Iowa defensive tackle Aaron Graves to stay for senior season in 2025

IOWA CITY — Iowa football will have another year of Aaron Graves.

The third-year defensive tackle confirmed to reporters on Friday that he plans to stay at Iowa in 2025 for his senior season rather than pursuing the NFL.

“Talked to a bunch of agents and stuff and just made more sense for me to come back,” Graves said.

The feedback that Graves received was that they “think you’re probably a third-day pick right now” and that was “all I needed to hear” before deciding to return to the Hawkeyes.

“Having another year of development, another year of production I think will help a lot for that,” Graves said. “But I’m not too worried about that right now, kind of just focused on this bowl game.”

Graves, an all-Big Ten honorable mention, had eight tackles for loss, six sacks and three forced fumbles in his first season as a starter. His three forced fumbles are tied for the Big Ten lead. He also had six tackles for loss as a true freshman in 2022 and 4.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2023 as a rotational player.

Graves’ return will be welcomed on a defensive line that will lose starters Deontae Craig and Yahya Black. Defensive end Ethan Hurkett announced earlier in the week that he plans to stay for his sixth and final year of eligibility.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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