Tag: 2024 Iowa Hawkeyes Recruiting

ESPN ranks the Iowa Hawkyees’ 2024 recruiting class following Early Signing Period

The first initial big wave of signings is in. Where does ESPN slot the Iowa Hawkeyes and their class of 2024 signees?

National Signing Day has come and gone. There were a few surprises, headlined by Nebraska flipping Dylan Raiola, but the Iowa Hawkeyes largely stayed put and signed their guys.

It wasn’t a day of flash for the Hawkeyes so much as it was a day of consistency and getting commitments from recruits ready to don the black and gold in Iowa City. Their class remains strong and in the top quarter of 2024 recruiting classes.

Following National Signing Day, ESPN ranked the 2024 classes and the Hawkeyes didn’t see movement either way staying put at No. 34 overall in the country.

Big Ten rank: 9 of 18
Top offensive commit: G Cody Fox (No. 177)
Top defensive commit: LB Preston Ries (four stars)

The Hawkeyes are building a core of talent with top in-state prospects, including commitments from four of the top five prospects in Iowa. Cody Fox has good flexibility and body quickness and is among the top interior OL prospects in the nation. They have kept two very good versatile players home in Cam Buffington and Preston Ries, who both project to play linebacker. Ries, who also plays quarterback for Monticello Community High School, has tested well on the camp circuit, and his speed and quickness translate to the field. He should only improve with a focus on defense. – Craig Haubert, ESPN

Iowa is doing what Iowa does. They own the in-state recruiting and get the top talent to stay home, often with an inside track as many high school kids dream of playing inside Kinnick Stadium. Kirk Ferentz and his staff managed to do that once again. For context, Iowa State is ranked the No. 62 overall class.

Edge defender Drew Campbell, the younger brother of All-American LB Jack Campbell, can be a disruptive pass-rusher himself; he has good leverage, bend and effort. Known for developing offensive linemen, Iowa pulled out of Illinois two OTs with promising upside in high three-stars Will Nolan and Bodey McCaslin. – Haubert, ESPN

Iowa has also kept the bloodlines open by bringing in siblings of former greats. Drew Campbell, Jack Campbell’s brother, joins Devan Van Ness, Lukas Van Ness’ little brother, as a duo of defensive recruits looking to run back the older siblings’ successes.

Iowa stayed true to themselves with in-state domination and built their class through the trenches with offensive and defensive linemen that they could develop. The Hawkeyes are likely not done adding but the next additions could come from the transfer portal and add to a class that has already firmed up very nicely.

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A look at 2024 Iowa Hawkeyes commits’ high school seasons so far

The prep season is in full swing, which means there’s a number of future Iowa Hawkeyes impressing. Here’s an update on their seasons so far.

Football is fully back in swing. The Iowa Hawkeyes are back, filling our Saturdays with college football. The NFL also returned, giving us three days of football to our week. Don’t forget about the Friday night lights, though.

With high school football seasons starting to find their strides, it’s a great chance to keep an eye on the future of Iowa football. Looking at the 2024 class, the Hawkeyes already have 20 commits. That’s 20 future players to try and keep up with.

Now, of course, you could spend every waking hour on the internet trying to do this. You can search each individual player, and each individual school, but that would take forever. Trust me, I know. If only there was a place that compiled all of that information into one tidy little list.

Below is a roundup of the 2024 Iowa Hawkeye recruits, with as much information given as possible. Here you can see what their team did in their latest game and who they’re playing next. In some miraculous situations, there’s even stats provided for the players.

Three 2024 Hawkeyes LB commits named to Butkus Award preseason high school watch list

The future of the Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker room is in good hands. Three 2024 linebacker commits were named to the Butkus Award watch list.

Right on the heels of the legendary career of Jack Campbell, the Iowa Hawkeyes are reloading their linebacker room with an absurd amount of talent. A group that has traditionally been strong for Iowa has arguably one of its most talented groups yet coming up when the 2024 recruiting class hits campus.

Three 2024 linebacker commits for the Hawkeyes were named to the Butkus Award preseason high school watch list. The three Iowa natives are Derek Weisskopf of Williamsburg High School, Preston Ries of Monticello High School, and Cam Buffington of Winfield-Mt. Union High School.

Derek Weisskopf is a four-star recruit who spurned the Iowa State Cyclones who also offered him. He is ranked as the 19th-best linebacker in the nation and the second-best linebacker in Iowa, per 247Sports. He is 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. Weisskopf will come in with the size to mold into exactly what Iowa wants.

Preston Ries is a three-star recruit who is ranked as the seventh-best athlete in the state of Iowa, per 247Sports. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds with incredible athleticism, Ries could bulk up to be a sideline-to-sideline backer for Phil Parker’s defense. Ries had offers to rivals, Iowa State and Nebraska, but chose to stay home with the Hawkeyes.

Cam Buffington is a four-star recruit who is the 22nd-best linebacker in the nation and the third-best linebacker in Iowa, per 247Sports. Like Weisskopf, Buffington measures 6-foot-3, 200 pounds.

Iowa’s 2024 class is currently ranked No. 30 nationally by 247Sports, No. 32 by On3, and No. 35 by Rivals.

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Iowa Hawkeyes rising in ESPN’s 2024 college football recruiting rankings

Previously unranked by ESPN, the Iowa Hawkeyes are rising up the 2024 college football recruiting rankings.

While the 2023 college football season is just around the corner, it never hurts to see what is waiting in line to replenish the pipeline. The Iowa Hawkeyes dominate the state of Iowa in recruiting and are ever so slightly becoming more of a national player in the recruiting game.

Their dominance in-state is getting the job done and Iowa is squeezing every ounce of talent out of those players. The crop of recruits slated for 2024 is helping the Hawkeyes climb up ESPN’s 2024 college football recruiting rankings.

ESPN 300 commits: 1 | Previous ranking: Unranked

Big Ten rank: 8 of 14
Top offensive commit: G Cody Fox (No. 172)
Top defensive commit: LB Preston Ries (four stars)

The Hawkeyes are building a core of talent with top in-state prospects, including commitments from four of the top five prospects in Iowa. Cody Fox has good flexibility and body quickness and is among the top interior OL prospects in the nation. They have kept two very good versatile players home in Cam Buffington and Preston Ries, who both project to play linebacker. Ries, who also plays quarterback for Monticello Community High School, has tested well on the camp circuit, and his speed and quickness translate to the field. He should only improve with a focus on defense.

Edge defender Drew Campbell, the younger brother of All-American LB Jack Campbell, can be a disruptive pass-rusher himself; he has good leverage, bend and effort. Known for developing offensive linemen, Iowa pulled out of Illinois two OTs with promising upside in high three-stars Will Nolan and Bodey McCaslin. – Haubert, ESPN

Iowa knows where its bread and butter is. As evidenced by their strong recruiting showing among the offensive line, linebackers, and pass rush, the Hawkeyes are adding more and more talent to areas where they have consistently developed players into All-Americans.

Back in July’s recruiting roundup, On3 had Iowa at No. 30 in the nation. The Hawkeyes were No. 31 in 247Sports’ rankings, No. 33 in Rivals’ rankings, and unranked in ESPN’s rankings at that time.

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Who all is committed to Iowa football in the 2024 class?

Thanks to a summer surge, Iowa’s 2024 class now boasts 20 overall scholarship commits! Here’s a detailed look at every 2024 Hawkeye commit.

As the summer comes to a close, the Iowa Hawkeyes‘ 2024 recruiting class appears to more or less have taken its complete shape.

Sure, there are still several key targets remaining on the board and names that the Hawkeye coaching staff would very much like to add to the equation, but the bulk of the work appears to be done.

Dating back to April 1, the Hawkeyes have picked up 14 commitments. That includes nine commits in the months of June and July since the Hawkeye Tailgater.

In all, Iowa currently has 20 scholarship commits in its 2024 recruiting class. The Hawkeyes also boast four commitments from the next wave of talented preferred walk-ons.

Let’s take a more detailed look at every commitment that Iowa has earned to date in the 2024 recruiting class.

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Buckeye State DB commits to Iowa Hawkeyes’ 2024 class

Boom! Another 2024 commit! Three-star defensive back Jaylen Watson just announced his commitment to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have officially received a commitment from 2024 defensive back Jaylen Watson. One of Iowa’s top targets at defensive back, the three-star athlete from Toledo, Ohio, announced his intention to join the Hawkeyes Saturday evening on Twitter.

Watson chose Iowa over fellow finalists Minnesota, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Maryland.

A 5-foot-11, 175 pound athlete out of Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, Jaylen Watson is rated as a consensus three-star recruit across the four major recruiting services. 247Sports rates Watson as the nation’s No. 117 athlete and as the No. 34 player from Ohio.

On3 lists Watson as the 72 player from Ohio, while ESPN regards him as the No. 33 player from Ohio. Lastly, Rivals ranks Watson as the No. 19 player from Ohio.

Iowa became the favorite to land Watson after issuing an official offer on June 4 and rapidly picking up multiple recruiting predictions. As he stated in an interview with Inside the Hawkeyes’ Robe Howe, Iowa made a big impression during Watson’s official visit on June 23.

“I absolutely loved it and how everything is set up around the campus. Everyone was super welcoming and nice. I loved every second of being on the campus and walking around… This visit exceeded all of my expectations. Iowa is definitely a place I can see myself at,” Watson told Howe.

With that last sentence, it is certainly not a shock that Watson decided to become a Hawkeye today.

While others viewed Jaylen Watson as a wide receiver, Phil Parker and the Hawkeyes offered him as a defensive back. That seemingly set Iowa apart in this recruitment and appears like it’s part of what ultimately tipped the scales in a black and gold direction.

Watson joins Rashad Godfrey as a defensive back commit in the Hawkeyes’ 2024 class. Godfrey is a 6-foot-2, 185 pound defensive back out of Armwood High School in Seffner, Fla. He picked Iowa over offers from schools such as Florida Atlantic, South Florida, Duke, Boston College, East Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Tulane and North Dakota State.

With Watson’s pledge, Iowa now has 19 total commits in the 2024 class. Here’s a look at the newest Hawkeye’s junior season Hudl tape with Central Catholic. Plus, his full recruiting profile below!

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Where the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 2024 recruiting class ranks after series of commits

Here’s where the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 2024 recruiting class ranks across the major recruiting services after a recent flurry of commits.

Dating back to the week of its Hawkeye Tailgater, the Iowa Hawkeyes have been on a serious recruiting roll.

Don’t look now, but the Hawks have earned commitments from seven targets in the last two weeks. It’s brought Iowa’s total scholarship commits up to 17 in the 2024 class.

That string of commitments features tight ends Michael Burt and Gavin Hoffman, wide receivers Reece Vander Zee and KJ Parker, EDGE rushers Devan Kennedy and Joseph Anderson, and preferred walk-on safety and linebacker Graham Eben.

There’s several other notable targets left on the board for Iowa’s coaching staff in the 2024 cycle, but, in the meantime, how does the Hawkeyes’ class stack up nationally and against other Big Ten programs?

Let’s take a look at where Iowa’s current 2024 commits rates nationally across the four major recruiting services.

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Which players might be next to commit in the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 2024 class?

After seven commits in the past two weeks, which players might be next to join Iowa’s 2024 class? Here’s several names to know.

Following its Hawkeye Tailgater, the Iowa Hawkeyes have enjoyed a nice little surge of commitments.

Including preferred walk-on safety and linebacker Graham Eben of Central Lyon, Iowa has earned seven commitments dating back to Creighton Prep tight end Michael Burt’s decision to commit to the black and gold on June 22. That’s quite the recruiting upswing.

Along with Burt, the Hawkeyes also got a commitment from tight end Gavin Hoffman out of Blue Valley Northwest in Overland Park, Kan. Iowa also earned commitments from a pair of wide receivers, Reece Vander Zee of Central Lyon and KJ Parker of Immaculate Conception in Illinois, to round out the offensive toys its added of late.

Then, the Hawkeyes and Kelvin Bell bolstered their defensive line and pass rush with rising EDGE talents Devan Kennedy and Joseph Anderson out of Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Ariz., and Westminster Christian Academy in Saint Louis, Mo., respectively.

That brings the Hawkeyes’ scholarship total up to 17 commits in the 2024 class. Iowa currently owns the nation’s No. 28 recruiting class per 247Sports. But, the Hawkeyes don’t want to stop there.

So, who’s next? Here’s several names to keep on your radar.

Recapping Iowa football’s string of recent commitments

Iowa has been on a roll on the recruiting trail. Here’s everyone that’s committed to the black and gold over the past several weeks.

The Iowa Hawkeyes hosted several big recruiting weekends over the past month, including the big Hawkeye Tailgater that featured a number of top targets.

Like many programs, Iowa’s coaching staff is looking to iron down a good portion of its eventual 2024 signing class right now in the summer before prospects’ senior seasons begin. Thanks to a terrific start in this 2024 cycle with a number of in-state targets, the Hawkeyes were already in good shape before the Hawkeye Tailgater.

Now, Iowa has ironed down several more of its big targets. With all of the summer moving and shaking in the recruiting world, there’s been a lot to try to keep track of.

We’re here to make it easy on you, Hawkeye Nation. Who all has committed to Iowa over the past several weeks? Let’s take a look.

Iowa Hawkeyes among top 25 in On3’s updated 2024 team recruiting rankings

In On3’s updated 2024 team recruiting rankings, the Iowa Hawkeyes find themselves nestled inside the top 25.

As the calendar roars through the summer months, that means fans’ attention will naturally turn toward who is next to don the black and gold across the 2024, 2025 recruiting classes and beyond.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have gotten off to a great start in the 2024 class thanks to a series of in-state commits. Overall, Iowa boasts pledges from 11 players in the 2024 class, six of which are from the Hawkeye State.

On3 just released its updated industry team recruiting rankings after a series of recent commitments nationally. Sure enough, there are the Hawkeyes snugly inside the top 25 of the team recruiting rankings nationally.

Iowa checks in with the No. 23 class in the country according to On3’s industry team recruiting rankings. That’s good for fifth in the Big Ten, trailing only Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin.

The full top 10 looks like this: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Clemson, No. 5 Michigan, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 South Carolina, No. 8 Oregon, No. 9 LSU and No. 10 Florida.

Iowa’s top-rated recruits per On3 are interior offensive lineman Cody Fox from East Buchanan High School in Winthrop, Iowa, and linebacker Derek Weisskopf of Williamsburg High School in Iowa.

Both Fox and Weisskopf are regarded as four-star talents by On3. Fox is ranked as the nation’s No. 23 interior offensive lineman and the No. 2 player from Iowa, while Weisskopf is rated as the No. 36 linebacker and the No. 3 player from Iowa. They are ranked No. 301 and No. 362 nationally.

The rest of Iowa’s class is currently comprised of linebacker Cam Buffington, offensive tackle Will Nolan, offensive tackle Bodey McCaslin, quarterback James Resar, edge rusher Drew Campbell, running back Brevin Doll, running back Xavier Williams, linebacker Preston Ries, and interior offensive lineman Josh Janowski.

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