Iowa football transfer portal tracker: Who’s leaving and who’s joining the Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY — It’s that time of year.

From Jan. 2 to Jan. 16, thousands of college football players will enter the NCAA transfer portal. Starting at midnight on Friday, Iowa football’s plan to be “very active” in the portal began.

Here’s a full list of players departing the program, those whom Iowa is targeting and players who’ve chosen to join the swarm.

Players departing

DB CJ Bell Jr. ( announced Jan. 9)

Freshman CJ Bell announced his intention to transfer on Jan. 9 after his lone season with the program. The Massachusetts-native made one appearance this season, facing now-No. 1 Indiana in the 20-15 loss in September, but recorded no statistics.

He’ll have all four years of eligibility remaining. The former 3-star recruit won a state title his sophomore year and played wide receiver, running back and cornerback in high school.

DB Koen Entringer (reported Jan. 6, announced Jan. 9)

A player who could’ve been a massive key to Iowa’s defense next season, junior Koen Entringer was reported to enter the transfer portal by ESPN, On3 and CBS Sports on Tuesday. Entringer said prior to the ReliaQuest Bowl he’d likely make an announcement regarding his future at Iowa after the bowl game, since he chose to walk during the Hawkeyes’ Senior Day festivities in November.

Entringer announced his intention to enter the portal via Instagram on Jan. 9, three days after his initial entry was reported. He later announced he committed to Louisville on his Instagram on Jan. 10.

The 2025 first-year defensive captain finished this season with 73 tackles, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss and four pass break ups. He’s recorded 100 career and recorded a pick over three seasons.

DE Brian Allen (reported Jan. 2)

Junior defensive end Brian Allen was reported to enter the portal late Jan. 2 after four seasons with the Hawkeyes. He hasn’t made a public announcement on social media yet.

Allen was anticipated to be one of the top returning edges for the Hawkeyes, who are already losing veteran experience at the position. He played in every game this season, finishing the year with 16 tackles, a pass break up and half sack. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining.

RB Jaziun Patterson (announced Jan. 2)

Junior running back Jaziun Patterson announced he’s entering the portal Friday evening after four years with the program. During that time, Patterson appeared in 33 career games, including nine this season.

Patterson recorded 296 rushing yards with no touchdowns this year, making one start during Iowa’s Big Ten opener at Rutgers.He’s recorded 858 career rushing yards and scored four times with the Hawkeyes.

Patterson announced on his Instagram on Jan. that he committed to Michigan State.

DB Kael Kolarik (announced Jan. 2)

Junior defensive back Kael Kolarik because the third player to declare for the transfer portal after making appearances in all 13 games this season. He recorded eight tackles this season, including three against No. 14 Vanderbilt.

Kolarik was mainly a part of the special teams unit, and committed to South Dakota on Jan. 12. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

P Rhys Dakin (announced Jan. 1)

Sophomore Rhys Dakin became the first key member of the special teams unit to announce his intention to enter the transfer portal following Iowa’s win over Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Dakin was named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the media this season, averaging 43.6 yards per punt.

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The Australian-native had a season-long 65-yard punt, and had seven games with at least one 50-plus-yard punt.

Dakin was also a freshman All-American last season and was voted to the All-Big Ten Second Team by the media. Dakin will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Dakin announced via social media that he’s following former special teams coordinator LeVar Woods to Michigan State.

RB TJ Washington (reported Dec. 19)

Playing in 11 games this season, running back TJ Washington was initially reported to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 19. On3 later reported a confirmation that he’s entered the portal on Jan. 1. He has not made a public or social media post announcing his transfer yet.

Washington started two games at running back, recording 98 yards and averaging 8.9 yards per game.

Washington announced he committed to New Mexico State on Jan. 13. He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.

QB Jackson Stratton (announced Nov. 30)

Following the end of the regular season, quarterback Jackson Stratton was the first Iowa player to announce his transfer portal intentions. Stratton didn’t see any game action during the 2025 season.

He started in two games for Iowa in 2024, leading the Hawkeyes to wins over Maryland and Nebraska.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz shared in a press conference ahead of the ReliaQuest Bowl that Stratton had been dealing with health issues throughout the season, and that he wished Stratton the best. The quarterback enters the portal as a graduate transfer.

Committed players

P Boston Everitt

The Hawkeyes picked up a second punter out of the transfer portal, this time in 19-year-old Boston Everitt. Everitt will have four seasons of eligibility remaining.

The Australian native stands at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, and has been working with Mackenzie Morgan as part of Inside 20 Punting. Morgan also worked with former Hawkeye Tory Taylor, who now plays for the Chicago Bears.

DB Cody Haddad (Ohio State)

Freshman defensive back Cody Haddad reportedly committed to the Hawkeyes on Jan. 21 by On3’s Steve Wiltfong, after visiting the program on Monday. Haddad will have four years of eligibility remaining.

The 5-foot-11, 186-pound DB was a former three-star recruit from Cleveland, Ohio. Iowa recruited Haddad out of high school, giving him an offer on Jan. 20, 2024, before he chose the Buckeyes. Haddad is the fourth defensive back to join Iowa out of this transfer portal cycle.

P Tanner Philpott (Simpson College)

Sophomore punter Tanner Philpott announced his commitment to Iowa on Jan. 18, joining the Hawkeyes after two years in Indianola. He’s a Division III All-American originally from Waukee, IA. Philpott has two years of eligibility remaining.

Thanking God, family and friends for their support in this decision. With that being said, I will be transferring to the University of Iowa to finish my collegiate career with two years of eligibility. I can’t wait to see what this incredible opportunity has in store. GO HAWKS! pic.twitter.com/ev1ql2QXgw

— Tanner Philpott (@PhilpottTanner) January 18, 2026

Philpott averaged 43.9 yards per punt, marking him third-best in the country. He had 16 punts inside the 20-yard line and 11 50-plus-yard punts — sixth best in the country. His career long is a 78-yard punt he had against Nebraska Wesleyan on Nov. 15.

WR Lance Beeghley (SMU)

SMU’s Lance Beeghley is a last-minute addition to the wide receiver room, announcing his commitment to Iowa via Instagram on Jan. 16 — the day after he took a visit to Iowa City. The former Mustang didn’t see any action in 2025, after redshirting in 2024.

Beeghley stands at 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds as a former three-star recruit from New Braunfels, Texas. Geeghley was recruited by Iowa as a preferred walk-on. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining.

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A post shared by Lance Beeghley (@lance_beeghley)

DT Emmanuel Olagbaju (North Dakota)

After he initially committed to UConn out of the transfer portal, the 6-foot-3, 295-pound sophomore defensive tackle flipped his commitment to Iowa on the final day the transfer portal was open. He made the flip official on Jan. 16 and will have three years of eligibility remaining.

The defensive tackle played in 14 games this season, recording 11 tackles, 2.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries. Prior to playing at North Dakota, he spent two seasons at St. Thomas with 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss in his second season.

WR Evan James (Furman)

Freshman Evan James — standing at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds — finished his first season of college football at the FCS level with 65 catches for 796 yards and seven touchdowns at Furman. James also recorded 72 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown via seven carries. He became the third Hawkeye to announce his commitment on Jan. 11, doing so on Instagram.

He took a visit to Iowa over the weekend, and was in attendance during No. 19 Iowa men’s basketball’s game against No. 16 Illinois on Sunday. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining.

S Xavier Styles (Robert Morris)

Sophomore safety Xavier Styles announced his commitment to Iowa on Jan. 11, after taking a visit on Jan. 8. Styles finished his second year with the Colonials with 38 tackles and one interception. He played in 11 games last season and two in 2024.

Styles, standing at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, will have three years of eligibility remaining.

RB LJ Phillips (South Dakota)

After losing two running backs to the portal in TJ Washington and Jaziun Patterson, the Hawkeyes earned a commitment from South Dakota running back LJ Phillips on Jan. 11, he announced on social media.

Phillips led the entire FCS with 1,920 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore. He was named a First Team All-Conference player this past season as the first Coyote in their Division I era to record over 1,000 rushing yards in a single season.

WR Tony Diaz (Texas-Rio Grande Valley University)

After finishing the program’s inaugural season, wide receiver Tony Diaz announced his offer from the Hawkeyes and took an official visit to Iowa on Jan. 5. He had planned a visit with Alabama on Jan. 10, according to his social media, but announced his commitment to Iowa on Jan. 9.

Diaz, at 5-foot-11, 176 pounds, recorded 881 receiving yards from 67 catches and scoring 11 touchdowns. He took one punt return this season, bringing the ball forward 13 yards.

Diaz was the 2025 Phil Steele Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and an FCS All-American. He finished seventh in the Jerry Rice Award, given to the most outstanding FCS freshman football player in the country.

S Tyler Brown (James Madison)

The second James Madison Duke to commit to the Hawkeyes, safety Tyler Brown announced his commitment through JGP College Football on Jan. 9. He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.

Brown, standing at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, recorded 80 tackles, six pass break ups, a sack and an interception during the Dukes’ 2025 season. Brown ended the season as an All-Sun Belt honorable mention, and had two tackles against Oregon in the first round of the College Football Playoff. He had chose Iowa over UCLA, LSU, Wisconsin and Florida State.

DL Lance Ingold (NIU)

The third defensive lineman commitment for the Hawkeyes in this portal cycle so far, NIU’s Lance Ingold committed to Iowa on Jan. 8. The redshirt freshman has three years of eligibility remaining.

Ingold played eight games with the Huskies, recording 17 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He also recorded his first career turnover, a forced fumble, against UMass on Nov. 12. Ingold was also looking at Northwestern and Fresno State.

IOL Trent Wilson (James Madison)

Freshman interior lineman Trent Wilson, listed at 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, made his visit to Iowa on Jan. 5 and reports of his commitment were announced on Jan. 6.

Wilson made appearances in all 14 games for James Madison and one start. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining.

DE Kahmari Brown (Elon University)

With the fifth-most tackles on the team this season, sophomore defensive end Kahmari Brown (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) announced he’d received an offer from Iowa on Friday afternoon. He finished his sophomore season at Elon with 66 tackles, including 16 tackles-for-loss, 12 sacks and three forced fumbles. Brown is the first player in Elon’s program history to record double-digit sacks in a season — totaling 98 yards.

Brown announced his commitment to Iowa on Jan. 6.

Brown was also an FCS Freshman All-American in 2024, earning the honor again this season. He also has an offer from Purdue and has two years of eligibility remaining.

DL Brice Stevenson (Holy Cross)

Junior defensive lineman Brice Stevenson announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes on Jan. 5. He’s the first defensive lineman Iowa has picked up from the portal, after losing significant veteran presence at that position.

Stevenson, standing at 6-foot-1 and 295 pounds, recorded 37 tackles last season, including 3.5 tackles for loss after starting in every game this season at Holy Cross. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DB Anthony Hawkins (Villanova University)

The freshman defensive back became the first portal commitment for Iowa this season on Jan. 4, after taking a visit to Iowa on Jan. 3.

Hawkins, standing at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, was an FCS Freshman All-American this season, recording 59 tackles, four tackles-for-loss and two interceptions. He also recorded six pass break ups. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining. Hawkins chose the Hawkeyes over Kentucky and Wisconsin.

K Eli Ozick (North Dakota State University)

After announcing his intention to enter the transfer portal in December, AP FCS All-American kicker Eli Ozick had a visit to Iowa on Jan. 3, and attended the Hawkeye men’s basketball game against UCLA. Ozick committed to Iowa Sunday night.

Ozick was 16-for-18 in field goals and 62-for-63 in PATs last season with the Bison — his first season as the team’s starting kicker. His longest kick was a 54-yard kick against Indiana State in October.

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