Every year at this time, the same song and dance is said about the Iowa Hawkeyes. If their offense can find life, they can be a dangerous team due to their always strong defense and special teams. It feels like a time warp of the same story each summer, but could it actually change this season in 2025?
The one stark difference between this year and the past is who Iowa has under center. The Hawkeyes landed Mark Gronowski from South Dakota State, where he won two national championships and stuffed the stat sheet through the air and on the ground.
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He brings a new dimension to Iowa’s offense that it has lacked for some time. His talents have him among CBS Sports’ Big Ten instant impact transfers who could make their presence felt throughout the entire conference.
Iowa QB Mark Gronowski
The latest hope at quarterback for the Hawkeyes. It didn’t get much attention, but Iowa’s offense was improved last season; it was just extremely reliant on Kaleb Johnson and the run game to be so. Gronowski was an extremely productive player at a strong FCS program in South Dakota State. – Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports
With the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, Mark Gronowski put together a prolific career. He compiled an outstanding 49-6 career record over four seasons, which saw them take home the FCS national championship in 2022 and 2023.
Gronowski also took home the Walter Payton Award in 2023, which is designated for the best player in the FCS level of college football. He was also a First-Team All-American and MVFC Offensive Player of the Year in 2023.
Statistically, Gronowski can do it all. He threw for 10,330 yards and 93 touchdowns while adding 1,767 rushing yards and 37 rushing touchdowns on the ground.
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If offensive coordinator Tim Lester and Mark Gronowski can click quickly, he can impact Iowa’s offense and the Big Ten in a way that the conference or college football landscape has not seen in a while from the Hawkeyes.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa star among Big Ten football transfers poised for instant impact
