Ex-South Dakota State defensive lineman Bryce Hawthorne commits to Iowa football via transfer portal

IOWA CITY — Iowa’s defensive line room has gotten another boost from the transfer portal.

Former South Dakota State defensive lineman Bryce Hawthorne has committed to the Hawkeyes, he announced Saturday afternoon on social media.

Hawthorne — listed at 6-foot-3 and 285 pounds and almost exclusively playing at defensive tackle — had 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman in 2024. FCS Football Central named him to its freshman All-American team. The Osseo, Minn., native has another three years of eligibility remaining.

Hawthorne is the second defensive lineman to commit to the Hawkeyes during this year’s portal cycle, following former Central Michigan standout Jonah Pace. Pace, on the other hand, only has one year of eligibility remaining.

The influx of talent at defensive tackle comes at an expedient time for the Hawkeyes as Aaron Graves and Jeremiah Pittman would have been the only returning interior players with 60-plus defensive snaps in 2024.

Aside from the two defensive tackles, Iowa’s only other transfer portal addition was ex-Auburn quarterback Hank Brown. The winter transfer portal window for new entrants is closed (with some exceptions), but players in the portal can commit to their new school at any time.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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