Kirk Ferentz explains what drew him to recruiting four-star TE Gavin Hoffman

Tight end has been an integral part of Iowa’s offense for some time. Now, after National Signing Day last week, Kirk Ferentz believes the Hawkeyes got another good one in the form on TE Gavin Hoffman.

Ferentz spoke highly of Hoffman and his qualities last week during his press conference after signing Iowa’s latest class. He credited the energy and demeanor from the 6’5, 220-pound prospect out of Kansas, which only gives him that much higher of a ceiling as a player.

“First and foremost, it’s probably his attitude. He’s just a very eager and anxious guy,” said Ferentz. “He’s a good football player, good athlete in football and basketball.”

“His attitude? He just loves the game. He has got a personality, not that that’s everything, certainly, because every player is different,” Ferentz continued. “Gavin has got real enthusiasm for the game, he has got a good skillset. We think he has great potential.”

Hoffman played high school football at Blue Valley Northwest (KS) where he was a four-star prospect. He is the No. 292 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He finished as the nation’s No. 20 TE as well as the top player out of the state of Kansas.

After several visits, Hoffman ended up committing to Iowa back at the end of June this year. Then, as of last week, he officially became a Hawkeye. He did so as one of 21 signees for the No. 29 class in the nation according to On3’s Industry Team Rankings.

While he comes highly-touted, Ferentz sees traits in Hoffman that mean he will work for everything along the way. If he does exactly that, he’ll more than suffice as an option for their offense some time down the line.

“He has a lot of the characteristics of guys that have come here pretty much unheralded – not saying he’s unheralded. That’s not the case,” said Ferentz. “But guys that have really grown and developed in our system.”

“We think he checks a lot of those boxes,” said Ferentz. “He’s a little bit more heavily-recruited than some of the guys, maybe, that I’m referencing in that way. But we just liked everything about him.”

Ferentz clarifies comments regarding offensive coordinator search

Last Monday, Kirk Ferentz grabbed fans’ attention when he claimed he had made three phone calls about the program’s offensive coordinator position, which will be vacant after the Hawkeyes’ bowl game. Iowa is parting ways with Brian Ferentz, Kirk’s son, who has been the program’s offensive coordintor since 2017.

However, while Ferentz is on the hunt, the decision likely won’t come as soon as fans hope. On Thursday, the 68-year-old head coach provided further details on the situation.

“I said I’ve made three phone calls. I never said I talked to three candidates,” Ferentz said.

Ferentz then addressed the rumors surrounding former Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst as an option.

“I was not referencing anybody that’s been a head coach in the Big Ten. I was actually referencing a coordinator that’s come into our conference sometime in the last decade,” Ferentz said. “The person I’m thinking about, specifically, had a lot of passing yards on his resumé, pretty well-known nationally.”