By Pat Harty from Hawk Fanatic

IOWA CITY, Iowa – South Dakota State has been one of the top FCS football programs in the country, winning the past two national titles.

The Iowa football coaches have certainly taken notice and are recruiting at least two SDS players that are in the transfer portal, including defensive lineman Bryce Hawthorne.

The Osseo, Minnesota native announced Saturday on X that he has committed to Iowa.

His announcement came just one day after South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski visited Iowa.

Hawthorne is also the second defensive lineman from the portal to pick Iowa in recent weeks, joining Jonah Pace from Central Michigan.

Hawthorne earned Freshman All-America accolades in his first season on the field with the Jackrabbits this past season. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Hawthorne played in 14 games this season as a redshirt freshman and finished with 22 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Hawthorne was an unheralded recruit coming out of high school.

South Dakota State was reportedly one of just two scholarship offers that Hawthorne had coming out high, along with St. Thomas from the Pioneer League.

Hawthorne is expected to help fill the void left by multi-year starting defensive tackle Yahya Black, who used up his eligibility this season.