After the ReliaQuest Bowl, Mark Gronowski rides off into the sunset, leaving Iowa football with a well-known but urgent question going into the offseason: who will start at quarterback? After Nate Stanley’s final season in 2019, the program had not consistently experienced stability until Gronowski’s one-year tenure in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes needed dependable leadership, toughness, and a quarterback who could put pressure on defenses with his legs. He wasn’t flashy, and the passing numbers seldom jumped off the stat sheet. Kirk Ferentz and his staff will have to replace the offense’s tone-setter in addition to a starter after he graduates.
The fact that Iowa’s quarterback room is still relatively new makes that task more difficult. Gronowski’s transfer from South Dakota State in January of last year caused a total overhaul. Five quarterbacks Hank Brown, Mark Gronowski, Jeremy Hecklinski, Jimmy Sullivan, and Ryan Fitzgerald had not played significant snaps for the Hawkeyes going into the season. The only player from the prior season to return was Jackson Stratton. Just 23 passes have been thrown for Iowa by Brown, Fitzgerald, Hecklinski, and Sullivan combined. This lack of gaming experience is significant, particularly in a system that prioritizes ball security and decision-making. It is therefore not surprising that the transfer portal is being used once more, even though development is still an option.
If Iowa does dip back into the portal, expectations should be realistic. It’s unlikely that this is a five-star rental bidding war. The staff is searching for a quarterback with Gronowski-like mobility, toughness, and enough arm talent to run Tim Lester’s offense effectively. It is assumed that Iowa’s NIL resources are good but not infinite. In light of that framework, the following three quarterbacks from transfer portals seem like the best candidates.
Former Notre Dame quarterback Kenny Minchey is at the top of the list. Minchey narrowly lost to CJ Carr for the Irish starting position at the start of the 2025 campaign. He is currently looking for a new opportunity, and there are many things to like.
Minchey, a four-star prospect from Tennessee’s Pope John Paul II High School, has the kind of physical attributes that Power Four programs are drawn to. At six feet one inch and 204 pounds, he has the agility to prolong plays and penalize defenses that lose containment. In addition to having a “quick release” and the arm strength to make every throw, Minchey “displays good athleticism and mobility to extend plays outside the pocket,” according to his high school scouting report from 247Sports.
For Iowa, that combination fulfills many requirements. Naturally, competition presents a challenge. According to reports, a number of SEC programs are interested, so Iowa would need to be aggressive to get Minchey to leave. Minchey could take over as a high-upside option with immediate starting potential if the Hawkeyes are prepared to open the checkbook. According to 247Sports, he is presently ranked as the fourth overall quarterback on the transfer portal. Colton Joseph of Old Dominion, a player who achieved fame via a far less conventional route, is up next. After graduating from Newport Harbor High School in California, Joseph wasn’t heavily recruited, but his performance has allowed him to carve out a successful career.
Joseph has thrown for 4,251 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in his two seasons as Old Dominion’s starting quarterback. But it’s as a runner that he truly shines. For a quarterback, his 1,654 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns are impressive numbers. Although he doesn’t have an exceptional completion percentage (59.8%), his overall output shows how dangerous he has been. Joseph shares Gronowski’s dual-threat skill set, which keeps linebackers honest and converts broken plays into first downs, despite being slightly larger. He feels like a plug-and-play option that wouldn’t require a significant adjustment period, and 247Sports ranks him as the No. 8 quarterback in the portal.
Marcus Stokes from West Florida is the most intriguing and complicated option. Iowa was one of the programs that Stokes said had contacted him since he entered the portal earlier this week. Just that contact is telling. It implies that the staff wants genuine competition this spring, or at the very least, isn’t entirely comfortable in the current space. There is no denying Stokes’ talent. His recruiting path was drastically changed when a video of him using a racial slur surfaced and the Gators withdrew their offer. He had originally committed to Florida. He has since successfully rebuilt his career at the Division II level.
As a redshirt sophomore, Stokes amassed 3,664 yards and 40 touchdowns this season, qualifying him for the Division II Heisman Trophy, the Harlon Hill Trophy. His portal ranking, which is No. 11 overall among quarterbacks, indicates both his production and potential. He has two more years of eligibility. It’s unclear if Iowa will ultimately select experience, upside, or competition. The Hawkeyes are obviously moving forward. It won’t be simple to replace Mark Gronowski, but Iowa has options thanks to a strong transfer portal and a clear offensive identity. The program’s course for 2026 will be shaped over the coming weeks.
