Iowa wide receiver Nico Ragaini plans to return for sixth season in 2023

NASHVILLE — Iowa wide receiver Nico Ragaini plans to use his extra COVID-19 year of eligibility to stay at Iowa for a sixth season, he told reporters Tuesday.

“If they’re accepting me back here, then I’m most definitely going to come back here to be a Hawkeye for another year,” Ragaini said Tuesday.

Ragaini had 32 catches for 365 yards and one touchdown in 10 games in the 2022 regular season. No other wide receiver had 20-plus catches.

The return of Ragaini adds a veteran presence to what would have otherwise been a young 2023 wide receiver room. Brody Brecht, Diante Vines and Jacob Bostick also are expected to return.

Three wide receivers — Alex Mota, Dayton Howard and Jarriett Buie — from the 2023 recruiting class have signed with the Hawkeyes.

Ragaini already graduated in May, so he took “fun classes” this semester and intends to do the same in 2023.

“I got to just take stuff that was interesting,” Ragaini said. “And you only have to pass two classes out of the four. ... How hard could that be, right?”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com