Five impact takeaways on Kaleb Brown to Iowa

The Iowa football program was looking to add a wide receiver during the spring transfer portal period. They added a Top 100 prospect and one of the best wide receivers in the spring portal in Kaleb Brown.

On Thursday afternoon the former four star prospect who left Ohio State late week, announced he would be joining the Iowa football program.

How big is this get for the Hawkeyes?

Let me list the ways.

1.While Brown only had one catch for five yards last year (interesting against Iowa), he’s a legit big time talent. The Buckeyes did not want to see him leave their program and they were upset that he entered the transfer portal. They saw the potential in him.

Iowa needed to add some talent and depth to their receiver room. They were heading into the season with only Nico Ragaini and Diante Vines as proven players at that position. Adding Brown means they have another legit receiver and a much needed down the field threat in the passing game for Cade McNamara.

2. Speaking of McNamara, he’s making an impact as a recruiter. He asked for and got the opportunity to host Brown on his official visit. After arriving in Iowa City in January, the Michigan transfer quickly became the unquestioned leader of the Iowa offense and in many ways, the team.

Sources told us that after the first day of the visit, Brown viewed the visit as a 10/10. Much of that was due to the sales job from McNamara, who made him feel at home and sold him on being a star in the Iowa passing game this fall. Who would have thought a former Wolverine and Buckeye would come together in this way, but here we are.

3. Let’s not forget that Brown would potentially have four years of college remaining. He played in only four games last year, totally just 27 snaps, so he will be able to play four years if he would like, at the University of Iowa.

This gives Iowa a huge building block at the receiver position and potentially a permission slip for other higher end wide receivers to give Iowa a serious and long look in the recruiting process.

4. There’s a huge motivational component for Brown and McNamara heading into this season. Both will want to prove themselves on the field. For McNamara it will be to show Michigan that they missed out. For Brown, it’s that he can show that his high school production wasn’t just hype, but reality.

5. Finally, I think this addition thrusts Iowa in the top spot in the Big Ten West heading into the 2023 season. The biggest question mark was could Iowa add an impact receiver this spring? It was the biggest missing piece heading into this year and they did that on Thursday.

Put Brown out there with the always productive Ragaini and the emerging Vines and pair them up with Luke Lachey and Erick All and suddenly McNamara has weapons to work with and the Hawkeyes have the tools to really improve their passing game.

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