Iowa football among ESPN’s top 50 recruiting classes in recent update

Iowa football is among the nation’s top 50 recruiting classes for 2025 in ESPN’s recent update.

As the 2024 college football season chugs along, the Iowa Hawkeyes always have a bit of an eye toward the future.

With the Collegiate Commissioners Association’s decision to move the early signing period up three weeks from mid-December to the week preceding conference championship matchups, that means Iowa will finalize the majority of its SWARM 25 signing class in about a month’s time.

The three-day early signing period begins on the Wednesday following Thanksgiving weekend on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

As the 2025 recruiting cycle winds down, ESPN updated its 2025 recruiting class rankings (subscription required) and shared thoughts on each of the nation’s top 50 classes.

Iowa checks in with one of the country’s top 50 classes. The Hawkeyes currently own the No. 49 class according to ESPN.

ESPN ranks in-state tight end Thomas Meyer of Clear Lake High School as Iowa’s top offensive prospect and defensive end Iose Epenesa of Edwardsville High School in Illinois as the Hawkeyes’ top defensive prospect.

The Hawkeyes’ class features a familiar name in Iose Epenesa, who is the younger brother of former defensive standout A.J. Epenesa, now with the Buffalo Bills. Though he’ll arrive in the large shadow cast by his brother, Iose is an excellent prospect in his own right who shares some similar traits. He is explosive, powerful and capable of having a similar type of impact in Iowa City.

TE Thomas Meyer is the top-rated prospect in the state and possesses a big frame to develop with good hands and body control. Known for fielding excellent O-lines, the Hawkeyes have several linemen on board, including high three-star big man Lucas Allgeyer and in-state center prospect Joey VanWetzinga. Iowa also landed one of the top kickers in the class in Scott Starzyk, an Under Armour All-American. – Craig Haubert, ESPN.

Iowa currently has 14 commits. On3 rates Iowa’s class as the nation’s No. 35 class, 247Sports ranks it No. 43 and Rivals lists it as the No. 61 class.

In addition to the players mentioned, the Hawkeyes also have commitments from quarterback Jimmy Sullivan, tight ends Eli Johnson and Mason Woods, defensive backs Drew MacPherson and Charles Bell, wide receiver Terrence Smith, defensive lineman Brad Fitzgibbon and linebackers Carson Cooney and Burke Gautcher.

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