Say what you want about the Iowa Football program, but they know how to acquire and develop talent.
This year's roster has 28 seniors or graduate players, most of whom have played in the program for four or more years.
Iowa rarely looks for one-and-done players, and likes to recruit and develop players within its system.
Quarterback Mark Gronowski is a rare player to join the Hawkeye program as a graduate transfer, play for one year, and move on to graduation or to professional football.
After the regular season concluded, five Hawkeyes were named All-Big Ten selections, and spoiler alert: they are all upperclassmen.
5️⃣ Hawks named AP All-Big Ten pic.twitter.com/iLZsJ6T9aN
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) December 9, 2025
All-Big Ten First Team
- Beau Stephens (senior), offensive line
- Kaden Wetjen (graduate), wide receiver/return specialist
- Logan Jones (graduate), offensive line
All-Big Ten Second Team
- Aaron Graves (graduate), defensive line
- Gennings Dunker (senior), offensive line
Iowa's list of All-Big Ten selections is indicative of a typical Iowa roster, where players hit their stride and play their best football later in their careers.
Kirk Ferentz has always said that if they keep players in the system, they should be playing their best football when they are upperclassmen, or the coaching staff hasn't been doing their jobs.
Three of Iowa's five selections have completely exhausted their college eligibility, and it is unknown if Beau Stephens or Gennings Dunker will use a fifth-year option.
If Dunker or Stephens decides to move on, Iowa will have to replace three starters on the offensive line (Dunker, Stephens, and Jones) next season.
Replacing any of these five players will be difficult, but the program does have a talented freshman class coming in 2026.
Most of them probably won't make an immediate impact due to Ferentz's stubbornness about playing freshmen right away, but the future looks bright if they can retain some of the talent from the class.
Iowa must also use the solo transfer portal window in January to bolster the roster and replenish some of the talent they are losing after this season.
It is a fine line to walk between getting the right players for your system and building a competitive roster, and Kirk Ferentz and the coaching staff will have their hands full next season.