Iowa Hawkeyes and Kirk Ferentz Face Another Setback with Transfer Portal Departure
The Iowa Hawkeyes have taken another hit in the transfer portal, with head coach Kirk Ferentz losing yet another player despite his known reluctance to engage heavily in portal activity.
This time, it’s lineman Joey VanWetzinga—an early enrollee for the 2025 class—who has opted to enter the portal. VanWetzinga made the announcement via social media, citing the earlier transfer of his brother, Rusty (now at Central Michigan), as a key reason for his decision.
Originally a three-star defensive lineman in high school, Iowa had planned to develop Joey into a center. His departure is especially significant considering he was one of just two offensive line commits in Iowa’s 2025 recruiting class, leaving Lucas Allgeyer as the lone remaining scholarship lineman in that group.
Ferentz’s cautious approach to the transfer portal has sparked frustration among fans. While Iowa did add quarterback Mark Gronowski this offseason, the program has otherwise steered clear of aggressively pursuing top portal talent—something many believe is holding the team back.
Following a lackluster 8–5 season in 2024 that ended with a Music City Bowl loss to Missouri, Iowa enters 2025 with some optimism, particularly around Gronowski’s potential impact on the offense. Still, if Ferentz continues to resist adapting to the evolving recruiting landscape, the Hawkeyes risk falling further behind national contenders.
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