New Iowa QB Mark Gronowski’s successful track record extends well beyond passing numbers

IOWA CITY — As reporters crowded around Mark Gronowski in the Iowa football facility — with a pair of stanchions of giving him a bit of personal space from the litany of TV cameras — the former South Dakota State quarterback noted there were “a lot more people here.”

The bright spotlight on Gronowski is no surprise, though, considering Iowa — a team coming off five consecutive seasons of ranking 100th or worse in passing efficiency — now has a quarterback who has been successful in many facets of his college football career.

Gronowski’s success on the football field has been obvious.

He was the 2023 FCS Walter Payton Award recipient after leading the Jackrabbits to their second consecutive FCS national championship. He completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,058 yards with 29 touchdown passes versus five interceptions.

Overall, Gronowski finished the South Dakota State chapter of his college football career with 93 career touchdown passes, 37 touchdown carries, 20 interceptions and 10,309 passing yards while completing 64 percent of his passes in 55 career starts.

“I feel like my play style is very versatile,” Gronowski said in his first media availability as a Hawkeye. “I can stay in the pocket. I can run the ball when I need to. When it’s a third down, when you need to get a first down, I’ll put my shoulder down when I have to. But slide just to protect the body when I need to as well.”

The on-field wild card has been Gronowski’s offseason shoulder surgery, which has kept him out of spring practices. But he indicated Thursday he has “started throwing a little bit here and there and then going to continue to progress and hopefully be back June 1, 100 percent.”

“Definitely ahead of schedule right now,” Gronowski said.

Gronowski also has the intangibles that do not necessarily show up on a box score. Bryce Hawthorne, a defensive tackle who also transferred from South Dakota State to Iowa, said last week it is “amazing to see” how Gronowski carries himself.

“He talked with everybody,” Hawthorne said. “He had a great connection with everybody. So I really just appreciated that I was a young guy, he was an old guy, completely different positions, and he still found a way to connect with me, which I really appreciated.”

Iowa’s newest quarterback appears to be quite studious as well, whether that be in the classroom or film room.

“The other year, I did a whole summer study of Matthew Stafford and really just watching his game,” Gronowski said. “He’s one of the most impressive quarterbacks when it comes to moving defenders with their eyes.”

He also has an appreciation for Bills quarterback Josh Allen and former Packers and Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ styles of play.

“I grew up a Bears fan, and it always sucked playing against (Rodgers),” said Gronowski, a native of Naperville, Ill. “But just watching him spin it and his arm angles — it’s really impressive.”

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz quipped in his spring news conference that Gronowski is “smarter than the whole coaching staff combined,” and he has a point.

Gronowski already finished his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and will finish his master’s degree this spring. He then plans to take classes that “mold you as a better leader” in the fall along with a heavy focus on football.

Iowa’s Aug. 30 home opener will not be the 6-foot-3 quarterback’s first time at Kinnick Stadium. He was on the losing end of Iowa’s infamously-slow-scoring, 7-3, win over South Dakota State to open the 2022 season.

“It was the loudest stadium I’ve ever played in,” Gronowski said. “A lot of loud Kinnick Iowa fans. It was a lot of fun. … I couldn’t even hear myself at the line of scrimmage. So I’m excited to be on the other side of it next fall.”

He can joke about that game, too, with the swarm of reporters surrounding him in the Hansen Football Performance Center lobby.

“Greatest offensive game of all time,” Gronowski said to a chorus of laughter.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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