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In case you missed it, Iowa City native and former 4-star WR Oliver Martin has joined the Iowa Hawkeyes as a transfer. That put Iowa right at the limit of 85 scholarships ahead of fall camp. Or so we thought.
Chad Leistikow of the Des Moines Register had an interview with head coach Kirk Ferentz yesterday. Among the myriad topics the two covered was roster changes. And so we learned there was a surprise casualty of the offseason.
Only one other roster note out of the KF interview. Sophomore lineman Levi Duwa, formerly of Mid-Prairie, is no longer with the football team.
— Chad Leistikow (@ChadLeistikow) June 11, 2019
Ferentz: “I think he’s trying to find his niche academically as much as anything.”
Levi Duwa was a member of the Hawkeye recruiting class of 2017 and was rated as a 3-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. From Wellman, Iowa, Duwa was recruited as a defensive end initially. After a redshirt season his freshman year, Duwa returned as an offensive linemen for 2018.
He only saw action in the season opener against Northern Illinois and eventually moved back to defensive line after the season wrapped up. Despite the logjam at defensive end, it sounds like Duwa will plan to stay at Iowa and focus on his academics, so not a case of a guy looking for more playing time or feeling spurned by the coaching staff.
The departure drops Iowa back down to 84 scholarship players at the moment. We also learned today that Rutgers TE transfer Travis Vokolek has decided to head to Nebraska despite watching the NFL draft with the Hawkeye staff in Iowa City. It’s possible Iowa hands the vacant spot to a walk-on if no other late transfers pique their interest.
Best of luck to Levi Duwa in the future, whatever that may bring.