By Hawk Fanatic

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz has some advice for two-sport athlete Ben Kueter, who just recently finished competing for the Iowa wrestling team.

“First of all, he probably needs some time off,” Kirk Ferentz said of Kueter, who finished in eighth place at 285 pounds at the NCAA Championships, earning All-America status. “I’ve got a real appreciation for that sport and what it entails and just — it’s a grueling nature of it. Big Tens, nationals, all those kinds of things. So first things first, let him get away a little bit, and then take time to think this whole thing out.”

Kueter is trying to juggle both wrestling and football where he plays linebacker for the Hawkeyes.

He took the 2024 football season off to focus solely on wrestling, but with the understanding that he would return to football this spring.

Kueter isn’t listed on Iowa’s 2025 spring roster,  nor has he spoken with Kirk Ferentz since the wrestling season ended.

However, Iowa Assistant Head Coach Seth Wallace, who also coaches the linebackers, has been in touch with Kueter, according to Kirk Ferentz.

“They finished up obviously just a couple days ago here. It feels like two weeks ago,” Kirk Ferentz said of the wrestling season. “But we haven’t had conversation. I think he and Seth have talked a little bit.”

Kueter, a 2024 graduate of Iowa City High where he won four state titles and finished undefeated in wrestling, could be among the top heavyweight wrestlers in the country next season now that the big three – Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson, Minnesota’s Gable Steveson, and Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet – have all used up their eligibility at 285 pounds.

Hendrickson shocked the college wrestling word by defeating Steveson 5-4 in the national championship match.

“We knew when we recruited him, he may have to make a decision or maybe he can do both,” Kirk Ferentz said of Kueter. “We’ll see how that goes. I don’t pretend to be an expert, but it just seems like there were three really dominant heavyweights this year. I say dominant, there were three guys that were just — those guys were, like, eight-year veterans versus rookie free agents coming in. They were at a different tier. As far as I know, all three are gone. I think they were all sixth year. One guy was like 10th year. So those guys are out, and just let him figure out what he wants to do.

“I’ve got to think he’s got a great opportunity in front of him there, too. Not that he doesn’t here, but it’s a real challenge trying to balance two sports. That’s a challenge. So we’ll wait and see what happens here.”

Kirk Ferentz met with the media on Wednesday to mark the start of spring practice.

Division I football programs will have a maximum roster limit of 105 players starting in the 2025-26 academic year.

It’s uncertain right now if that change would affect Kueter’s status in football.

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Mark Gronowski update: Graduate transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski is making progress after having shoulder surgery that will  cause him to miss spring practice.

“Mark will be throwing lightly here probably in a couple weeks, but not with the team,” Kirk Ferentz said Wednesday. “The biggest thing right now is just make sure nobody runs into him or he doesn’t fall down. Just being cautious with him.

“But the recovery has gone great. Everything is right on schedule. He’s probably a little bit ahead, that type of deal. But we’ll play it conservatively.”

Gronowski transferred to Iowa after having played for four seasons for South Dakota State, which led to two FCS national titles.

He is not listed on the spring depth chart, which was released on Wednesday.

Senior Brendan Sullivan is listed as the No. 1 quarterback on the spring depth chart, while Auburn transfer Hank Brown is the backup.

Kirk Ferentz also said Wednesday that defensive end Brian Allen had surgery and will miss spring practice.

Iowa also has lost two players to the transfer portal as cornerback John Nestor and walk-on running back Max White both announced on social media that there were in the portal.’

Both players saw extensive action on special teams last season.

Nestor was expected to compete for one of the starting cornerback positions this spring.

“That’s one less guy in the competition,” Kirk Ferentz said when asked about Nestor.