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 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 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.

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

None as of yet.

Targeted players

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 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.

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 with three years of eligibility remaining.

Diaz, at 5-foot-11, 176 pounds, recorded 875 receiving yards from 68 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.

DB Parker Knutson (Southwest Minnesota State University)

The 6-foot-1, 193-pound Minnesota-native Parker Knutson was the first player to announce an offer from Iowa after finishing his sophomore season at Southwest Minnesota State. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Knutson recorded 39 tackles and one sack this season, while recording eight interceptions and six pass break ups. He also was used in the punt return four times, recording an average 3.5 yards per return.

DB Anthony Hawkins (Villanova University)

Though freshman defensive back Anthony Hawkins hasn’t posted any official offers on his social media yet, multiple reports across 247sports and On3 have Hawkins visiting Iowa on Jan. 3, per his agent.

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.

Comments: madison.hricik@thegazette.com, sign up for my weekly newsletter, Hawk Off the Press, at thegazette.com/hawks.