reliable Hawkeye depth piece with Big Ten grit
Kael Kolarik has been a steady, team-first defensive back for Iowa, appearing in every game from 2023-2025 and contributing across defense and special teams before entering the transfer portal after the 2025 season.[1][2][8] In the 2024 season, he played in all 13 games and logged 4 tackles, and in the 2025 season he was mainly a reserve safety/special teams piece with 8 tackles, including 3 in the bowl win over Vanderbilt.[1][5][12] The fit question is simple: if a team wants a mature, 6-foot, 210-pound DB with Big Ten experience, durability, and a blue-collar mentality, Kolarik checks real boxes.[2][9][13]
