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Where Iowa football’s transfer portal departures have landed ahead of 2025 season
Leshon Williams, Brendan Sullivan among players to find favorable landing spots in portal
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IOWA CITY — When it comes to players entering the transfer portal, Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz has been consistent that “you don’t want hostages on your team.”
“What you don't want is somebody in the program that doesn't have both feet in the circle and totally committed to the team,” Ferentz said after a pair of offensive players transferred in early October.
This year’s group of players to step outside of Iowa’s metaphorical circle is larger than usual. Some of the exits can be attributed to typical reasons like on-field opportunities. Some can be attributed to Iowa’s attempt at trimming its roster to 105 players based on the House vs. NCAA settlement’s outlook at the time.
Some of the departed Hawkeyes found appealing landing spots either at a power-conference program or a contending Group of Five program. Running back Leshon Williams has the chance to make significant contributions at Kansas, and quarterback Brendan Sullivan could be starting on a Tulane team that has been ranked for at least part of the last three seasons.
Others ended up dropping down to a lower tier of college football after leaving Iowa. Cade McNamara, for example, landed at an FCS school that has gone a combined 13-21 in its last three seasons after he began the last two seasons as Iowa’s starting quarterback.
Here is a look at where each of Iowa’s transfer portal departure landed:
Iowa’s scholarship players who departed via transfer portal
Other power-conference programs:
- RB Leshon Williams (Kansas)
- DB John Nestor (Minnesota)
- TE Gavin Hoffman (Missouri)
FBS schools in less prestigious conferences:
- QB Brendan Sullivan (Tulane)
- OL Joey VanWetzinga (Central Michigan)
- WR Kaleb Brown (UAB)
- TE Grant Leeper (Miami (Ohio))
Division I FCS schools:
- DB Kahlil Tate (Austin Peay)
- QB Cade McNamara (East Tennessee State)
- DL Caden Crawford (South Dakota)
- DL Jeff Bowie (South Dakota)
- QB Marco Lainez (Elon)
Other levels of college athletics:
- QB James Resar (UNC-Pembroke, Division II)
No new school announced yet:
- DL Chase Brackney (initially committed to Sacramento State before decommitting)
Iowa’s walk-ons who departed via transfer portal
Other power-conference programs:
- K Tripp Woody (Syracuse)
FBS schools in less prestigious conferences:
- FB Rusty VanWetzinga IV (Central Michigan)
- TE Johnny Pascuzzi (Tulane; reentered portal after signing with West Virginia)
- OL Kyson Van Vugt (Fresno State)
- RB Max White (Wyoming)
Division I FCS schools:
- WR Graham Friedrichsen (Northern Iowa)
- TE Jalyn Thompson (South Dakota State)
- DL Ethan Aghakhan (New Hampshire)
- DL Ryan Kuennen (Northern Iowa)
- DB Amare Bickham (Western Illinois)
Other levels of college athletics:
- TE Cole Marsh (Kirkwood Community College to play basketball)
- DL Trent Cakerice (Central College, per his Instagram bio)
No new school announced yet:
- WR Ayden Price
- WR Judah Mallette
Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com
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