Potential portal position targets for Iowa Football

While the Iowa football team will be wrapping up spring practice, their personnel department will be busy starting April 15th. That’s when the NCAA Transfer Portal will open up once again and college players will be able to enter it officially once again.

The portal will be open until April 30th and per changes to the rules, it’s basically free agency when there are no restrictions on having to sit for a year even if they have previously transferred.

As we have noted previously, Iowa is in a tight scholarship situation heading into the final week of spring practice. They currently sit at potentially 90 scholarship players and they need to be down to 85 by the start of fall camp in August.

That would mean the Hawkeyes are probably not going to be active in the portal this spring, right?

In the words of Lee Corso, “Not so fast, my friend.”

Now, I don’t think they will be very active, like they were a year ago when they added several players to the roster, but they will likely do some work around the edges, so to speak. I do expect a few players to leave the Iowa roster and there could be a work around for a few players who are returning for their Covid year where they are not officially on scholarship.

What positions will Iowa pursue to enhance the 2024 roster?

Before we dive into the potential positions they could add players, these are our opinions and may not be shared by the Iowa coaching staff. So, if they don’t add someone that doesn’t mean they failed in the portal.

One other note, there was a feeling a few months ago that this period would be very active. But, as it has drawn closer, the chatter of players looking for new home around the landscape of college football will be more limited than originally thought. There will still be good players on the market, but it feels like it will be more limited than originally anticipated.

QUARTERBACK

I have been pretty clear on this topic since the end of the season, Iowa needs to add another quarterback. Cade McNamara is coming back from major knee surgery and has missed significant time the last two seasons. That doesn’t mean McNamara won’t be the starter, but the reality is he’s had two significant knee injuries in back to back years.

We saw what Deacon Hill could do last season and while it is possible that he and Marco Lainez have improved under Tim Lester this spring, the reality is Iowa needs a better option this fall to compete with them.

Iowa can’t just add a quarterback to add a quarterback. They need to find more competition. The interesting side of this will be how many signal callers enter the portal this spring and how much interest would someone have in coming in this season? If they have a couple of years of eligibility left my sense is a quarterback would see the value in potentially being in a good position to be the starter the following year.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Had Anterio Thompson stayed around, this probably isn’t even on the list. He would have added the necessary depth at the defensive tackle position as far as a two deep roster. Right now Iowa has three defensive tackles that have meaningful experience in Yahya Black, Aaron Graves, and Jeremiah Pittman. Black and Graves have played significant snaps and Pittman’s experience is limited. The Iowa coaches like Luke Gaffney, who is a walk-on, but a more experienced hand would be helpful.

I couldn’t rule out Iowa looking at rush end as well, but that would be down the list of priorities at this point.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Last year it didn’t seem like they would add anyone and the Hawkeyes ended up bringing in Rusty Feth from the portal. He had a starting nine games last season at guard and was a solid player. Could the Hawkeyes look to add once again this spring?

Maybe. Remember they did add someone in January in Kadyn Proctor before he left two months later to return to Alabama before taking part in one practice in an Iowa uniform. But, it’s fair to say that the circumstances with him were fairly unique.

Having said that, I can’t rule out another run at adding depth, particularly at the tackle position.

WIDE RECEIVER

Last year the Hawkeyes added to this position group by bringing in Seth Anderson and Kaleb Brown. In particular the addition of Brown applies here because it was in the spring and he was looking for a chance of scenery and an opportunity.

Iowa could use some depth and more playmakers at the position. Tim Lester has done a nice job at previous stops in using wide receivers and perhaps he has a player that he either coached or recruited that might be looking for a new home this spring that could help the Hawkeyes passing attack.

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