The pipeline from Iowa City to the NFL has been strong under Head Coach Kirk Ferentz. Since Ferentz took over as head coach in 1999, NFL organizations have drafted over 90 Hawkeyes, and many more have joined via free agency.
During the 2025 NFL Draft, Iowa had five players drafted, including Kaleb Johnson (Rd. 3, Pick 87), Yahya Black (Rd. 5, Pick 164), Mason Richman (Rd. 7, Pick 234), Connor Colby (Rd. 7, Pick 249), and Luke Lachey (Rd. 7, pick 255).
The Iowa Football program is known for producing NFL-ready prospects that enter the league with a leg up on other players.
The program not only prepares players for success on the field, but also helps players succeed in the mental and physical aspects of professional football.
When Hawkeyes are drafted, they stick longer than people think they will due to the intensity and nature of the Iowa program.
Hawkeyes not only succeed on the field as players, but coaches as well. Numerous former players have gone on to be successful coaches wherever they land, and a former Iowa running back hopes to keep that tradition going.
Ivory Kelly-Martin joins Beaver Football as Running Backs Coachhttps://t.co/rnl4y4XXUt#GoBeavers #GrindTheAxe
— Bemidji State Football (@BSUBeaversFB) August 1, 2025
Bemidji State University announced that former Iowa running back Ivory Kelly-Martin was hired as the new running backs coach.
The Bemidji State Beavers are a Division II program that is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and plays in the Norther Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Kelly-Martin was a Hawkeye from 2017 to 2021 and served as the primary backup to Tyler Goodson for most of his playing career.
During his five-year career, Kelly-Martin accumulated 804 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 181 carries. He also had 199 receiving yards and one touchdown on 21 receptions.
Before joining Bemidji State as the running backs coach, Kelly-Martin was a graduate assistant coach for Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, while finishing his Master's Degree in Business Administration.