Aaron Graves is from Dayton, IA and prepped at Southeast Valley High school. He became the youngest player to ever commit to the Hawkeyes just after his Freshman year and completely shut down his recruiting after verbally agreeing to be a Hawkeye. He joins the show from Texas where he’s training for combine/pro day drills while living with his wife and newborn. Graves recounts the hectic 48 hours around the Nebraska game when his son was born on Thanksgiving Day, including a late-night charter flight to Lincoln, skipping meetings, playing, returning straight to the hospital, and receiving a game ball and framed display after Iowa’s 40–16 win. He reflects on committing to Iowa as a sophomore after his first offer from Kirk Ferentz, growing up in Dayton, Iowa and Southeast Valley (a small district spanning 13 towns), playing multiple sports, winning the school’s first state title, and finishing as the program’s all-time leading basketball scorer. Graves discusses arriving at Iowa with the goal to control effort and preparation, earning early snaps and his first sack, and the wake-up call of playing at Ohio State as a freshman. He explains leadership growth into a starting role, the impact of older teammates in a roster now filled with fifth- and sixth-year players, and how Iowa approached NIL and revenue sharing by avoiding pay talk to prevent locker-room friction. Graves details graduating quickly—earning an associate degree from Iowa Central before high school, completing his exercise science bachelor’s in four semesters, and finishing a sport and recreation management master’s in three. He also addresses disappointment over not being invited to the NFL Combine, argues both he and Gronowski are deserving, and shares how Mark earned trust through competitiveness and steady improvement. The episode closes with Graves’ plan for making a 53-man roster and his confidence heading into Iowa’s pro day reunion with teammates.

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