Hawkeye Defensive Lineman Aaron Graves | WUW 669 скачать в хорошем качестве

Hawkeye Defensive Lineman Aaron Graves | WUW 669

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. If you love the show and want to show support, tell your friends! And, check out our exclusive content at Patreon.com/washedupwalkons where you can find extra podcast episodes, exclusive merchandise, Merch discounts with every tier, private Walkon discord channel access, and more! Find us on social media @washedupwalkons Visit TheWashedUpWalkons.com for all of our episodes, merchandise, and more! 00:00 Welcome Back + Aaron Graves Joins from Texas 01:43 Draft Prep Life: Combine Training Schedule & Newborn in Tow 04:15 Thanksgiving Baby + Flying to Play Nebraska: A Wild 48 Hours 09:40 Beating Nebraska & Reflecting on the End of a Hawkeye Career 11:39 Dream Offer Story: Committing to Iowa as a Teen (No Other Schools) 15:19 Small-Town Roots: Dayton, Southeast Valley & State Title Run 18:24 Three-Sport Grind: Basketball, Wrestling, Track & the Little Brother Pin 22:17 Recruiting Letters, Iowa State Awkward Visit & ‘I’m Going to Iowa’ Mindset 25:09 Ad Break: Gray’s Gourmet, Iana Golf & Eagle Point Solar 27:29 Back from Break: Audio Glitch, Sponsors Shoutout & Reset 28:53 Iowa City Arrival: Expectations, Controllables, and Earning Snaps 31:38 Welcome to the Big Ten: Camp Lessons and the Ohio State Reality Check 34:42 Veteran Mentors in the D-Line Room (Joe Evans, Wagner, Logan Lee) 37:03 Becoming a Starter: Ownership, Leadership, and the Super-Senior Era 40:33 NIL & Revenue Sharing: Keeping the Locker Room from Getting Toxic 46:44 Degrees at Warp Speed: Associate’s Before HS, Bachelor’s in 2 Years, Master’s Done 48:38 Work Ethic Roots: Small-Town Family, Dual Credit Grind, and Sibling Success 52:53 Combine Snub & Pro Day Plan: Proving the Resume (and Mark’s Case) 55:23 Mark’s Impact: From Skepticism to Team Leader and Transfer Portal Success Story 58:22 Final Stretch to the NFL: Pro Day Goals, 53-Man Mindset, and Closing Thanks