Iowa football: Investment in graduate transfer market paying off for Hawks

The Iowa football team hasn’t utilized the graduate transfer market much, but their investment this offseason has paid big dividends on special teams.

Last year the Iowa football team was one of the worst teams in college football in terms of punting. Colten Rastetter was ranked near the bottom of the pile with a disappointing average of 38.9 yards per punt on 50 punts.

It was so bad, the Iowa football team utilized a resource they don’t use: the transfer portal.

Fortunately, there was a fantastic punter on the market in Michael Sleep-Dalton who wanted an opportunity to punt in less than stellar weather conditions. He picked a good place in Iowa, which can get some nasty weather later in the season, and as we saw during the Iowa State game, in September.

Since joining the program, he has been nothing short of great.

In three games this season, he has booted the ball 12 times for an outstanding average of 46.4 yards, which ranks 17th in the nation. That average ranks even better in the Big Ten though. He’s tied for 1st in the Big Ten with Rutgers’ punter Adam Korsak who we all came to know and love when they came to town for a 30-0 loss.

His booming punts have truly been a huge deal and heading into Big Ten play, it could make quite a difference in the field position battle that the Iowa football loves to win.

Special teams coordinator Levar Woods has definitely noticed as he spoke glowingly about Sleep-Dalton during his press conference yesterday.

"I think it’s been pretty obvious if you’ve been watching, but he certainly has a talented leg and he’s helped this team tremendously."

I know it’s just a punter, but after just a quarter of the season, the difference been incredible, and I no longer dread 4th down when we have to punt.

This early success by Sleep-Dalton could even inspire the coaching staff to continue exploring the graduate transfer market in the future.