Iowa has avoided any large-scale exoduses via the transfer portal in recent years. That's been a bit surprising given recent trends in major college football and some of the on-field (horrible offense) and off-field (racial bias) issues that have hit the Iowa program. But signs are pointing to this year being a busier one in the transfer portal. Alex Padilla announced plans to leave Iowa earlier in the week and today he was joined by another member of the Iowa offense:
Thank you Iowa. pic.twitter.com/2lMXO6F584
— Keagan Johnson (@_keaganj) December 1, 2022
Johnson, a former 4* recruit out of Bellevue, Nebraska, was one of the most lauded members of Iowa's Class of 2021. He showed promise as a true freshman in 2021, hauling in 18 receptions for 352 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Two of his better games came late in the season -- he had 5 catches for 68 yards against Northwestern and followed that with 2 receptions for 34 yards and the game-winning touchdown against Minnesota.
Johnson seemed poised for big things in Iowa's offense -- or at least an ability to return Iowa's passing game to the level it was at with Brandon Smith and Ihmir Smith-Marsette at the wideout positions. He only caught three passes in Iowa's final regular season games last year, though, and injury/illness prevented him from playing in the Citrus Bowl.
Unfortunately, injuries and illness continued to dog Johnson -- he was limited throughout the offseason and the injury issues lingered into the regular season. He ended up playing just over 20 snaps this year, highlighted by two catches for 11 yards against Nevada. Johnson's departure hurts not in terms of production lost but in terms of potential lost -- he seemed to have some of the highest upside among Iowa's receivers, but he'll be fulfilling that potential elsewhere now. He has four years of eligibility remaining (including an extra COVID year).
His departure continues a recent trend of wide receivers leaving the Iowa program:
Iowa has now lost five WRs via the transfer portal since the start of the 2021 season.
— John Steppe (@JSteppe1) December 1, 2022
This year's transfer window officially opens on Monday. https://t.co/J1qfwYhGVP
Johnson joins Calvin Lockett, Desmond Hutson, Tyrone Tracy, Jr., and Charlie Jones as receivers departing Iowa via the transfer portal since the start of the 2021 season. That is quite a bit of attrition at one position. Do we blame them? No. Absolutely not. Iowa is going to struggle to retain talented receivers so long as they continue to run an offense with archaic schemes and playcalling that too often treats "throw the ball to a receiver" as a "break glass in case of emergency" situation.
In the meantime, good luck to Keagan Johnson -- we hope he finds a better fit (and an offense that will make use of his skills) elsewhere.
