PHOTO PROVIDED - University of Iowa true freshman Aaron Graves (68) stands in the football locker room before his sophomore season in high school with his dad Mark, brother Nathan; Hawkeye head coach Kirk Ferentz, mother Amber, and former high school teammate Kolson Kruse.

IOWA CITY — It won’t be long before true freshman Aaron Graves suits up on Saturdays.

After last week’s media-day and Kids Day festivities at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz praised the Southeast Valley graduate’s work so far.

On media day, Ferentz talked about how impressive Graves had been. The next day, Ferentz discussed the possibility of him taking the field and seeing immediate action instead of redshirting.

“I think so, based on (Saturday),” Ferentz said when asked about pulling his redshirt. “It would be crazy to say we are going to redshirt him. It would be stupid on our part right now.

“At some point we may say it, but right now … he needs to be on the field.”

Graves, who committed to Iowa as a freshman in high school, is a 6-foot-4, 271-pound four-star recruit on the defensive line for the Hawkeyes.

The 2021 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year and Adidas All-American has proven to be a quick study, and has fit in well since his time started in July at Iowa City.

“We have a little more depth in that group (defensive line), so we will have that discussion at the end of the week or next weekend, but we like the way he’s practicing,” Ferentz said. “He has a lot to learn, but his tempo shows he belongs on the field with the older guys.

“He goes hard and makes them work, which makes us have better practices.”

Even if Graves redshirts, the 4.0 GPA high school student will be in the rotation for the Hawkeyes.

Graves was a four-year letterwinner for Southeast Valley, helping lead the Jaguars to the Class 2A state championship — the first in school history. The Jaguars went 22-2 during his final two seasons, as he became the school’s career leader in tackles and sacks.

Graves was a four-time all-stater, including landing on the first team three times.

Iowa’s defensive line features returning starters Logan Lee, Noah Shannon and John Waggoner, along with returning letterwinners Yahya Black, Deontae Craig, Logan Lee, Louie Stec, Lukas Van Ness and Joe Evans.