difference between this year and the past is who Iowa has under center. The Hawkeyes landed Mark Gronowski from South Dakota State, where he won two national championships and stuffed the stat sheet through the air and on the ground. He brings a new dimension to Iowa's offense that it has lacked for some time. His talents have him among CBS Sports' Big Ten instant impact transfers who could make their presence felt throughout the entire conference. Iowa QB Mark Gronowski The latest hope at quarterback for the Hawkeyes. It didn't get much attention, but Iowa's offense was improved last season; it was just extremely reliant on Kaleb Johnson and the run game to be so. Gronowski was an extremely productive player at a strong FCS program in South Dakota State. - Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports With the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, Mark Gronowski put together a prolific career. He compiled an outstanding 49-6 career record over four seasons, which saw them take home the FCS national championship in 2022 and 2023. Gronowski also took home the Walter Payton Award in 2023, which is designated for the best player in the FCS level of college football. He was also a First-Team All-American and MVFC Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. Statistically, Gronowski can do it all. He threw for 10,330 yards and 93 touchdowns while adding 1,767 rushing yards and 37 rushing touchdowns on the ground. If offensive coordinator Tim Lester and Mark Gronowski can click quickly, he can impact Iowa's offense and the Big Ten in a way that the conference or college football landscape has not seen in a while from the Hawkeyes. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
USA Today
5 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
CBS Sports picks Iowa football to 'soar' past season win total in 2025
CBS Sports picks Iowa football to 'soar' past season win total in 2025 The Iowa Hawkeyes enter the 2025-26 college football season with excitement surrounding their new transfer portal additions and the second year under offensive coordinator Tim Lester. The jump in production in 2024 saw the Hawkeyes have more than a pulse on offense and be more than competent most of the year. Can that production increase continue this season? Iowa has brought in FCS star quarterback Mark Gronowski and a two-time FCS national champion to command the offense. He is a proven winner, a talented passer, and not afraid to use his legs. That is a trifecta with the potential to take the Hawkeyes to another level. The potential he brings is noted by CBS Sports as they have Iowa as a team that can soar past their 2025 season win total, which is set at 7.5 wins, per FanDuel. Iowa Hawkeyes (7.5 wins) Key factor: For the first time in more than a decade, Iowa's offense finishing in the top half of Big Ten. The Hawkeyes haven't had a quarterback throw 20 or more touchdown passes since the 2018 season with Nate Stanley, but that chould change this fall after adding Mark Gronowski from South Dakota State via the transfer portal. Second-year offensive coordinator Tim Lester helped Iowa climb out of the Big Ten's offensive cellar last fall with enhanced productivity on third down, and now he gets one of the most experienced passers at the college level to orchestrate his scheme. One of the most under-the-radar hires this offseason was former Wake Forest play caller Warren Ruggiero landing with the Hawkeyes as a senior offensive analyst. His slow mesh concepts over the last decade with the Demon Deacons produced sizable numbers with quarterbacks Jamie Newman, Sam Hartman and others. Perhaps he can unlock a few new wrinkles in Iowa's rushing attack, which must replace 1,500-yard back Kaleb Johnson. - Brad Crawford, CBS Sports Iowa has quietly, but very productively, built up its offensive staff with experienced, veteran coaches who have been around the game for years with multiple quarterbacks, schemes, and game plans, which can all morph into one in Iowa City. If the Hawkeyes can find success on the ground, which should be their path to success behind an experienced offensive line, life could get easier for Gronowski in the passing game and breathe life into an area of offense that Iowa has been desperately yearning for. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
