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Iowa Hawkeyes football secures tenth transfer portal commitment with safety Xavier Styles, a redshirt sophomore from Robert Morris. Styles, a six-foot-two, one hundred ninety-five-pound safety, brings three years of eligibility and a strong performance in 2025, starting most games with thirty-six tackles, seven pass breakups, and one interception. Iowas secondary, which lost key players to graduation and the portal, gains a reliable coverage guy with downhill aggression. The Hawkeyes have also added nine other talents in the portal, setting up an exciting two thousand twenty-six season in the Big Ten.

Iowa Hawkeyes secure powerhouse running back L.J. Phillips Junior from South Dakota, who led FCS rushers with 1900 yards and 19 TDs last season. Phillips, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, chose Iowa over Penn State and has two years of eligibility left. He fills a gap in Iowas backfield and joins a strong transfer haul, enhancing the Hawkeyes ground game for the upcoming season.

Iowa Secures Key Transfer Portal Commitments: Running Back L.J. Phillips Junior and Safety Xavier Styles Join Hawkeyes Football Team

Iowa Football Secures Top FCS Rusher: L.J. Phillips Junior Commits to Hawkeyes Iowa football has landed a major transfer portal win with the commitment of L.J. Phillips Junior, the top rusher in FCS football last season. Phillips, a five-foot-nine, 225-pound back from Wichita, Kansas, brings proven production from a smaller program to the Big Ten. With two seasons of eligibility left, hes poised to make an immediate impact and strengthen the Hawkeyes ground game.

LJ Phillips Junior, a formidable FCS running back from South Dakota, has committed to Iowa via the transfer portal. With impressive stats, including 1,921 rushing yards and 19 TDs in 2025, Phillips is poised to enhance Iowas ground game. Despite a quiet performance against Iowa State last season, his pedigree and proven talent make him a valuable addition to the Hawkeyes roster, promising more big plays in the upcoming season.

Brian Allen, former Iowa defensive end, transfers to Vanderbilt for his final season, leaving a starting spot open for the Hawkeyes in 2026. Despite his departure, Allen contributed to Iowas victory in the ReliaQuest Bowl, securing a 9-4 season and ending a 13-game skid against ranked opponents. The six-foot-three, 264-pound Allen, who played backup last season, earned a solid 73 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus.

Iowa Hawkeyes Boost Defense, Eye Offensive Overhaul in Transfer Portal

The Iowa Hawkeyes concluded their 2025-2026 season with a 9-4 record, securing a 34-27 victory over Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Despite flirting with College Football Playoff contention, significant losses kept them out of the postseason. Fans were disappointed, given the teams recent Big Ten Championship runs. However, a top 25 ranking and bowl win provided some optimism. Historically, Iowa has followed up Outback or ReliaQuest Bowl wins with double-digit win seasons. Looking ahead, tackling the challenging Big Ten schedule, including powerhouses like Ohio State and Indiana, will be crucial for coach Kirk Ferentz to elevate the team to the next level. If patterns hold, Hawkeye fans can anticipate an exciting fall with potential double-digit wins.

Iowa Hawkeyes secure top recruits, including Barrett Kitrell, a 64, 270-lb unranked prospect from Ashland, Nebraska, with strong family football roots. Kitrell receives his fifth Division One offer from Iowa, aiming to bolster their offensive line. The Hawkeyes reputation for developing linemen attracts high-end talent, and they continue to target regional gems, turning family legacies into black and gold triumphs.