Kirk Ferentz on whether or not he’ll return to Iowa in 2025: ‘That is my plan’
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz discusses a wide range of subjects on early signing day.
IOWA CITY — “We will probably be lively within the switch portal” are the magic phrases that Tyler Barnes mentioned on Dec. 4, main as much as the chaotic stretch of attempting to construct a roster for the upcoming season.
The message from Iowa soccer’s normal supervisor and chief of employees might be celebrated by the Hawkeye devoted as an indication that Iowa is prepared to maintain up with the evolving panorama of school athletics.
However simply how lively will Iowa be within the switch portal? That’s nonetheless unclear.
Extra typically, Iowa’s recruiting philosophy just isn’t a secret.
The Hawkeyes aren’t towards utilizing the switch portal. However they do not wish to be overly reliant on it, as an alternative laying this system’s basis by prospects from the highschool ranks.
“Identical to the NFL builds by the draft, our switch portal is the NFL’s free company,” Barnes defined. “We want to exit and fill some holes if we now have some. We’ll do this with the switch portal.”
With so many key gamers electing to come back again to Iowa forward of the 2024 season, this system introduced in a really small switch portal class. However these returners have now exhausted their school eligibility, that means there will probably be loads of beginning roles for Iowa to fill, notably on protection.
The method of attempting to land potential influence transfers is now beginning to ramp up.
“I feel Monday the avalanche is basically coming,” Barnes mentioned, referring to Monday, Dec. 9, the primary day that the portal is open. The portal stays open till Dec. 28.
With that “avalanche” about to start, here’s a complete breakdown of positional wants, potential targets and different issues it is best to know as Iowa’s 2025 roster continues to take form.
The shelf life for particulars on this story is likely to be brief, given the switch portal could be a fast-moving, unpredictable spectacle. However hopefully this will get you off to a begin.
Quarterback
Iowa’s quarterback carousel didn’t cease handing over 2024. The much-maligned place hasn’t been as much as par because the departure of Nate Stanley.
Cade McNamara is on his method out the door. Iowa moved former touted quarterback prospect James Resar to receiver and now he’s getting into the switch portal, as nicely.
Forward of the bowl sport, Iowa has simply two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster — Brendan Sullivan and Marco Lainez, each of whom have handled accidents this season however are actually transferring in the correct route. Most popular walk-on Jackson Stratton began the ultimate two video games of the common season.
Iowa signed a pair of quarterbacks in its 2025 highschool recruiting class — Jimmy Sullivan and Ryan Fitzgerald (most popular walk-on).
Sullivan may nonetheless be a viable rapid possibility for getting Iowa’s quarterback troubles out of the weeds, however the Hawkeyes shouldn’t let that deter them from attempting to carry another person in.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz mentioned of taking a look at quarterbacks within the switch portal: “We might be fools to not not less than see what’s out there and see what is likely to be of curiosity — each methods.”
Defensive again
Three of Iowa’s veteran and productive defensive backs will probably be transferring on from this system — Jermari Harris (cornerback), Sebastian Castro (Money) and Quinn Schulte (security).
As for who may return, Xavier Nwankpa is now a veteran. Cornerbacks Deshaun Lee and TJ Corridor every made a number of begins this season. Zach Lutmer and Koen Entringer are on monitor to be a part of the following wave within the secondary. However Iowa may use reinforcements, provided that it is a place group that fell in need of expectations in 2024 and can also be dropping a considerable variety of contributors.
Defensive position
The Hawkeyes are dropping not less than two starters on the defensive position — Yahya Black and Deontae Craig.
Ethan Hurkett is a fifth-year participant with one season of eligibility remaining if he chooses to put it to use. Iowa may additionally carry again a handful of others from the defensive position room, together with Aaron Graves, Max Llewellyn and Brian Allen. Extremely touted 2025 legacy Hawkeye Iose Epenesa may enter the fray as a real freshman.
However Iowa may benefit from getting some established expertise out of the switch portal to bolster that group.
Vast receiver
Iowa’s inexperienced large receiver group confirmed some flashes of promise this season, together with Jacob Gill, Reece Vander Zee, Dayton Howard and Jarriett Buie. However very like quarterback play, Iowa’s large receiver manufacturing hasn’t been on the degree it must be over the previous few seasons.
These two positions are tied collectively. Neither can do its job with out the opposite.
Iowa may make a splash by including a large receiver to get extra assist across the quarterback place.
Kicker
Iowa was set on this class till lately when 2025 highschool prospect Scott Starzyk decommitted from the Hawkeyes.
Drew Stevens nonetheless has another season of eligibility remaining after 2024, so this isn’t an imminent difficulty. However particular groups coordinator LeVar Woods nonetheless must safe the way forward for that place after Stevens.
Iowa may discover that by the portal or highschool recruiting.
A reputation to know is Dominic De Freitas. A five-star kicker by Kohl’s Kicking within the 2025 highschool class, De Freitas visited Iowa for the thrilling win over Nebraska in late November.
A method or one other, Iowa must work forward to determine the post-Stevens kicking plan.
Video: Tyler Barnes on legacy Hawkeyes Iose Epenesa, Mason Woods
Iowa soccer’s chief of employees and normal supervisor Tyler Barnes discusses a wide range of subjects on early signing day.
Names to know
Miller Moss, Quarterback, USC
Iowa was among the many packages linked to Moss, based on On3’s Pete Nakos. Moss threw for greater than 2,500 yards for the Trojans this season with a passing landing to interception ratio of 2-to-1. He’s a Huge Ten-caliber starter who would have the potential to raise Iowa’s quarterback play instantly.
Keshawn Davila, Defensive again, Northwest Mississippi Neighborhood Faculty
Davila, the top-ranked JUCO cornerback, based on the 247Sports Composite, could possibly be the following expertise at a place the place Iowa has generated nice success underneath Phil Parker. The Hawkeyes prolonged a proposal in October and Davila took an official go to to Iowa shortly thereafter.
Langden Kitchen, Defensive lineman, Northwest Missouri State
One other non-FBS prospect Iowa is wanting into. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 270 kilos, Kitchen recorded 5.5 sacks and compelled two fumbles this season on the Division II degree. Kitchen visited Iowa for the Hawkeyes’ win over Nebraska.
Conner Weigman, Quarterback, Texas A&M
A former five-star recruit, Iowa was talked about as a staff to look at for Weigman by Nakos. Weigman has appeared in every of the final three seasons for the Aggies, combining for practically 2,700 yards by the air and 19 passing touchdowns to seven interceptions throughout that span. Weigman was hindered by a number of accidents throughout his profession at Texas A&M.
Different intriguing names for Hawkeyes
- Dillon Thieneman, Defensive again, Purdue
- Cole Wisniewski, Defensive again, North Dakota State
- Corey Walker, Defensive lineman, Western Michigan
- Omari Kelly, Vast receiver, Center Tennessee State
- Chase Sowell, Vast receiver, East Carolina College
- Camden Coleman, Quarterback, Richmond
- Eric Rivers, Vast receiver, Florida Worldwide
- Jonah Tempo, Defensive lineman, Central Michigan
Last ideas on Iowa soccer switch portal
Very like highschool recruiting, the switch portal may be hit or miss. However the portal tends to be an expedited course of, virtually like pace relationship of the recruiting world.
Iowa has landed some resounding successes by the portal. Linebacker Nick Jackson headlines that listing. Others like Rusty Feth, Brendan Sullivan and Jacob Gill have confirmed to be helpful additions to this system.
“If we are able to complement with guys which can be nice matches, you understand, whether or not it is the 2 guys we picked up, Sullivan and Gill, this previous (offseason),” Ferentz mentioned. “Return to Nick Jackson, Rusty Feth. You get these sort of guys that are available in and simply hit the bottom working, that is an ideal match there.”
That isn’t the way it at all times works out. Iowa has had its share of as soon as hopeful switch portal additions which have ended up being disappointments. Cade McNamara and Kaleb Brown fall into that class. Kadyn Proctor is an much more excessive instance, given he by no means performed a snap at Iowa.
However that’s simply the character of school athletics’ trendy panorama.
As Iowa continues to construct its 2025 roster, the extra Nick Jackson tales it could discover, the higher.
Observe Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact through e mail at [email protected]
