The Hawkeyes quarterback room has the most depth it's had in a long time.
After Mark Gronowski leaves for graduation and Jackson Stratton enters the transfer portal, the program returns four players and adds another from the 2026 recruiting class.
It is unknown whether the program will decide to develop and promote someone internally or jump into the transfer portal again this season.
We have already discussed Iowa's best options to fill the vacant QB1 slot for next season, and if the program chooses to promote someone from the roster, we have the top four replacements for Gronowski.
No. 1: Jeremy Hecklinski
Jeremy Hecklinski has steadily risen up the depth chart since Iowa's loss to Indiana.
Hecklinski entered the season as the No. 3 quarterback on the roster because he did not have as much program experience as Hank Brown, and Gronowski was already the clear starter.
Brown started as the backup to begin the season, but in mop-up duty against UMass and a full quarter of action against Indiana after Gronowski was injured, Brown did not do enough to help his case.
Hecklinski continued to put solid practices together and eventually surpassed Brown as Iowa's No. 2 quarterback.
He even scored a rushing touchdown on a nice RPO play late in the game against Minnesota in a blowout win.
Hecklinski and Brown will compete for the starting job once again next offseason, barring any other quarterbacks joining the team, and right now, Hecklinski has a slight edge.
No. 2: Tradon Bessinger
BREAKING: Four-Star QB Tradon Bessinger has Committed to Iowa, he tells me for @rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 8, 2025
The 6’5 210 QB from Kaysville, UT was previously Committed to Boise State
“Hawkeyes let’s get it!”https://t.co/TWs2R9Of2W pic.twitter.com/xrRuH1ROvQ
It's hard to imagine a world where Kirk Ferentz starts a true freshman at quarterback, but Tradon Bessinger's arm talent and athleticism might force his hand.
Bessinger is mainly a pocket passer, but his rocket arm has scouts drooling.
He threw for 4,313 yards and 53 touchdowns as a senior this season, and has shown the ability to make every throw on the football field.
Drew Tate is the only true freshman quarterback to start under Kirk Ferentz, and he had similar arm talent coming out of high school.
There is a good chance that Bessinger does not see the field during his true freshman season, but we can dream, can't we?
No. 3 Hank Brown
There was a lot of hype surrounding Hank Brown after he transferred to Iowa from Auburn.
He got a handful of snaps with the Tigers during his time in Georgia, but never got the chance to showcase what he can do.
After transferring to Iowa, he had a prime opportunity for a reset with three years of remaining eligibility.
After the Hawkeyes signed Gronowski from the transfer portal, Brown solidified himself as the backup, but did not do enough to hold onto that job.
He was surpassed by Hecklinski after a brutal showing against Indiana, albeit against a very challenging Hoosiers squad.
There is no reason to completely give up on Brown, and if the Hawkeyes do not sign someone from the portal, he could very well compete for the starting job next season.
No. 4: Jimmy Sullivan
Based purely on who will return next season, Jimmy Sullivan is the logical choice in the No. 4 spot in our rankings.
Sullivan, a Fort Wayne, Indiana, native used his redshirt this season, and did not see any game action.
As a prep player for Carroll High School in Fort Wayne, Sullivan was a three-year letterwinner in football and one in track.
After his senior season, he set a Carroll program record for career passing yards with 5, 712.
We will be shocked if Sullivan can climb the ranks and make an impact in his redshirt freshman season next year, but you never know.