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Hawkeye54545

Hawkeye54545

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2023
632
1,986
93
PinkShizzle said:
I like getting these transfers that still have 2-3 years of eligibility left!
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We definately have a strategy and I love it. Recruiting is such a crap shoot I like letting smaller schools sort out which ones hit and then taking them.

I hate what college athletics is right now but until the wild west gets reeled in we may as well be good at this.
 
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HawkInDenver

HawkInDenver

Senior
Apr 16, 2024
367
621
93
We seem to be doing well with the guys we have targeted in the portal on both sides of the ball. That said, I have no idea if that is because we are only targeting certain guys that the blue bloods are not interested in, or, if we are just doing a better job of evaluation and getting the most bang for the buck. Scratch where it itches!
 
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RagnarLothbrok

RagnarLothbrok

Heisman
Jun 11, 2025
3,813
10,654
113
UIAlumFireFighter said:
So….So far we’ve “splashed” by bringing in players from:

Rio Grande Valley
Holy Cross
Villanova
S. Dakota
Furman
Elon
N. Illinois
James Madison
Robert Morris
N. Dakota St

Interesting.
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Have you seen some of the offer lists for a few of these kids?

I think the strategy is a good one. You have kids with multiple years of eligibility who have the chance to compete right away and develop into really good players. Indiana brought in 13 transfers from James Madison when Cignetti was hired, and a bunch of other P4 teams have found really good players from that level of football you’re turning your nose at.

Let it play out.
 
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Outbackbowl2017

Outbackbowl2017

All-Conference
Dec 4, 2016
1,301
2,090
113
TheGreatDivider101 said:
Am I crazy to equate that with just more years to transfer away from Iowa? Just the sad state of current affairs.
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U

UIAlumFireFighter

All-Conference
Sep 26, 2018
953
1,410
93
RagnarLothbrok said:
Have you seen some of the offer lists for a few of these kids?

I think the strategy is a good one. You have kids with multiple years of eligibility who have the chance to compete right away and develop into really good players. Indiana brought in 13 transfers from James Madison when Cignetti was hired, and a bunch of other P4 teams have found really good players from that level of football you’re turning your nose at.

Let it play out.
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The jump in competition is going to be too much for the overwhelming majority of these guys.

Just don’t know why we’re ONLY grabbing players from smaller schools. What do you think the reason is? Because it’s certainly interesting if nothing else 🤷🏼‍♂️
 
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K

Kceasthawk@77

All-Conference
Feb 2, 2005
1,890
3,497
113
UIAlumFireFighter said:
The jump in competition is going to be too much for the overwhelming majority of these guys.

Just don’t know why we’re ONLY grabbing players from smaller schools. What do you think the reason is? Because it’s certainly interesting if nothing else 🤷🏼‍♂️
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And its also interesting that you always seem to choose the worst case scenario as far as the staffs decisions. Why is that exactly?
 
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L

Lionhawk85

Sophomore
Jun 8, 2022
104
161
43
Said this is another thread - getting guys that have had success (in some cases, fantatasic success) at the FCS level and are eager to work and hungry to prove the same success at the P4 level is a fantastic strategy for Iowa. As mentioned above, getting these guys with multiple years remaining also play to our developmental strengths and culture fit. I also trust Lester to use their skills in the right way.
 
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Hawkeye54545

Hawkeye54545

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2023
632
1,986
93
UIAlumFireFighter said:
The jump in competition is going to be too much for the overwhelming majority of these guys.

Just don’t know why we’re ONLY grabbing players from smaller schools. What do you think the reason is? Because it’s certainly interesting if nothing else 🤷🏼‍♂️
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Iowa typically recruits mostly 3* guys. The difference in projecting a 5.5 3* and a 5.4 2* isn't easy. Instead of missing on a lot of these guys we are letting other schools identify which ones are players.

Iowa has always been a developmental school and this way we are developing younger guys we know have had success.

Look at the guys we have had that have transferred to other p4 schools. Most have failed. Sure there are a few like Charlie Jones that did fine. But those are rare.
 
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G

Grayhair1981

All-Conference
Sep 3, 2006
545
1,026
93
Lionhawk85 said:
Said this is another thread - getting guys that have had success (in some cases, fantatasic success) at the FCS level and are eager to work and hungry to prove the same success at the P4 level is a fantastic strategy for Iowa. As mentioned above, getting these guys with multiple years remaining also play to our developmental strengths and culture fit. I also trust Lester to use their skills in the right way.
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Agree. It is like recruiting but these players have had one or more years to show what they can do at the college level. Some of them may need a year or two to develop but the chances of whiffing aren't nearly as great as out of HS.
 
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A

Athena45

Redshirt
Aug 19, 2025
29
32
13
UIAlumFireFighter said:
The jump in competition is going to be too much for the overwhelming majority of these guys.

Just don’t know why we’re ONLY grabbing players from smaller schools. What do you think the reason is? Because it’s certainly interesting if nothing else 🤷🏼‍♂️
Click to expand...
Ask cignetti about lower level transfers. Until bud man is gone, our passing game is dead in the water
 
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HMB Trumpet

HMB Trumpet

Senior
Mar 19, 2018
373
430
63
UIAlumFireFighter said:
So….So far we’ve “splashed” by bringing in players from:

Rio Grande Valley
Holy Cross
Villanova
S. Dakota
Furman
Elon
N. Illinois
James Madison
Robert Morris
N. Dakota St

Interesting.
Click to expand...
Miami RB2 is a soph from NDSU and one of their starting receivers was at Liberty for four seasons. Iowa isn’t doing anything differently from other successful teams right now.
 
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RagnarLothbrok

RagnarLothbrok

Heisman
Jun 11, 2025
3,813
10,654
113
UIAlumFireFighter said:
The jump in competition is going to be too much for the overwhelming majority of these guys.
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For the overwhelming majority?

No.

And history doesn’t reflect that either. In no certain order:

1. Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (OH)
2. Shannon Sharpe, Savannah State
3. Antonio Gates, Kent State
4. Walter Payton, Jackson State
5. Kurt Warner, UNI
6. Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State
7. Bret Farve, Southern Mississippi
8. Howie Long, Villanova
9. Tyreek Hill, West Alabama
10. Khalil Mack, Buffalo

There are plenty more who have had successful NFL careers I didn’t list, but almost all the guys I did are HOFers. Had any of these guys played in the transfer portal era, probably none would have been drafted out of any of those colleges. Btw, do you think Lane Kiffin regretted taking a quarterback from Ferris State last year? Seemed to turn out pretty well.

Last, how have the few transfers from P4 schools Iowa has gotten out of the portal panned out? Cade McNamara? Erick All? Kaleb Brown? Brendan Sullivan?

Nick Jackson is about it. And while Jacob Gill elevated a very meager WR room, most fans at the time were complaining about the pick up since he “wasn’t any good at Northwestern.”

So, maybe, just let this play out, okay? I have tremendous confidence in Tim Lester, and if he wants these kids on the roster, that’s good enough for me.
 
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T

Trakker

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2023
700
1,896
93
UIAlumFireFighter said:
The jump in competition is going to be too much for the overwhelming majority of these guys.

Just don’t know why we’re ONLY grabbing players from smaller schools. What do you think the reason is? Because it’s certainly interesting if nothing else 🤷🏼‍♂️
Click to expand...
So your preference is rejects or washouts from higher profile programs over guys that have produced at lower levels?
 
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W

WeBeHerkin

All-Conference
Aug 5, 2016
3,925
4,505
113
RagnarLothbrok said:
For the overwhelming majority?

No.

And history doesn’t reflect that either. In no certain order:

1. Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (OH)
2. Shannon Sharpe, Savannah State
3. Antonio Gates, Kent State
4. Walter Payton, Jackson State
5. Kurt Warner, UNI
6. Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State
7. Bret Farve, Southern Mississippi
8. Howie Long, Villanova
9. Tyreek Hill, West Alabama
10. Khalil Mack, Buffalo

There are plenty more who have had successful NFL careers I didn’t list, but almost all the guys I did are HOFers. Had any of these guys played in the transfer portal era, probably none would have been drafted out of any of those colleges. Btw, do you think Lane Kiffin regretted taking a quarterback from Ferris State last year? Seemed to turn out pretty well.

Last, how have the few transfers from P4 schools Iowa has gotten out of the portal panned out? Cade McNamara? Erick All? Kaleb Brown? Brendan Sullivan?

Nick Jackson is about it. And while Jacob Gill elevated a very meager WR room, most fans at the time were complaining about the pick up since he “wasn’t any good at Northwestern.”

So, maybe, just let this play out, okay? I have tremendous confidence in Tim Lester, and if he wants these kids on the roster, that’s good enough for me.
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Terry Bradshaw was bum f somewhere too. Brett Favre also bum f school.
 
A

AnonymousNolonger

All-Conference
Jul 4, 2025
887
1,670
93
UIAlumFireFighter said:
So….So far we’ve “splashed” by bringing in players from:

Rio Grande Valley
Holy Cross
Villanova
S. Dakota
Furman
Elon
N. Illinois
James Madison
Robert Morris
N. Dakota St

Interesting.
Click to expand...
After reading your post, this may blow your mind.

Not every kid that goes to Alabama make it to the NFL. Many, many do not each year.

And believe it or not, there are players who play their entire careers at the FCS level, who do make it to the NFL.

That’s not even considering players who make an FCS All American team in their first two scholarship seasons and spend another 2-3 years at a great developmental team like Iowa.

You should save this list of players and remember it over the next 2-3 years. You might be surprised by the splash they make indeed.
 
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B

Burghawk87

All-Conference
Jan 5, 2023
655
1,068
93
UIAlumFireFighter said:
The jump in competition is going to be too much for the overwhelming majority of these guys.

Just don’t know why we’re ONLY grabbing players from smaller schools. What do you think the reason is? Because it’s certainly interesting if nothing else 🤷🏼‍♂️
Click to expand...
I'm also not sure you quite understand how the transfer portal works. This isn't a fantasy football draft where you get to pick whoever you want when it's your turn. And the vast majority of people from "larger schools" are there because they just aren't very good and/or have almost no playing experience. At that point why not roll with kids from high school who you've actually put time and effort into recruiting/following/evaluating?
 
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Heathen Raider

Heathen Raider

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2017
532
1,421
93
Getting quick fast slots that can get open fast will be important, Iowa did not have that on roster , New QB with limited experience will get lots of blitzes early . Good get here
 
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