Mark Gronowski

● Built like a linebacker, with proportionate upper-/lower-body mass and huge hands ● Gritty competitor; plays with a hard-nosed nature ● Strong arm and able to add juice to throws when he brings his hips through delivery ● Asked to make full-field reads in college ● Sturdy in the pocket — willing to hang before taking a shot ● Able to give rushers the slip; keeps his eyes elevated in scramble situations ● Follows blocks well and lowers pads as a runner to consistently finish forward ● Tough — takes punishment and comes back punching ● First player in Iowa history to score a touchdown passing, rushing and receiving in same game (2025 vs. USC) ● Voted a captain at Iowa and built relationships quickly; three-time team captain at SDSU and organized player-only practices ● Described as “hyperintelligent” and someone who can “handle big-game moments” (NFL scout: “He’s a people-person … (and) really comfortable in his own skin.”) ● Played and started 68 career games, with a 58-10 career record (49-6 at SDSU, 13-2 in FCS postseason, 9-4 at Iowa)

● Bulky arms and dense core create a robotic motion, making it appear like he’s throwing a javelin ● Misses too many layups; passing accuracy and touch go through peaks and valleys ● Inconsistent ball placement, especially on out routes, leading the ball too far or leaving it too short ● Will overstride or disrupt weight transfer when working off platform ● Has mobility to escape but reads and accuracy falter outside of structure. ● Speed taps out — will be caught from behind by NFL speed ● Loses sight of lurking hole defenders; throws need to come out with better anticipation ● Fumbled 21 times over career, including five times in 2025 ● Overaged — will turn 25 during his rookie season ● Torn ACL and MCL in left knee on first drive of 2021 FCS national championship game (May 2021)

A one-year starter at Iowa (and five-year starter overall), Gronowski was a dual-threat quarterback in offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s pro-style, zone-based offense (12 personnel), with designed QB runs. In four seasons as South Dakota State’s starter, he led the Jackrabbits to three FCS national championship games (two wins) and set several school records, including total touchdowns. Gronowski transferred to Iowa for his sixth season, and his inconsistent passing chemistry made it obvious at times that it was his first year in the system. He had the same number of 100-yard rushing games (one) as 200-yard passing games in 2025. But he also scored a 29 Back to table of contents -- 33 of 629 -- touchdown in a Big Ten-record 10 straight games and set Iowa single-season records for quarterback rushing yards (545) and touchdowns (16). Gronowski is a big, sturdy passer and forces teams to defend both his arm and legs. He is poised from the pocket but at his best as a ball carrier and on designed movements (naked rollouts, waggles, bootlegs, etc.), on which he can access his athleticism and toughness. Though he processes well and has a powerful arm, his timing and ball placement lacked consistency the last two seasons, in both the FCS and FBS. However, his intelligence, intangibles and resume will speak to NFL teams — he set an NCAA record, across all levels, with 58 career wins as a starting quarterback). Overall, Gronowski is an athletic passer with field-reading skills and plenty of tools, but he hasn’t shown the passing precision required to beat NFL speed with his arm. He has the play personality and makeup to compete for a backup role — especially given his physicality in short yardage — or even on special teams.