Iowa Transfer Safety Visit Sparks New Hope for Rebuilt Hawkeye Secondary
Iowa football’s transfer portal hunt continues, and this time the spotlight is on an Iowa transfer safety who could play a major role in reshaping the Hawkeyes’ defensive backfield. On Thursday, Iowa welcomed former Robert Morris standout Xavier Styles to campus, a visit that signals just how aggressive Kirk Ferentz and his staff are being as they reload a position group undergoing significant change.
The Hawkeyes aren’t easing into this portal window. They’re attacking it.
Iowa transfer safety Xavier Styles arrives in Iowa City
As Iowa looks to stabilize its secondary, the addition of an Iowa transfer safety has become a priority and Xavier Styles fits the profile the staff covets. According to ESPN’s Max Olson, Styles is visiting Iowa City as the Hawkeyes evaluate options to replace major production lost at safety.
Styles, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defender, comes from Robert Morris with an impressive 2025 résumé. In 11 games last season, he recorded 36 total tackles, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and one interception. Those numbers don’t just jump off the stat sheet they reflect a player who’s consistently around the football and isn’t afraid to make plays in space.
A product of St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio, Styles also brings valuable eligibility flexibility. With three seasons remaining, he’s not just a short-term fix. He’s a potential long-term piece for a defense that prides itself on continuity and development.
Why safety is suddenly a critical need for Iowa
The urgency behind Iowa’s pursuit of portal defensive backs is easy to understand. The Hawkeyes are replacing both starting safeties from a season ago, leaving a massive leadership and experience void in the secondary.
Xavier Nwankpa has exhausted his eligibility, while longtime defensive captain Koen Entringer recently entered the transfer portal. Entringer’s departure was especially jarring for fans, as he wasn’t just a starter he was the emotional backbone of the defense. He already has three visits lined up elsewhere, making his return to Iowa increasingly unlikely.
That’s why bringing in an Iowa transfer safety like Styles matters. Iowa doesn’t just need bodies. It needs reliable, instinctive defenders who can communicate, tackle, and thrive in Phil Parker’s demanding system.
Styles’ game fits the Hawkeye blueprint
What makes Styles intriguing is how naturally his skill set aligns with Iowa’s defensive identity. He’s long, physical, and comfortable playing the ball in the air. His six pass breakups and forced fumbles in 2025 suggest a defender who understands leverage and timing traits Iowa’s safeties are known for.
He’s also shown a willingness to be aggressive without being reckless. That balance is critical in a scheme that asks safeties to support the run, disguise coverage, and clean up mistakes behind an attacking front seven.
Simply put, Styles looks like the kind of player who could step into Iowa’s system and contribute sooner rather than later.
Iowa already making portal progress at DB
Styles isn’t the only secondary addition Iowa has secured. Earlier this portal cycle, the Hawkeyes landed former Villanova safety Anthony Hawkins, another long, physical defensive back.
Hawkins, listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, had a productive 2025 season of his own. He tallied 59 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, and a forced fumble for the Wildcats. His arrival already gave Iowa a solid foundation, but adding Styles would deepen the competition and raise the ceiling of the group.
Iron sharpens iron, and Iowa’s staff knows that competition in the secondary often translates to better communication and fewer breakdowns on Saturdays.
What this visit could mean moving forward
A campus visit doesn’t guarantee a commitment, but it’s a meaningful step. Iowa is selective in the portal, especially on defense, and hosting Styles shows genuine interest on both sides.
If the Hawkeyes can secure his commitment, they’d be adding another versatile, high-upside piece to a secondary in transition. For a program built on defense, discipline, and development, landing an Iowa transfer safety like Xavier Styles could be one of the quieter moves that ends up paying massive dividends in 2026 and beyond.
And for Iowa fans, that’s the kind of news worth paying attention to.
