By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – For nearly seven years, Aaron Graves has been committed, devoted and loyal to the Iowa football team.

The Dayton, Iowa native committed to the Iowa football team as a high school freshman. He would go on to become a star in high school and he is now a key player for Iowa as a multi-year starter at defensive tackle.

The same kid that committed to Iowa before he was even old enough to drive without a permit is now a highly respected veteran leader whose college career is in its latter stages.

That sobering thought occurred to Graves this past Saturday as Iowa wrapped up spring practice with an open practice at Kinnick Stadium.

“It flew by. It’s crazy,” Graves said of his college career. “I was thinking; this is like my last spring practice forever.”

Aaron Graves sort of represents the way major college football used to be.

But sadly, his kind of story in which staying the course and staying loyal to one school is the main storyline seems to be happening less and less in this new age of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness.

Student-athletes, especially in major college football and men’s basketball, are transferring in and out of programs at an alarming rate; thousands of them every year searching for something better on the playing field and in their bank account.

And while it was long overdue for student-athletes to be compensated for their name, image and likeness, and to have some flexibility as far as being able to transfer without restrictions, the current state of affairs is a mess.

The lack of structure has turned big-time college athletics into a bidding war in many cases.

The combination of wanting to be paid and wanting to travel the path of least resistance has caused some student-athletes to turn to the transfer portal at the first sign of trouble.

It’s unfortunate because the transfer portal isn’t supposed to be pay for play. But in many cases, that is exactly what has happened.

And that brings us back to Aaron Graves, who probably had a better chance of landing on Mars than in the transfer portal.

Graves, of course, wants his fair share of Iowa’s NIL financial pie, because he deserves it, and just like everyone else, he appreciates the value of the almighty dollar.

But Graves also appreciates the value of being around good people who have his best interest at heart.

Now three-fourths of the way through his Hawkeye career, Graves can look back to when he was recruited by Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa coaches and realize that pretty much everything they said back then has turned out to be true.

Kirk Ferentz and his crew made no promises other than Graves would have the chance to compete and to be a a part of something that is bigger than him.

“During the recruiting process and everything they never told me a lie or anything,” Graves said. “They were keeping it real. So, it’s pretty much exactly what I expected. It’s just crazy. I’m very blessed. God has blessed my life a lot and I’m really happy that I’m here now and still get to be here.”

Graves will enter his senior season with 84 career tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. He also has forced four fumbles, and has three quarterback hurries and three pass break-ups.

He didn’t redshirt because he showed right away that he was ready to compete at the highest level.

Iowa defensive line coach Kelvin Bell kept it real from the moment he and Graves first met during the recruiting process. Bell didn’t promise Graves anything besides a fair chance.

“I think we’re a rare program in that sense,” Graves said. In the recruiting process, we’re not trying to kiss up to you. We’re gong to show interest in you because we want you to come to our school. But we’re not going to tell you any lies or that kind of thing.

“So I like the authenticity and how the coaches, especially coach Bell, have been just genuine throughout the whole process.”

Graves said there is an expectation within the Iowa program for every player.

“If you’re not putting in the work and if you’re not doing the extra stuff and not proving that you deserve to be on the field,” Graves said. “They’re not going to put you on the field. That’s just how it goes.”

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Graves would like to play in the NFL after he uses up his college eligibility.

But he also wants to enjoy and get the most out what’s left in his Hawkeye career.

“I think it’s just business as usual,” Graves said of now being a senior. “It’s just kind of a different perspective in that sense. The work doesn’t change. It’s just like this is actually the last year, so got to make it count.”