On Friday, Iowa made their first significant move in the transfer portal. Former Auburn quarterback Hank Brown announced his commitment this afternoon, marking a crucial addition to the team. Brown's quick visit to Iowa City was remarkable – he entered the portal on Monday when it officially opened and was in attendance at last night's CyHawk basketball game. This swift action sets the stage for an exciting offseason as the Hawkeyes look to strengthen their roster.

Strengthening the Hawkeyes' Roster with Transfer Portal Gains

Brown's High School and Auburn Career

The 6-4, 208-pound signal caller had an impressive high school career at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville. Starting his career in Wheaton, Illinois at the same high school as Tim Lester, Brown threw for over 3,200 yards and 47 touchdowns under the guidance of former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer. This remarkable performance laid the foundation for his college career.At Auburn, Brown started two games as a redshirt freshman. He faced various challenges, including throwing 3 interceptions in the first half against Arkansas, which were among his last snaps as a Tiger. Auburn struggled that year, finishing with a 5-7 record. However, Brown also played briefly in last year's Music City Bowl, going 7-9 for 132 yards in a disappointing 31-13 loss to Maryland.

Adding to the Quarterback Room

With three years of eligibility remaining, Brown's commitment is a significant boost to Iowa's quarterback room. Currently, the room includes Brendan Sullivan, Jimmy Sullivan, Jackson Stratton, and Ryan Fitzgerald. This is a big step up from the room inherited by Lester last winter, showing Iowa's determination to rebuild and improve in this crucial position.

Portal Pursuits and Potential Haul

In addition to hosting Brown last night, Iowa has also been actively pursuing other transfer portal prospects. Northwest Missouri State defensive lineman Langden Kitchen (an awesome name) was also hosted. The Hawkeyes will also host Central Michigan defensive lineman Jonah Pace and Northern Illinois wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph in the coming days – Pace this weekend, Rudolph early next week. They are also going after Miami (OH) cornerback Raion Strader, who is set to visit Iowa next weekend. If Iowa were to land all these players, it would be a massive haul and validate their NIL approach with Swarm.Even with the occasional miss in the portal, the potential to add these talented players at positions of need is a huge boost for the Hawkeyes going into spring practice. It shows their commitment to strengthening the team and competing at a high level.