The first domino has fallen for Iowa Football in the transfer portal!
Within the first 12 hours of the transfer portal officially opening, over 2,500 players entered, creating multiple opportunities for the Hawkeyes to scoop up some talent.
The Hawkeyes have over 20 seniors and graduate players leaving the program, as well as a handful of players who have entered the transfer portal.
Shortly after the 2025 season ended for the Hawkeyes, the program immediately turned its focus to the transfer portal, hoping to fill some voids or positions of need.
Iowa's transfer portal strategy has been clear so far, focusing on the defensive secondary and the wide receiver groups, and after hosting multiple players over the weekend, the program got its first commitment from the portal.
Iowa has landed its first commitment of the transfer portal cycle in former Villanova defensive back Anthony Hawkins. Hawkins, who has three seasons of eligibility remaining, was named an FCS second-team Freshman All-American by Phil Steele https://t.co/nCNaypssgv pic.twitter.com/J7xK7DNAu9
— Tyler Tachman (@Tyler_T15) January 4, 2026
Villanova transfer defensive back Anthony Hawkins is headed to Iowa City after committing to the Iowa program after a year with the Wildcats.
During his only season with Villanova, Hawkins compiled 59 tackles, including four tackles for loss, and two interceptions.
After the season, Hawkins was named a FCS All-American.
Hawkins (six-foot-three, 195 pounds) played safety for the Wildcats and could fill a hole in the Iowa secondary.
Koen Entringer turned into a star for the Iowa secondary, but with TJ Hall and Xavier Nwankpa graduating, the Hawkeyes need some help at safety and defensive back.
Hawkins was ranked as a three-star prospect coming out of Choate Rosemary Hall High School in Annapolis, Maryland, and will compete for snaps with Deshaun Lee, Rashad Godfrey Jr., and Jaylen Watson.
After joining the Hawkeye program, Hawkins will have three years of eligibility remaining.