Even After McNamara News, Another Iowa WR Hits the Portal

Yet another Iowa Hawkeye has entered the transfer portal.

As he announced on Twitter this morning, Arland Bruce IV, one of Iowa's most versatile playmakers and their second-most productive wide receiver in 2022, is moving on.

The news comes after scholarship players quarterback Alex Padilla, fellow wide receiver Keagan Johnson, and offensive lineman Josh Volk had already entered the portal.

This season, the sophomore racked up 19 catches for 187 yards and a score while running the ball 12 times for 47 yards and a touchdown. He also returned 19 punts for 123 yards this season. Through the first two games of the season, Bruce was one of two wideouts on scholarship that was available to play.

As a freshman, he caught 25 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown while running the ball ten times for 65 yards and three scores.

Though players that enter the portal have the opportunity to return to school, and even with a significant upgrade at quarterback in Cade McNamara, it's tough to see a scenario where their biggest playmakers decide to stick around Iowa City.

Chances are that Kirk Ferentz and company will have to do something that hasn't really been done in their program yet -- dip into the transfer portal themselves and take anyone and everyone who has some offensive talent. Generally speaking, the move for Ferentz and his staff has been to take players that are 'the right fit.' Now, it's players that can do anything with the football in their hands.

With their end-of-season bowl game approaching and some of their best players leaving, Iowa fans will soon see how big of a void there will be to fill via the portal after their approaching bowl game.

I recently talked about Johnson and Padilla leaving Iowa City and the possibility of McNamara ending up at Iowa on Cornstalks and Sports Talk, Your Iowa-Based Sports Show, with David Eickholt of 247Sports: