The Iowa football team has finished its fall camp and is now preparing for the 2025 college football season. Head coach Kirk Ferentz provided an update on the team’s status during a press conference in Iowa City.
Ferentz expressed relief that the squad avoided major injuries during camp. “We’re fairly healthy, which is good,” Ferentz said. “… It’s a lot of luck, quite frankly. I think the guys have done a good job training. They came into camp in really good shape. We had less soft tissue stuff than normal coming into camp. That was positive and we’ve been able to maintain it for the most part.” He also noted that cornerback T.J. Hall, along with running backs Kamari Moulton and T.J. Washington, have returned to practice after missing time due to injury.
Position battles remain ongoing at several spots on the roster. The left tackle position is being contested by Trevor Lauck and Jack Dotzler, with both players showing improvement through camp. “They’re still going back and forth,” Ferentz said. “And, both doing a good job. That’s the good news is both have really improved a lot. Dotzler might be as improved as anybody on our team. … That is the fun part, watching guys that are improving that a year ago or two years ago weren’t probably in the mix at all or even realistically in the two deep, but now they’re moving up and I think we’ve got a lot of that going on on our roster.”
At cornerback, competition continues among Hall, Deshaun Lee and Jaylen Watson for starting roles. “It’s still those three guys,” Ferentz said. “Then, we’re going from there, but the whole group is improving.”
South Dakota transfer defensive back Shahid Barros has shown progress since joining the program this offseason. “He’s getting more comfortable and certainly better this past week than the first week,” Ferentz said. “He’s playing a little freer and a little faster, and he’s an older guy, physical guy and pretty aggressive.”
Quarterback Mark Gronowski, a transfer from South Dakota State who joined after spring practices ended, is settling into his role despite early struggles with fumbles during Kids’ Day open practice events earlier this month. Ferentz commented: “He’s continued to get more comfortable (…) He wasn’t out there in the spring as we all know so that put him behind a little bit, but I think he’s gaining more comfort. He’s already a pretty confident guy, but he is getting more comfort.” Ferentz added: “(…) The biggest thing has been him not being out there in spring, but he did have June and July. He was throwing the ball in June. I think that’s been helpful to him. That’s where each day is really important. You see him improve and be more confident (…) There’s still a feeling-out process and that’ll probably go on for a while as we get going here in the season.”
The Hawkeyes will open their 2025 campaign against UAlbany on August 30 at 5 p.m., with coverage available via Fox Sports 1 and Hawkeye Radio Network.
