How Iowa football’s post-2023 transfer portal departures fared in 2024 season

IOWA CITY — The rapid movement that inevitably comes with the transfer portal could be here soon as the December portal window opens next week.

“I think Monday the avalanche is really coming,” Iowa football chief of staff/general manager Tyler Barnes said this week. “And that's kind of when myself and our personnel department will dive into that with our coaches.”

Greener pastures do not always exist for players who leave Iowa City, though, as evident by some of the players who transferred from the Hawkeyes during or after the 2023 season.

Here is a look at how the most recent group of ex-Hawkeyes performed in 2024 along with their 2023 and 2024 snap counts (as measured by Pro Football Focus):

WR Diante Vines

New school: Old Dominion

2023 PFF snap count: 344

2024 PFF snap count: 638

Diante Vines’ move from the Big Ten to the Sun Belt came with a notable boost in playing time and production.

Vines had 36 receptions for 393 yards in his lone season with the Monarchs. In his four seasons a a Hawkeye combined, Vines had only 22 receptions for 228 yards (although his injury misfortune did not help matters in Iowa City).

QB Spencer Petras

New school: Utah State

2023 PFF snap count: In staff role, did not play

2024 PFF snap count: 599

Spencer Petras’ return to the football field in 2024 did not lack adversity as he battled multiple injuries -- an ankle injury in the season opener and an arm injury later in the year.

When Petras was healthy, though, he did enough to be an all-Mountain West honorable mention. He completed 65.4 percent of his passes -- higher than in any of his seasons at Iowa -- with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His passer rating of 135.3 ranks 66th among 120 qualifying FBS quarterbacks (and is higher than Iowa’s Cade McNamara).

Petras’ college career is over -- Utah State is not bowl-eligible -- but he received an invitation to the 2025 Hula Bowl.

QB Joe Labas

New school: Central Michigan

2023 PFF snap count: 0

2024 PFF snap count: 324

After only seeing game action once in three seasons in Iowa City, Joe Labas received an extended opportunity with Central Michigan in 2024.

Labas experienced mixed results, as he completed 58.8 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions before suffering an injury in the Chippewas’ Oct. 12 loss to Ohio.

Labas will be on the move again, as he announced plans on Thursday to reenter the portal.

QB Deacon Hill

New school: Utah Tech

2023 PFF snap count: 633

2024 PFF snap count: 123

After making nine starts for Iowa following Cade McNamara’s season-ending injury in 2023, Deacon Hill had a smaller role at FCS-level Utah Tech in 2024.

Hill has appeared in four games and completed 48 percent of his passes while throwing two touchdowns and one interception. The Trailblazers lost all four games (although that is not saying much for a team that went 1-11 overall).

WR Jacob Bostick

New school: Texas A&M

2023 PFF snap count: 58

2024 PFF snap count: 90

Jacob Bostick landed on an SEC roster after not recording any receptions in his two seasons with the Hawkeyes. He has appeared in every game this season for the Aggies, but he still has plenty of work to do before becoming an impact player in the SEC.

The third-year player was targeted four times this season, per PFF, and had one reception. It was good for a 14-yard gain in the Aggies’ win over McNeese State.

LS Liam Reardon

New school: Akron

2023 PFF snap count: 0

2024 PFF snap count: 108

After not seeing game action in four years at Iowa, Liam Reardon has been the first-team longsnapper at Akron and even ended up in a scoring situation in the Zips’ Oct. 5 loss to Bowling Green.

Reardon recovered a muffed punt in the end zone for a touchdown to give Akron an early 10-7 lead.

DB Brenden Deasfernandes

New school: Central Michigan

2023 PFF snap count: 130

2024 PFF snap count: 383

After mostly appearing on special teams during his time with the Hawkeyes, Brenden Deasfernandes found a role on defense at Central Michigan in his final year of college eligibility.

Deasfernandes appeared in all 12 games and had 14 total tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass deflection this season. He allowed nine receptions on 16 targets, according to PFF.

DL Anterio Thompson

New school: Western Michigan

2023 PFF snap count: 43

2024 PFF snap count: 483

Anterio Thompson caught attention in Iowa City last year when he blocked two punts, including one against Western Michigan that resulted in a safety. He transferred after the season to the same Broncos team that he blocked a couple months earlier.

Now with a larger defensive role in Kalamazoo, Mich., Thompson’s numbers do not necessarily jump off the page. He is tied for eighth on the team with 29 total tackles and tied for 11th with 1.5 tackles for loss. His five quarterback hurries are a team-high, though.

TE Cael Vanderbush

New school: Indiana State

2023 PFF snap count: 11

2024 PFF snap count: 49

Cael Vanderbush was seemingly buried on the depth chart amid a talented Iowa tight end room last year. He has not carved out much of a role with Indiana State yet either.

The third-year player did not record any record any statistics in 2024 as the Sycamores went 4-8.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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