Tag: Hawkeyes Recruiting

Where do the Iowa Hawkeyes fall in ESPN’s 2025 college football recruiting rankings?

The dust has begun to settle after the early signing period and the Iowa Hawkeyes have a new class coming in. Where is it ranked nationally?

It wasn’t the loudest or most boisterous days for the Iowa Hawkeyes when the early signing window opened up across the college football world.

What it was, though, was a pointed effort at a smaller class that is being brought into Iowa with a lot of intent and planning. It feels that quality over quantity was the purpose of the class of 2025.

The class, highlighted by Iose Epenesa, the 247Sports five-star defensive lineman and younger brother of former Iowa star defensive end A.J. Epenesa, includes 17 recruits.

With the dust settled, ESPN has dug into where each program in Division 1 FBS ranks and how the Hawkeyes slot in now.

47. Iowa Hawkeyes

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: TE Thomas Meyer
Top defensive prospect: DE Iose Epenesa

Ranking entering Wednesday: 48

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. – Craig Haubert, ESPN

Thomas Meyer is a big win for the Hawkeyes keeping him in the state as a tight end and coming to Tight End U. He brings a lot of size to the tight end room and could push for playing time early.

Jimmy Sullivan is coming to Iowa in this class as the sole quarterback in the class. At 6-foot-2, he is not overly large but his style of play, which can be more off-script, is a change in culture for the Hawkeyes.

With the early signing period having come and gone, the Hawkeyes’ attention now turns to the transfer portal and recruiting out of that to continue to bolster their roster for 2025.

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3-star 2023 WR Jarriett Buie Jr. picks up Iowa Hawkeyes offer

Jarriett Buie, a three-star 2023 wide receiver from Tampa, Fla., picked up an offer from the Iowa Hawkeyes.

As Iowa works to put some of the finishing touches on its 2023 recruiting class, Hawkeye wide receivers coach Kelton Copeland and the rest of Iowa’s staff have identified one more playmaker they’d love to add to it.

The Hawkeyes offered class of 2023 wide receiver Jarriett Buie Jr. out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Fla. The 6-foot-3, 185 pound wide receiver also holds Power Five offers from Duke, Iowa State and West Virginia.

In addition, Buie has offers from Arkansas State, Bowling Green, James Madison, Mercer, Middle Tennessee State, and Toledo.

According to ESPN and On3, Buie is a three-star recruit. ESPN rates Buie as the nation’s No. 140 wide receiver and as the No. 154 player from Florida. Meanwhile, On3 ranks Buie as the No. 144 wide receiver in the 2023 class and as the No. 152 player from Florida.

According to MaxPreps, Buie registered 32 receptions for 402 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 14 games with Jesuit High School in 2021. He averaged 12.6 yards per catch as Jesuit finished a perfect 15-0 and as 6A state champions.

Buie would bring a track and field background to Iowa City if he winds up picking the Hawkeyes. In this past track season with Jesuit, Buie recorded a 100-meter dash of 11.49 seconds.

He would also bring a football background to Iowa City. His father played defensive end at South Florida and spent some time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2009.

The Hawkeyes’ 2023 class consists of 17 commits and is currently rated as the nation’s No. 16 class by Rivals, the No. 19 class by 247Sports, the No. 21 class by On3 and the No. 24 class by ESPN.

Another wide receiver name to keep an eye on in the 2023 class as the summer begins to come to a close is Bryson Vowell out of Anderson County High School in Clinton, Tenn. He has a crystal ball prediction in to land with Iowa from HawkeyeInsider‘s Sean Bock.

Here’s a look at Buie’s junior season Hudl highlights with Jesuit High School, his full recruiting profile and a glance at the Hawkeyes’ full list of 2023 commits.

Iowa was the least active Big Ten team in the transfer portal for good reason

The Iowa Hawkeyes were the least active Big Ten team in the transfer portal. And for good reason. They develop their own internally.

The transfer portal is the talk of NCAA football every offseason it seems. Coaches move and players follow them. Players don’t feel things are a fit at their current school and leave. Or, you get programs that retain, develop, and go with their guys they know and have bought into. That is what Iowa does.

The Iowa Hawkeyes were the least active Big Ten team in the transfer portal this offseason, as reported by The Gazette’s John Steppe. There was one player that joined the Hawkeyes through the transfer portal this offseason and that was Steven Stilianos, a tight end coming from FCS school Lafayette.

Stilianos makes up one player, or 0.97% of transfers in the Big Ten. Iowa doesn’t use the portal. They develop their guys and they do so very, very well. Iowa has a strong culture, a rich history of turning unheralded recruits into college stars and NFL talents.

Iowa’s defensive line coach provided a great quote to their strategy surrounding their philosophy to filling gaps that arise.

“Is there somebody here? He may be in another position room,” Bell said in a June episode of The Gazette’s Hawk Off the Press podcast. “I’m going to check that before I check the portal because if he’s in the building, that kid understands the culture. If he’s in the building, that transition would be seamless.”

With their success and development, another reason for the lack of transfers joining the Iowa program is simply due to the experience already on the roster. With many upperclassmen starting, contributing, and helping win, the Hawkeyes don’t need to go away from what is clearly working.

Since the NCAA Transfer Portal originated in October of 2018, Iowa has won 73% of their games over the last four seasons with two 10-win seasons in there.

As Steppe discussed, the transfer portal can be a case of the grass not always being greener. Of those entering the portal, 42% of them are stuck without a new home, didn’t return to their original school, and many have given up scholarships.

Former quarterback Deuce Hogan gave up his Iowa scholarship when entering the transfer portal and is one of those individuals who was lucky enough to find a new home. Yet, he is now a walk-on, a steep price to pay in the transfer portal.

Luckily, the Iowa Hawkeyes have found success internally, moving guys around, growing them, and developing them into Big Ten football players. With their track record speaking for itself, don’t expect or think the Hawkeyes need to get their hands in the mess that the transfer portal is.

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3-star EDGE Kenneth Merrieweather commits to Iowa, becomes 16th 2023 pledge

Kenneth Merrieweather, a three-star 2023 EDGE out of Detroit, Mich., committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes, becoming the 16th pledge in 2023.

Iowa and defensive line coach Kelvin Bell added another talented piece to its defensive line, earning a commitment from class of 2023 EDGE Kenneth Merrieweather out of Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, Mich. The decision from Merrieweather is sure to delight Hawkeye defensive coordinator Phil Parker as well.

“First I want to thank god for everything he has done for me in this process. I want to thank all family, friends and coaches who supported me throughout the way. I appreciate every coach and trainers who helped me get developed on every level to reach the dream I always wanted to live. Thanks to every school who gave me an opportunity. I’m just a kid from the eastside trying to make it!! Let’s keep it black and gold💛🖤 COMMITTED!!!” Merrieweather wrote in his Instagram announcement.

The 6-foot-3, 245 pound Merrieweather is rated as a three-star commit by 247Sports, On3 and Rivals. According to 247Sports, Merrieweather is the nation’s No. 50 EDGE and the No. 14 player from Michigan. In the 247Sports composite rankings, Merrieweather checks in as the No. 892 player nationally, the No. 75 EDGE and the No. 16 player from Michigan.

On3 ranks Merrieweather as the No. 75 EDGE in the 2023 class and the No. 15 player from Michigan. In the On3 consensus rankings, Merrieweather is the No. 852 player nationally, the No. 66 EDGE and the No. 18 player from Michigan. Lastly, according to Rivals, Merrieweather is the No. 18 player from Michigan in the 2023 class.

He chose the Hawkeyes over fellow finalist Purdue. Some of Merrieweather’s other notable offers included Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Oregon, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.

Now, Merrieweather joins a defensive line class for Iowa that also features three-star EDGE Chase Brackney out of Cherry Creek High School in Colorado, three-star defensive lineman Maddux Borcherding-Johnson out of Norwalk High School in Iowa and three-star EDGE David Caulker of North High School in Des Moines.

Prior to Merrieweather’s commitment, the Hawkeyes’ 2023 class was rated as the No. 16 class nationally by Rivals, the No. 18 class by 247Sports, and the No. 22 class by On3. With those respective team rankings, Iowa has the No. 4 class among Big Ten teams across each of the three ranking services.

Here’s a look at Merrieweather’s junior season Hudl highlights at Martin Luther King High School, a peek into his full recruiting profile and Iowa’s complete list of 2023 commits.

How it played out with the Hawkeyes: Top 25 all-time Iowa football recruits per 247Sports

Kadyn Proctor just became Iowa’s highest-rated all-time commit in the 247Sports composite rankings. Who else comprises the Hawkeyes’ top 25?

Iowa landed a huge recruiting win by earning a commitment from five-star, in-state offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor out of Southeast Polk High School in Des Moines.

The Hawkeyes held off Alabama in Proctor’s final two and also won out over schools such as Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and USC.

According to ESPN, Proctor is the nation’s No. 6 player in the 2023 class and the No. 2 offensive tackle. Rivals also ranks Proctor as five-star commit, the nation’s No. 14 player overall, and the top offensive tackle.

Meanwhile, On3 and 247Sports both list Proctor as a four-star commit. According to 247Sports, Proctor is the nation’s No. 7 player overall and the top offensive tackle. On3 ranks Proctor as the No. 31 player nationally and the No. 4 offensive tackle. However, he is rated as a five-star commit in both the 247Sports composite rankings and the On3 consensus rankings.

In the process, the 6-foot-7, 330 pound tackle becomes Iowa’s highest all-time commit in the 247Sports composite rankings. The commitment from Proctor also continues a recent uptick in the Hawkeyes’ recruiting over the past several classes.

A look at Iowa’s top 25 all-time commits according to the 247Sports composite rankings illustrates that point. Four of the Hawkeyes’ top 25 commits since the year 2000 are from either the 2022, 2023 or 2024 classes.

In addition to Proctor, who joins him on Iowa’s top 25 all-time commits list per the 247Sports composite rankings since the year 2000? Let’s take a look below.

Iowa Hawkeyes make top 5 schools for 2023 twin defensive backs, Caden, Cameren Jenkins

The Iowa Hawkeyes made the top five schools for three-star, class of 2023 twin defensive backs Caden and Cameren Jenkins.

Two is so much better than one. Iowa is still hoping there’s a twin billing in the future patrolling the Hawkeyes’ defensive backfield.

The Hawkeye coaching staff has reason to be optimistic, too. Twin defensive backs Caden Jenkins and Cameren Jenkins out of Lewisville High School in Texas both announced Iowa as one of their top five schools, respectively.

Caden Jenkins, a 6-foot-1, 165 pound cornerback in the 2023 class, revealed that his top five includes Arkansas, Baylor, Iowa, Oregon State and SMU. Meanwhile, Cameren Jenkins, a 6-foot-2, 175 pound safety in the 2023 class, revealed that his top five includes Grambling State, Iowa, Oregon State, SMU and UTSA.

If the pair is ultimately signing as a package deal, then that means that Iowa, Oregon State and SMU are the three schools that show up in both of the Jenkins twins’ final top five schools.

According to Rivals, Caden Jenkins is a three-star recruit, the nation’s No. 56 cornerback and the No. 85 player from Texas. Meanwhile, On3 rates Caden Jenkins as a three-star talent, the No. 74 cornerback and the No. 144 player from Texas.

According to On3, Cameren Jenkins is a three-star safety, the No. 78 safety nationally and the No. 173 player from Texas. Rivals also lists Cameren Jenkins as a three-star recruit.

Below is a look at Caden and Cameren Jenkins’ junior season Hudl highlights at Lewisville High School, their complete recruiting profiles and a glance at Iowa’s full list of 2023 commits.

3-star tight end Zach Ortwerth commits to the Iowa Hawkeyes, becomes 14th 2023 pledge

Zach Ortwerth, a three-star tight end out of Missouri, committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes, becoming the 14th pledge in the 2023 class.

America’s birthday just got a little bit sweeter for Iowa Hawkeyes fans. Tight end Zach Ortwerth announced his commitment to Iowa, becoming the 14th pledge in the 2023 class for the Hawkeyes.

The 6-foot-5, 220 pound tight end out of St. Louis University in Missouri is a consensus three-star commit across 247Sports, On3 and Rivals. According to 247Sports, Ortwerth is the nation’s No. 36 tight end and the No. 15 player from Missouri.

Rivals rates Ortwerth as the No. 22 player from the Show Me State, while On3 ranks Ortwerth as the No. 27 tight end and the 14th-best player from Missouri.

In the 247Sports composite rankings, Ortwerth is regarded as the nation’s No. 737 player overall, the No. 37 tight end and the No. 16 player from Missouri. Meanwhile, in the On3 consensus rankings, Ortwerth checks in as the No. 771 player nationally, the No. 41 tight end and the No. 18 player from Missouri.

Ortwerth committed to the Hawkeyes over offers from schools such as Illinois, Indiana, Memphis, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Purdue, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The commitment from the 6-foot-5 tight end will no doubt delight Marco Lainez III, the Hawkeyes’ three-star quarterback commit in the 2023 class.

Watching Ortwerth’s junior season film, he displays soft hands, moves well in space for a bigger-bodied pass catcher, can high-point the football and has an understanding of route concepts and runs those routes smoothly. He’s a big-time addition to the Hawkeyes’ 2023 class and represents new Iowa tight ends coach Abdul Hodge’s first commitment since taking over.

Here’s a look at Ortwerth’s junior season Hudl film from St. Louis University, a peek into his full recruiting profile and a glance at Iowa’s complete list of 2023 commits.

Iowa Hawkeyes make top 4 for 2023 DL target Kendrick Gilbert

The Iowa Hawkeyes find themselves as one of the final four choices for talented 2023 defensive lineman Kendrick Gilbert.

Class of 2023 defensive line target Kendrick Gilbert out of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, Ind., released his final four schools and Iowa made the cut. The Hawkeyes are joined by LSU, Kentucky and Purdue.

Gilbert was on hand this past weekend for Iowa’s biggest recruiting weekend of the year. The 6-foot-5, 270 pound defensive lineman took official visits to Purdue on June 3, LSU on June 10, Kentucky on June 17 and Iowa on June 24.

It makes sense that those four comprise Gilbert’s final four choices. The Hawkeyes have been involved in Gilbert’s recruitment from the start, extending Gilbert both his first offer overall and first Power Five offer on March 29, 2021. Now, it looks like the Hawkeyes will be in the race until the finish.

According to Rivals, On3 and ESPN, Gilbert is a four-star recruit. Rivals ranks Gilbert as the nation’s No. 181 player overall, the No. 17 strong side defensive end and the No. 2 player from Indiana.

On3 rates Gilbert as the country’s No. 251 player nationally, the No. 33 defensive lineman and the No. 3 prospect from Indiana. ESPN lists Gilbert as  the No. 21 defensive tackle in the 2023 class and the No. 4 player from Indiana.

Meanwhile, 247Sports rates Gilbert as a three-star recruit, the No. 73 defensive lineman and the No. 11 player from Indiana in the 2023 class. The 247Sports composite rankings have Gilbert as a four-star recruit, the No. 300 player nationally, the No. 44 defensive lineman and the No. 4 prospect from Indiana.

According to the On3 consensus rankings, Gilbert is a four-star recruit, the No. 364 player nationally, the No. 45 defensive lineman and the No. 4 player from Indiana.

Here’s a look at Gilbert’s junior season Hudl highlights at Cathedral High School, his full recruiting profile and a look at the Hawkeyes’ current list of 2023 commits.

Kenneth Merrieweather grabs third 247Sports crystal ball prediction to the Iowa Hawkeyes

247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong put in the third crystal ball prediction for 2023 EDGE Kenneth Merrieweather to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Steve Wiltfong, 247Sports’ director of football recruiting, submitted the third crystal ball prediction for class of 2023 EDGE Kenneth Merrieweather to commit to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Merrieweather was on hand for the Hawkeyes’ big recruiting weekend and apparently the intel Wiltfong heard coming out of the weekend was enough to swing the pendulum in Iowa’s direction. According to 247Sports, Merrieweather’s top two choices are Iowa and Purdue. That duo is listed as “warm” in his interests section.

Wiltfong joins fellow 247Sports colleagues Allen Trieu and Sean Bock of HawkeyeInsider as experts that have crystal ball predictions in for Merrieweather to the Hawkeyes. Trieu submitted his crystal ball prediction on April 24 and Bock submitted his on April 28.

The fact that Wiltfong felt ready to join those two projections following Merrieweather’s official visit to Iowa seems significant. In addition to Iowa and Purdue, Merrieweather also holds Power Five offers from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Oregon, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse.

According to 247Sports, the 6-foot-3, 235 pound EDGE out of Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, Mich., is a three-star recruit, the No. 50 EDGE and the No. 14 player from Michigan. On3 rates Merrieweather as a three-star talent, the No. 75 EDGE and the No. 15 player from Michigan.

Over the weekend, both Tom Kakert and Blair Sanderson of Rivals put in FutureCasts for Merrieweather to Iowa as well. According to Rivals, Merrieweather is a three-star recruit and the No. 18 player from Michigan.

Thanks to recent June commitments from offensive tackles Trevor Lauck and Cannon Leonard, running back Kendrick Raphael and EDGE David Caulker, the Hawkeyes currently own the nation’s No. 17 recruiting class according to 247Sports and the No. 20 class according to Rivals.

Here’s a look at Merrieweather’s junior season Hudl highlights at Martin Luther King High School, a glance at his full recruiting profile and the Hawkeyes’ entire list of 2023 commits.

2023 OT target Christopher Terek picks up pair of 247Sports crystal ball predictions to Iowa Hawkeyes

A pair of 247Sports experts put in crystal ball predictions for three-star offensive tackle Christopher Terek to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Iowa has some serious momentum on the recruiting trail. After its largest and most important recruiting weekend of the year, the Hawkeyes already picked up a commitment from talented, four-star offensive tackle Trevor Lauck out of Roncalli High School in Indianapolis, Ind.

Lauck’s commitment comes on the heels of fellow June pledges from four-star running back Kendrick Raphael of Naples High School (Fla.), three-star offensive tackle Cannon Leonard of Iroquois West High School (Ill.) and three-star EDGE David Caulker of North High School (Iowa).

These decisions from Caulker, Lauck, Leonard and Raphael bring Iowa’s current commitment total in the 2023 class to a baker’s dozen. According to 247Sports, the Hawkeyes’ 13 commitments comprise the nation’s No. 17 class. Meanwhile, Rivals rates Iowa’s 2023 class No. 18 nationally and On3 ranks the Hawkeyes’ current commits as the No. 29 class.

Across those respective team rankings, Iowa has the Big Ten’s No. 5 class according to 247Sports, the Big Ten’s No. 6 class according to Rivals and the Big Ten’s No. 6 class according to On3.

According to a pair of 247Sports experts, it should be about to get even better. 247Sports’ Sam Webb of TheMichiganInsider and David Eickholt of HawkeyeInsider both submitted crystal ball predictions for three-star offensive tackle Christopher Terek to commit to the Hawkeyes on June 23 and June 24, respectively. On3’s EJ Holland also put in a prediction for Terek to Iowa on June 20.

Terek was on hand this past weekend for Iowa’s big recruiting weekend and he is deciding between Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. The 6-foot-6, 295 pound offensive tackle is rated by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 56 offensive tackle and the No. 16 player from Illinois.

On3 ranks the Glenbard West High School product as the No. 54 interior offensive lineman and the No. 12 player from Illinois in the 2023 class, while Rivals lists Terek as the No. 53 offensive tackle and the No. 9 player from Illinois.

Included below is a look at Terek’s junior season Hudl tape from Glenbard West High School, his full recruiting profile and Iowa’s full list of 2023 commits.