Portal Power: Iowa lightweights completely revamped for 2025-26

It wasn’t long ago that someone suggested Iowa would be an active participant in the transfer portal this offseason.

Not to brag, but it was me – in my 2025-26 lookahead for the Hawkeyes!

(But seriously, not to brag, because it didn’t exactly take a genius to make that proclamation.)

In my ‘portal probability’ index I listed five different weights as medium/high likelihoods for Iowa to add outside talent.

Three of those five have already seen additions within the past week.

First up, (Arkansas) Little Rock juniors-to-be Nasir Bailey and Jordan Williams pledged their commitment(s) to the Hawkeyes.

Six days later, Rutgers’ Dean Peterson has done the same, and will now end his career in the Black & Gold.

On3’s Nick Kosko has stories on the initial commitments of both Bailey/Williams and Peterson.

Between the trio, the following accolades are heading to Iowa City:

• Seven career NCAA appearances (in seven attempts)
• One All-American honor (4^th)
• Three blood round finishes (one win shy of All-American status)
• Three individual Pac-12 titles
• 155-52 career record

Now Hawkeyes all, they’ll fortify a front half of the Iowa lineup that had numerous questions entering the offseason.

Here’s some more on each of the three and what they bring to their new home.

The star, looking to shine brightly once again

There’s no doubt who’s the biggest prize of Iowa’s transfer additions – at least at present and based on past accolades.

That distinction goes to Nasir Bailey.

The Park Forest (IL) native holds a 51-9 career record through a pair of strong collegiate seasons – one of which made history at his previous institution.

A year ago, Bailey became the first-ever All-American wrestler for Little Rock (AR). Seeded seventh as a true freshman, he’d finish fourth nationally at 133 pounds – behind long-time stalwarts Vito Arujau (Cornell) and Daton Fix (Oklahoma State), plus Lehigh’s Ryan Crookham.

With that momentum he was a trendy title pick for 2025. However, a 2-2 showing at NCAA’s out of the #3 seed left him just shy of repeat All-American honors.

But even in a somewhat disappointing sophomore campaign – in which he had a few ups and downs throughout the season – Bailey’s talent still shone in moments.

In February, he defeated Cal Poly’s Zeth Romney – an eventual semifinalist and third-place finisher at NCAA’s:

Less than one month later, he did it again – this time for a Pac-12 title:

Still only a junior in 2025-26, Bailey can be dynamic on feet and has also proven to be incredibly dangerous from the top position with his wrist tilt series (think Stephen Buchanan this season).

If Iowa can fine tune a few of the elements that may’ve led to his sophomore NCAA dip, there’s every reason to believe Bailey can compete with the best next season – even if it’s at a new weight class.

That’s because the career 133-pounder figures to be headed up to 141 for the Hawkeyes. Not only does it make sense with NCAA finalist Drake Ayala’s return, but it also fills what was a glaring hole for Iowa at 141 without Bailey.

Another step in the process

Talent has never been a question when it comes to Jordan Williams.

A multi-time Fargo champion coming out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was ranked #12 overall in the Class of 2022 by FloWrestling.

After redshirting, Williams was Oklahoma State’s postseason starter at 149 pounds in his second year in Stillwater.

A runner-up finish at Big 12’s landed him the #20 seed at the national tournament. There, he’d go 2-2 en route to a Round of 16 exit – ending the season with a 16-9 record.

(Williams did defeat a pair of past/present Hawkeyes that year, 12-5 over Caleb Rathjen at NCAA’s and 7-3 over Victor Voinovich III at the dual.)

Unfortunately, that’d mark his final season in Stillwater.

Last August, a second alcohol-related arrest in a year’s time – this one a criminal misdemeanor for public intoxication and malicious injury to property – resulted in Williams being dismissed from the Cowboys program.

Williams has since credited the dismissal as “the best thing that could have happened” to him, saying the Oklahoma State staff “saved his life” by doing so.

His subsequent success at Little Rock sure seemed to reflect that notion.

Williams posted a 26-6 record last season, earning an #8 seed at NCAA’s where he finished one win shy of All-American honors at 149 pounds.

Along the way, he impressed on several occasions:

For one, a dominant Pac-12 title winning performance over Ethan Stiles – who’d finish sixth at NCAA’s:

And at the national tournament, Williams was nearly a surprise semifinalist, falling 8-5 in sudden victory to the #1 seed and returning NCAA champ – Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson.

His fourth year of college will be his first as a Hawkeye. And if Williams can take another step forward on/off the mat at Iowa, his ‘ceiling’ for success will only continue to rise.

New home, last hurrah

Iowa’s final addition of the group differs slightly from Bailey/Williams in that he’s staring his collegiate wrestling mortality square in the face.

One year of eligibility is all that Dean Peterson has left as he treks from Piscataway (NJ) to Iowa City.

Thrice he’s qualified for the national tournament for Rutgers. Twice (2023 and 2025) he’s come up one win short of the podium.

Thus, it seems evident what his primary objective will be in a Hawkeye singlet.

Assuming Peterson supplants returning NCAA qualifier Joey Cruz in the Iowa lineup at 125 pounds (the two have never previously met as collegians) the coaching staff’s goal will be to more consistently tap into the talent that he’s shown during the best moments of his 62-28 career to date.

Two years ago, the Barnegat, New Jersey native notched wins over the following multi-time All-Americans:

• Matt Ramos (Purdue)
• Michael DeAugustino (Michigan/Northwestern)
• Patrick McKee (Minnesota)
• Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech)

Last season (22-8, 50 percent bonus rate) Peterson showcased his ability to beat the best once again.

He handed Penn State star freshman Luke Lilledahl – the Big Ten champ and NCAA #1 seed – the first loss of his college career:

Then at NCAA’s, he produced one of the moments of the tournament, pinning returning champion Richard Figueroa in the second round:

A pair of two-point defeats – one in the quarterfinals to eventual champ Vincent Robinson (NC State) – denied Peterson All-American honors.

And so, here he is now – a Hawkeye with one last shot.

One thing’s for certain; he joins an Iowa room with no shortage of coaches (Tom/Terry Brands) and partners (Cruz, Ayala, Spencer Lee, Austin DeSanto, etc.) who can help a lightweight to reach their fullest potential.

What’s next

With the additions of Peterson (125), Bailey (141) and Williams (149), Iowa’s two greatest remaining transfer portal needs are 157 and 197 pounds.

The Hawkeyes could also go the internal route, with either returnees (149) or freshmen (197) filling the respective voids.

But at this point, 8/10 spots in the 2025-26 lineup feel pretty well spoken for:

125 – Dean Peterson OR Joey Cruz

133 – Drake Ayala

141 – Nasir Bailey

149 – Jordan Williams

157 – ???

165 – Michael Caliendo

174 – Patrick Kennedy OR Gabe Arnold

184 – Angelo Ferrari

197 – ???

285 – Ben Kueter

We’ll have to see how the rest of this offseason transpires to get a better idea of who’ll round things out come November.

That said, whatever and whenever something happens, you’ll be able to get a full breakdown of the news here at Hawkeye Report.

So, keep your eyes peeled. And as always, thanks for reading.