DynastySignal Scouting Report

Mark Gronowski — QB | Iowa | Senior

Film Source: Hawkeye Breakdown — "Mark Gronowski Is Officially an Iowa Hawkeye. How Good Is He?" (55 frames)

The Short Version

Mark Gronowski is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history at any level — 58 career wins, three FCS national championships at South Dakota State — and he brings legitimate dual-threat chops, elite competitive experience, and outstanding football character. The case for him is simple: he wins everywhere he's been, he can hurt you with his legs, and his career 103:27 TD:INT ratio shows he takes care of the ball. The case against is equally simple: his arm is functional, not special; his Big Ten numbers in 2025 (10 TDs, 7 INTs, 1,741 yards in 13 starts) were modest by any standard; and FCS dominance doesn't guarantee NFL readiness. This is a system-dependent backup archetype who could stick on a roster if the situation is right, but there's no path to a franchise QB.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Value |

|-------------------|--------------------------------|

| Position | Quarterback |

| School | Iowa (transfer from SD State) |

| Class | Senior (2025 season) |

| Height | 6'2" |

| Weight | 233 lbs |

| Hand Size | 10¼" (Shrine Bowl) |

| Hometown | Naperville, IL |

| Transfer Date | January 7, 2025 (SDSU → Iowa) |

| Career Starts | 68 |

| Career Wins | 58 (NCAA all-levels record) |

| Career Stats | 921/1,450, 12,049 yds, 103 TD / 27 INT; 515 rushes, 2,312 yds, 53 TD |

| 2025 Iowa Stats | 166/262, 1,741 yds, 10 TD / 7 INT; 130 rushes, 545 yds, 16 TD |

| All-Star Games | Shrine Bowl 2026 |

Film Sources Reviewed

| Source | Frames | Key Content |

|---------------------------------------------------------------|--------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| Hawkeye Breakdown — Mark Gronowski Is Officially an Iowa Hawkeye | 55 | SDSU career highlights (NDSU games at Fargodome, home games at Dykhouse Stadium, FCS Championship footage in Frisco TX); one FBS road game (Oklahoma State/Boone Pickens Stadium); pre-snap reads, throwing mechanics, scrambles, red zone sequences |

What The Film Shows

1. Arm Talent

Grade: 48/100 — Below Average for NFL Standards

Gronowski has a functional arm, not a franchise arm. The throwing mechanics captured in highlights_025 and highlights_042 show a relatively compact delivery with a high release point — good, not great. The release is a bit long in the wind-up, and the ball comes out with adequate velocity rather than elite zip. What you see is a QB who can fit the ball into tight windows on short-to-intermediate routes, but there's nothing on film that suggests he can threaten the deep third consistently against NFL-caliber defensive backs. In the Fargodome sequences (highlights_031, highlights_032, highlights_033), he shows the ability to deliver on the move, throwing across his body and throwing with good touch on intermediate routes. The concern is that the competition level at SDSU inflated some of these looks. In Iowa's Big Ten system (highlights_026 through highlights_036 at Oklahoma State), he looked more hesitant and the downfield opportunities were fewer — partly by design, partly by circumstance.

2. Accuracy & Touch

Grade: 53/100 — Average

The touch is real on short-to-intermediate throws. Multiple frames (highlights_025, highlights_041, highlights_042) show him delivering on rhythm throws with proper weight transfer and appropriate ball placement. He doesn't consistently put the ball in tight windows, but he's accurate on high-percentage throws — which is exactly what Iowa's offense asked of him. The 63.4% completion rate at Iowa (166/262) in a conservative offense is decent but not enough to project an above-average NFL passer. Pre-snap, you can see him going through reads (highlights_012, highlights_013, highlights_018, highlights_019, highlights_021, highlights_022) — the eyes are active and he's not locking onto receivers. But there isn't consistent evidence of anticipation throwing or placing the ball in difficult spots against tight coverage. He plays within himself, which is both a virtue and a ceiling.

3. Processing & Decision Making

Grade: 60/100 — Above Average for His Level

This is where Gronowski stands out. He is not a gunslinger — he is a game manager with good instincts and elite decisiveness. The 103:27 career TD:INT ratio tells you everything: he does not beat himself. Watch his pre-snap routine in highlights_018, highlights_020, highlights_021, highlights_022, highlights_026, highlights_027: active eyes, moving his head to survey the defense, appearing to make protection checks. He understands leverage and positioning. The downside is that his processing speed may not be elite at the NFL level, where defensive schemes are more complex and windows close faster than anything he faced at SDSU. His Iowa numbers suggest the upgrade in competition affected him — 7 INTs and limited downfield production is not the profile of a QB who consistently won the processing battle in the Big Ten. He played in a system that asked him to manage the game rather than win it, and he largely succeeded at that modest task.

4. Mobility & Athleticism

Grade: 63/100 — Legitimate Weapon

This is genuinely the most interesting part of his profile and the clearest path to NFL value. The film is loaded with evidence of real dual-threat ability. In highlights_015 and highlights_016, he shows plus acceleration through gaps and ability to turn the corner in space — not just scramble-for-the-sticks stuff, but legitimate run threat. His Iowa numbers (130 rushes, 545 yards, 16 rushing TDs) are remarkable: 16 rushing touchdowns from the QB spot in a conservative Kirk Ferentz offense is extraordinary. At NDSU (highlights_031, highlights_033), he shows the ability to escape pressure, get outside the pocket, and deliver accurate throws on the move. In highlights_008 and highlights_009, he's running with good pad level and vision — not a burner, but more athletic than his frame suggests. His career 515 rushes for 2,312 yards and 53 TDs underscore that this is a real, sustained dimension of his game, not just garbage-time scrambles. He slides and protects himself intelligently, which matters for longevity.

5. Pocket Presence & Toughness

Grade: 56/100 — Functional

He's not jumpy. The best example in the film is highlights_025 where he delivers a throw with a defender bearing down from his right — high release, stable base, gets the ball out. He doesn't panic under pressure, and multiple sequences at the Fargodome (highlights_031–033) against an NDSU program that generates legitimate pass rush talent show he can function in a compromised pocket. That said, he's not a statue who holds and fires into tight coverage — when the pocket collapses, he's more likely to take off and make yards with his legs than step up and deliver. That's fine for an NFL backup but limits the ceiling. His FCS Championship game experience (highlights_005, highlights_006) shows someone who doesn't wilt on a big stage — the Frisco Championship environment against top-tier FCS competition, and he thrived.

6. System Fit

Grade: 55/100 — Fit-Dependent

His profile screams West Coast or RPO-heavy system that can leverage his legs and keep him on high-percentage throws. He struggled to unlock Iowa's condensed, run-heavy pro-style offense — 1,741 yards in 13 Big Ten starts is not the output of a guy who can carry a team. The good news: any NFL team getting him gets someone with elite experience, leadership (Iowa's Hayden Fry Award, Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, Permanent Team Captain), and adaptability — he transferred from an FCS program to a Power Four program and never missed a start. The bad news: his ceiling in a pro-style system is limited, and in a pure West Coast vertical passing game, his arm may not have the velocity to threaten all levels consistently.

Strengths Summary

Concerns & Risks

NFL Comp

Primary Comp: Taylor Heinicke (Early Career)

Like Heinicke coming out of Old Dominion, Gronowski is a compact dual-threat QB with good football instincts, above-average mobility, legitimate toughness, and enough arm to play. He's not a starter, but in the right system — especially one with RPO elements or a coaches staff that will scheme him moving opportunities — he can carve out a backup career. Heinicke eventually got NFL starting opportunities; Gronowski has a plausible path to the same if he lands in the right situation and develops his downfield passing game.

Secondary Comp: Bailey Zappe (2022 Draft)

Zappe was a productive college QB whose production didn't fully translate aesthetically to the NFL — he's a game-manager type with decent arm talent who survives on accuracy, anticipation, and football IQ. Gronowski has more athleticism than Zappe but comparable arm ceiling and similar "fits-in-the-right-system" limitations. Day 3 pick, backup trajectory, spot starter upside if things break right.

Bottom Line

Mark Gronowski is the most decorated winner in college football history at any level, and that's not nothing — but the NFL drafts ability, not résumés, and his 2025 Big Ten season left too many questions about whether his game translates to the professional level. The rushing dimension is real and will absolutely earn him a roster spot somewhere, and his ball-security instincts and leadership profile make him easy to love as a backup. Dynasty owners should watch his NFL situation closely: land in an RPO-friendly system with a veteran starter ahead of him and he could develop into a valuable streaming/handcuff option if that starter goes down. Don't pay starter price for him in any dynasty format — he's a developmental stash with a clear ceiling as a backup.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 51/100

Projected Pick: R5-R6, Pick 150-220

Film Score: 51 / 100

Scout 2 Report: Mark Gronowski, QB, Iowa

The Short Version

Gronowski is a battle-tested FCS stud with sneaky athleticism and poise beyond his level, but his arm talent caps him as a high-end backup, not the franchise savior Iowa fans dream of. Contrarian take: The transfer hype inflates him to Day 2; he's a Day 3 gem for teams needing grit over glamour.

Measurables & Background

| Trait | Detail |

|-------|--------|

| Height | 6'2\" |

| Weight | 225 lbs |

| Age | 24 (DOB ~2002) |

| Class | Sr (trans. SDSU -> Iowa 2025) |

| Stats (SDSU career) | 70% comp, 10k+ yds, 90+ TD, 20 INT, 30 rush TD |

| Accolades | 2x FCS Champ, Walter Payton finalist |

Film Sources

| Source | Frames | Notes |

|--------|--------|-------|

| Hawkeye Breakdown (10:12) | 55 | SDSU highlights; transfer preview |

Film Analysis

Arm Talent: 6/10 - Functional velocity on short/intermediate, but deep balls lack zip and arc poorly (highlights_015, 023, 039). Sidearm flashes but inconsistent.

Accuracy/Placement: 8/10 - Laser precise in rhythm, windows tight (highlights_005, 012, 027).

Mobility/Athleticism: 9/10 - Elusive scrambler, TD threat (highlights_028, 041, 052).

Pocket Presence: 7/10 - Steps up vs pressure, feels rush (highlights_033, 046).

Decision Making/Processing: 7/10 - Quick to right read, smart checkdowns (highlights_007, 019, 035).

Poise/Leadership: 8/10 - Cool under fire, winner vibe (multiple pre-snap huddles 001-004, endzone celebrations 054-055).

Overall Grade: B

Strengths

Concerns

Dynasty Outlook

1-yr: Practice squad/spot starter in run-first offense (e.g., Steelers type).

2-3 yr: RB3/spot QB2 with 10-15 starts potential if develops arm.

NFL Comp

Bottom Line

Day 3 priority with backup reliability; pass if chasing stars—grab for depth.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 82/100

Projected Pick: "R3, Pick 80-100"

Film Score: 82 / 100