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Iowa football offseason roster changes: Tracking transfers, NFL Draft decisions entering 2023
Who’s leaving? Who’s staying? Who’s arriving? Here’s the updating list
John Steppe
Dec. 5, 2022 8:54 am, Updated: Jan. 12, 2023 11:27 am
December and January will be key months for the Iowa football roster.
The first 45-day window of the transfer portal opened on Dec. 5, and it is increasingly becoming a key part of how college football rosters are constructed across the country.
Others will be making decisions about whether to declare for the NFL Draft or whether to use extra COVID-19 years of eligibility. The first day 2023 recruits can sign with their future school also is later this month.
The Gazette is tracking Iowa football’s transfer arrivals and departures, NFL Draft decisions, extra COVID-19 eligibility decisions and more.
Transferring out
The following Iowa players have entered the transfer portal. It is possible for a player to exit the portal and return to Iowa.
Jan. 3 — Iowa quarterback Carson May entered the transfer portal with four years of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 13 — Iowa defensive back Dallas Craddieth entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining. He committed to Kent State on Jan. 6.
Dec. 6 — Iowa defensive back Terry Roberts entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 6 — Iowa linebacker Jestin Jacobs entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining. He committed to Oregon on Dec. 11.
Dec. 5 — Walk-on wide receiver Jordan Kumm entered the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 5 — Defensive back Reggie Bracy entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. He committed to Troy.
Dec. 2 — Running back Gavin Williams announced plans to enter the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining. He committed to Northern Illinois on Dec. 31.
Dec. 2 — Wide receiver Arland Bruce IV announced plans to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 1 — Wide receiver Keagan Johnson announced plans to enter the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining. He committed to Kansas State on Dec. 11.
Nov. 29 — Offensive lineman Josh Volk, a Cedar Rapids native, announced plans to enter the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining. He committed to Northern Iowa on Dec. 20.
Nov. 29 — Backup quarterback Alex Padilla entered the portal as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining.
Transferring in
Jan. 7 — Former Saginaw Valley State offensive lineman Daijon Parker committed to Iowa. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Jan. 4 — Former Wisconsin quarterback Deacon Hill committed to Iowa. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Jan. 1 — Former Charleston Southern wide receiver Seth Anderson committed to Iowa. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 14 — Former Michigan tight end Erick All Jr. committed to Iowa. He is expected to have two years of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 1 — Former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara committed to Iowa. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Bowl opt-outs
- Safety Kaevon Merriweather has opted out of the Music City Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft, he said on Dec. 17 in a tweet.
NFL Draft decisions
Possible NFL prospects who still are underclassmen will have until Jan. 16 to decide whether to enter the NFL Draft.
Staying:
- Punter Tory Taylor will stay for his senior season, he told reporters on Jan. 1.
Going:
- Defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness will declare for the NFL Draft, he said Jan. 3 on social media.
Extra COVID-19 eligibility decisions
Many seniors have an option to return for an extra year of eligibility thanks to the NCAA’s legislation intended to make up for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on teams’ seasons in 2020-21.
Riley Moss already used his extra COVID-19 year in 2022 while the rest of the senior class have or had decisions to make:
- Safety Kaevon Merriweather will not use his extra COVID-19 year of eligibility after opting out of the Music City Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft.
- Wide receiver Nico Ragaini plans to use his extra year of eligibility to return for a sixth season, he told reporters Tuesday ahead of the Citrus Bowl.
Class of 2023 recruits
Iowa’s 2023 recruiting class was previously headlined by five-star Southeast Polk offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor, but he flipped his commitment to Alabama.
The Hawkeyes had 21 recruits sign with the Hawkeyes on Dec. 21. Here they are, organized by how many stars they have from Rivals:
Five stars:
- N/A
Four stars:
- OL Trevor Lauck (Indianapolis)
Three stars:
- DL Maddux Borcherding-Johnson (Norwalk)
- LB Ben Kueter (Iowa City)
- QB Marco Lainez (Princeton, N.J.)
- DL Chase Brackney (Englewood, Colo.)
- WR Alex Mota (Marion)
- OL Leighton Jones (Brownsburg, Ind.)
- DB John Nestor (Chicago)
- DB Zach Lutmer (Rock Rapids)
- DB Aidan Hall (Harlan)
- OL Cannon Leonard (Gilman, Ill.)
- TE Zach Ortwerth (St. Louis)
- DL Kenneth Merrieweather (Detroit)
- DB Kahlil Tate (Chicago)
- DL Anterio Thompson (Council Bluffs) (Junior college transfer)
- RB Kamari Moulton (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
- WR Jarriett Buie (Tampa, Fla.)
- WR Dayton Howard (Kansas City, Mo.)
- DB Teegan Davis (Princeton, Ill.)
- RB Terrell Washington Jr. (Wylie, Texas)
Two stars:
- OL Kade Pieper (Norfolk, Neb.)
Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com