Ex-South Dakota State QB Mark Gronowski commits to Iowa via transfer portal

IOWA CITY — Iowa football has made a splash in the transfer portal at the quarterback position.

Former South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski has committed to the Hawkeyes, he announced Tuesday afternoon on social media.

Gronowski is a two-time FCS national champion and the 2023 recipient of the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the best offensive player at the FCS level. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

“It’s a great coaching staff,” Gronowski told ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “With Coach (Tim) Lester being there and being in the NFL last year and bringing an NFL offense to Iowa, it’s a great opportunity to develop as a player, learn an NFL offense and win a lot of games.”

Gronowski has 93 career touchdown passes and 20 interceptions while completing 63.6 percent of his passes over the last four seasons. That’s in addition to 37 career touchdown carries.

The Naperville, Ill., native’s commitment brings the Hawkeyes back up to four scholarship quarterbacks for 2025 — Gronowski, Brendan Sullivan, Hank Brown and Jimmy Sullivan — along with walk-ons Jackson Stratton and Ryan Fitzgerald.

Gronowski appears to be a strong candidate for Iowa’s starting quarterback job in 2025, with Brendan Sullivan being the most formidable competition. Sullivan had three touchdown passes versus three interceptions while completing 71.7 percent of his passes in his first season as a Hawkeye.

Other potential areas of need for Iowa include wide receiver, defensive back and kicker. The winter transfer portal window is closed (with some exceptions), but athletes who already are in the portal still have ample time to commit to a school.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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