Iowa football: Hawks in play for big-time TE transfer

Collectively, the Iowa football tight ends have two career catches. That could be changing though as the Hawks are exploring the transfer market.

When both of the Iowa football team’s All-Big Ten tight ends decided to enter the NFL Draft, it left a gaping hole at a position that is vital to the success of Brian Ferentz’s offense.

Left in the wake of Noah Fant and TJ Hockenson’s departures is a tight end group that has just two career catches. This is the main reason we thought the Iowa football team would be in on two possible graduate transfers in Wisconsin’s Kyle Penniston and Rutgers Nakia Griffin-Stewart.

Ultimately though they opted to bring in just two graduate transfers, punter Michael Sleep-Dalton, and defensive lineman Zach VanValkenburg.

Now, however, at the conclusion of spring practice, it appears the Iowa football team is exploring the possibility of bringing in a transfer tight end who may not make an impact this year (due to transfer rules) but could be in line for a huge role during the 2020 season.

Rutgers junior tight end Travis Vokolek is transferring from the program and, according to Blaire Sanderson, has been in touch with the coaching staff of the Iowa football program.

Although by no means is this a done deal, it would be a huge boost for the Hawks. Vokolek has started nine games for the Rutgers in his first two seasons after joining them as a three-star recruit from Missouri. Even in an anemic passing attack at Rutgers that amassed just 1,500 yards all season, Vokolek managed to snag 16 catches for 184 yards and a team-high 2 touchdowns.

He wouldn’t be ready to contribute in the 2019 season, but it appears that the Iowa football staff is looking ahead to next year when the Hawks will likely lose two of their top three tight ends to graduation (Drew Cook and Nate Wieting) leaving just Shaun Beyer left amongst a group of walk-ons and underclassmen.

As the story develops, we will be there to provide you our instant analysis, but for now, we will leave our fingers crossed that the Iowa football team can land the 6’6” 250-pound junior tight end.