Iowa Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz doesn’t frequently use the transfer portal, but that hasn’t prevented his players from taking advantage of it.
Just days after tight end Gavin Hoffman entered the portal, talented linebacker has announced he is leaving the Hawkeyes as well.
“After a great year at Iowa, I’ve made the difficult decision to enter the transfer portal,” Van Ness posted on X. “I want to thank Coach Ferentz, Coach Wallace, and the entire staff for believing in me and giving me the chance to chase my dreams day in and day out. Iowa will always hold a special place in my heart and the lessons I’ve learned here will stay with me forever. But the Lord is guiding me toward a new chapter. With four years of eligibility left, I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next. Thank you to everyone who’s supported me along the way.”
Van Ness, whose brother Lukas played at Iowa and now plays for the Green Bay Packers, joined the Hawkeyes last year but didn’t see any playing time, redshirting as a result.
The Barrington, IL native was a two-star recruit and ranked 310th among linebackers in the 2024 class, so Iowa isn’t losing a top prospect. In fact, he walked on to the team after turning down offers from smaller schools.
Nonetheless, Van Ness was still expected to provide depth for Iowa in 2025, so coach Ferentz will need to find a way to fill the gap left by his departure.
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