By Mark Pszonak
The amounts that players receive through NIL continues its upward trajectory, with quarterbacks at the top of the list. Yesterday, it was announced that a transfer had joined the $1M+ listing, while playing for a Big Ten school that isn’t know to splash cash:
"Iowa guaranteed him more than seven figures." You don't usually get exact dollar amounts with NIL, but that's what this TV report said and in line with what I've heard. With revenue sharing, he could command a nice % of the approx $14M expected for football come July 1. https://t.co/fAfR5DraFJ
— Chad Leistikow🆑 (@ChadLeistikow) January 14, 2025
Mark Gronowski’s entry into the portal was a surprise to some, and he immediately became a priority target by several schools. And he earned all the attention he received. Gronowski won two National Championships with South Dakota State, in which he was named the MVP both times, and he won the 2023 FCS Heisman (Walter Payton Award). During his time with the Jackrabbits he passed for 10,330 yards and rushed for 1,767 yards while totaling 130 touchdowns.
He will also be recovering from a surgery that took place after his signing with Iowa. This will keep him out until at least June, which means that Hawkeye fans won’t see their $1M+ purchase on a field with his team until summer camp.
Iowa making an investment like this should be an eye-opener. The Hawkeyes had been one of the quieter Big Ten programs in the portal during recent years, so this decision is outside their norm. But it is also a sign of the times. With revenue sharing arriving this summer, Big Ten programs like Iowa, which haven’t been a player for high priced transfers, will now be in the conversation.
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