Most Experienced Iowa Receiver Will Return in 2023

If you haven't heard, the Iowa football program has lost a significant amount of playmakers from their 2022 offense to the transfer portal. Backup quarterback Alex Padilla, running back Gavin Williams, and wide receivers Keagan Johnson and Arland Bruce IV all announced their intentions to enter before the Hawkeyes' upcoming bowl game this week.

The black and gold offense will also lose Sam LaPorta to the NFL and 2023 five-star offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor flipped his commitment from Iowa to Alabama last week.

With an offense led by Brian Ferentz, one would think it'd be difficult to make things worse, but somehow, they got there.

As of today, one key playmaker dulled Iowa fans' pain just a little.

As reported by Scott Dochterman of The Athletic, senior wide receiver Nico Ragaini will return for sixth year as a Hawkeye.

In the five years the Ragaini has been in Iowa City, he's played in 48 games with 16 starts, posting 123 catches for 1,333 yards and four touchdowns. His most productive season came in 2019 when he caught 46 passes for 439 yards and two touchdowns.

He started 2022 with a foot injury that sidelined him for the first two games of the season, but he finished the regular season with 32 receptions totaling 365 yards and a touchdown.

Along with the return of Ragaini, the Hawkeye offense will receive a much-needed shot of adrenaline in 2023 via the addition of Michigan transfers Cade McNamara and Erick All.

Before 2022 officially comes to a close Iowa will face Kentucky in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31 at 11 a.m.