For the first time in a long time, Iowa Football currently has a very deep quarterback room.
After struggling during the past few seasons, the Hawkeyes completely revamped the quarterback room, adding transfers Mark Gronowski (South Dakota State), Hank Brown (Auburn), and Jeremy Hecklinski (Wake Forest).
The Hawkeyes also added freshmen Jimmy Sullivan and Ryan Fitzgerald, the son of long-time Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald, to the roster this season.
Jackson Stratton is the only quarterback on the roster that was on the roster last season.
Gronowski has started every game for the Hawkeyes this season, with Brown and Hecklinski serving as the primary backups.
After this season, Gronowski is out of eligibility after transferring from South Dakota State, and the Hawkeyes are looking for their next starting quarterback for next season.
While Brown and Hecklinski have a leg up on the rest of the group, Iowa is staying busy on the recruiting trail, offering an intriguing quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class.
Humbled to receive an offer from Iowa!!! Go Hawkeyes!!! @CoachTimLester @TylerBarnesIOWA @DavisDartsFB @ScottPeery2 @CoachDanny10 @3dqb_SoCal @jpyle_8 @BlairAngulo pic.twitter.com/KiURljIORS
— Tradon Bessinger (@TradonBessinger) October 4, 2025
Tradon Bessinger, a six-foot-five, 205-pound prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, announced he received an offer from the Hawkeyes program. Bessinger is currently committed to Boise State, but is an intriguing prospect.
According to "Hawkeyes Wire," Bessinger is one of the most prolific pocket passers in the class, already accumulating nearly 9,700 passing yards and 11 touchdowns in three years on the varsity squad at Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah.
Rivals ranked Bessinger as a four-star prospect, Utah's No. 2 overall prospect, the No. 17 quarterback prospect, and the No. 153 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class.
247Sports ranked Bessinger as a three-star prospect (four-star composite ranking), Utah's No. 7 prospect, and the No. 23 quarterback prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. 247's composite ranking also lists Bessinger as the No. 306 overall prospect in the class.