Iowa lands star QB Mark Gronowski of South Dakota State; Malik Benson heading to Oregon

Mark Gronowski, the prolific quarterback who led South Dakota State to two FCS national championships and to the semifinals this season, announced on social media Tuesday that he'll play his final season at Iowa.

Gronowski had considered entering the NFL draft before visiting Iowa City last weekend. He immediately becomes the projected 2025 starter, even though the Hawkeyes return Brendan Sullivan, who said two weeks ago he welcomed the competition.

Gronowski threw for 2,719 yards and 23 touchdowns this season as the Jackrabbits went 12-3 with a loss to eventual national champion North Dakota State in the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder from Naperville, Illinois, was the 2023 Walter Payton Award winner as the top offensive player in the FCS. He has passed for 10,309 yards and 93 touchdowns, figures that rank second among active FCS players, and was 49-6 as the Jackrabbits' starter with national titles in 2022 and 2023. As a freshman, he was the starter on the team that reached the national championship game.

Also Tuesday, wide receiver Malik Benson announced his transfer from Florida State to Oregon.

Oregon will be Benson's third school in three years after he played two seasons at a Kansas junior college before transferring to Alabama first, then Florida State. Benson is in line to play another season after a federal judge last month issued a preliminary injunction allowing Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia to play one more year after Pavia challenged NCAA eligibility rules for athletes coming from junior colleges.

Benson was a record-setting receiver at Hutchinson Community College and the No. 1 junior college prospect in 2023. He started six of his 14 games at Alabama that year and caught 13 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown. He transferred to Florida State in the offseason and was the team's third-leading receiver with 25 catches for 311 yards and a touchdown.

Oregon is losing leading receiver Tez Johnson, who announced Monday he would declare for the NFL draft. Evan Stewart, the Ducks' third-leading receiver, said Tuesday he would return next season rather than enter the draft.

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FILE - South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) roles out of the pocket in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Aug. 31, 2024, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Mitch Alcala, File)

FILE - Florida State wide receiver Malik Benson (10) runs his receiving route during an NCAA football game on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)

Julen Lopetegui was fired by West Ham on Wednesday after less than a year in the job and with the Premier League club in danger of being dragged into a relegation fight.

West Ham said the process to find a replacement was underway, with former Chelsea coach Graham Potter reportedly in talks to take over.

Lopetegui paid the price for a run of just three wins in his last 11 games, with West Ham 14th in the standings and seven points above the drop zone.

“West Ham United can confirm that Head Coach Julen Lopetegui has today left the club,” West Ham said in a statement posted on its official website. “The first half of the 2024-25 season has not aligned with the club’s ambitions and the club has therefore taken action in line with its objectives.”

The former Spain and Real Madrid coach replaced David Moyes in May and was expected to drive the club to new heights. But that has not materialized and recent heavy losses to Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City sparked increased speculation about Lopetegui’s position.

Uncertainty grew in recent days and, when West Ham canceled a scheduled news conference with Lopetegui on Wednesday to preview the upcoming FA Cup third round match against Aston Villa, confirmation of his departure was widely anticipated.

Moyes left at the end of his contract last season having led West Ham to ninth in the standings. The previous season he ended the club’s 43-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Europa Conference League.

The appointment of Lopetegui, who had previously managed Wolverhampton in England’s top flight, brought with it expectation that he could bring more success to West Ham. But 10 defeats in 22 games in all competitions brought an end to his reign before he could even complete a full season in charge.

Most recently West Ham lost 4-1 against City, having previously been routed 5-0 by Liverpool.

Potter has been out of work since he was fired by Chelsea in 2023 after just seven months in the job.

He previously managed Brighton in the Premier League.

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West Ham's manager Julen Lopetegui looks on before the start of the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Liverpool at the London Stadium in London, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)