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USA Today
4 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
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football grabs transfer portal commitment from Wake Forest QB
Iowa football grabs transfer portal commitment from Wake Forest QB Iowa football has found another signal-caller for Tim Lester and the Hawkeyes to work with. Following a recent visit to Iowa, the Hawkeyes have landed a commitment from Wake Forest transfer quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski. A 6-foot quarterback, Hecklinski saw action in just one game last season with the Demon Deacons when he took three snaps in a 31-24 loss against North Carolina. Out of Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia, Hecklinski was the 2023 MaxPreps Georgia Player of the Year and the 2023 GPB Georgia Offensive Player of the Year. During his senior year, Hecklinski led Walton to the Class 7A GHSA state championship game after throwing for 3,835 passing yards and 50 touchdowns against just six interceptions. Hecklinski completed 201-of-309 attempts (65.0 pct.) in 14 games played while holding a 141.9 passer rating. When Hecklinski signed with Wake Forest, he became the Demon Deacons' highest-rated quarterback signee during the 247Sports composite era. According to 247Sports, Hecklinski was the nation's No. 25 quarterback and the No. 42 player from Georgia. Both On3 and 247Sports rank Hecklinski as a three-star transfer portal prospect. 247Sports rates Hecklinski as the No. 61 quarterback in its transfer rankings. The Georgia product comes to Iowa from an athletic family. Hecklinski's dad, Randy, played quarterback at Bowling Green from 1990-95 and his uncle, Jeff, played quarterback at Illinois and Western Illinois. Hecklinski joins a quarterback room at Iowa that features South Dakota State transfer and presumed starter Mark Gronowski, Auburn transfer Hank Brown, Jackson Stratton and class of 2025 signee Jimmy Sullivan. Dating back to early last December, the Hawkeyes have seen a near-complete restructuring of its quarterbacks room. The only holdover is Stratton. Cade McNamara, Brendan Sullivan, Marco Lainez and James Resar all entered the NCAA transfer portal. Here's a look at Hecklinski's high school highlights: 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 Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Must-get recruiting targets for each Big Ten program
Nick Lucero/ Commitments have started to pick up steam in the 2026 cycle and as a result, programs are getting a better idea of which targets are the most important moving into the spring portion of the cycle. Here are the must-get targets for each Big Ten program in the 2026 class. BIG TEN RECRUITING RANKINGS: 2025 | 2026 RUMOR MILL: Chatter continues despite dead period CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker The Illini are the surprise of the conference so far with their 2026 recruiting class. But it will fall flat if it doesn't land the four-star in-state tight end. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ILLINOIS FANS AT After a magical season in 2025 the Hoosiers need to lock down more four-star talent. The in-state defensive lineman would give a major boost to recruiting efforts. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH INDIANA FANS AT The Hawkeyes already hold a verbal from the California signal-caller. But keeping him committed is huge since he was the top quarterback target of offensive coordinator Tim Lester. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH IOWA FANS AT When the Terps landed an early commitment from Elee it shocked everyone. Holding onto him and getting him to sign would be a signature recruiting win for the program. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MARYLAND FANS AT Sadler is the perfect fit for making the Wolverines' offensive attack more dynamic. Keeping him home would send a message about what skill recruits think about the direction of the program. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MICHIGAN FANS AT The four-star offensive lineman has ties to the program and coach Jonathan Smith has been recruiting him hard for a long time. Landing the in-state lineman over Michigan, Penn State and Notre Dame would be massive. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MICHIGAN STATE FANS AT It feels like the four-star safety is destined to play in the Big Ten. So keeping him away from rivals and landing a talented defensive back would be huge for the Gophers. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MINNESOTA FANS AT The talented running back has game-breaking ability but is also from a familiar high school to Nebraska fans. The Huskers also need to continue expanding the pipeline in Missouri. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH NEBRASKA FANS AT Jackson is a two-way standout that could play receiver or safety in college. Pulling him out of Nebraska would be a major coup for the Wildcats. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH NORTHWESTERN FANS AT The one nitpick about the Buckeyes' recruiting efforts is they don't land enough game-changing defensive linemen. Geralds is a contender to join the class and he'd fit the bill. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OHIO STATE FANS AT The Ducks are in the hunt with several elite offensive linemen this cycle. But the one who would make the biggest splash on and off the field is Cantwell. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OREGON FANS AT Penn State already has a few receiver commits but needs the cherry on top of a good potential haul. Snagging Brown over Georgia and Michigan would be huge. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH PENN STATE FANS AT Bardo is one of the top prospects in Indiana this cycle and has a lot of potential upside when he gets to college. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH PURDUE FANS AT It's been since the 2012 recruiting cycle since Rutgers landed the top prospect in New Jersey. Wafle would buck that staggering trend. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH RUTGERS FANS AT It's going to be hard for the Bruins to pass Oregon or Ohio State for the defender but he's exactly what the Bruins need to change perceptions in-state. The Trojans have been the perceived leader for Lyons for much of his recruitment. Getting him in the class before his religious mission would be massive. Washington doesn't get a ton of four-stars in the state so the Huskies need to make them count. Colman-Brusa could be a cornerstone of the 2026 class. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH WASHINGTON FANS AT The Badgers have made the four-star from Ohio a major priority. Landing him over Ohio State, Michigan and others would show a positive trajectory for the program. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH WISCONSIN FANS AT
