Tag: Iowa Hawkeyes Recruiting

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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College football recruiting watchlist: USA TODAY Sports college wires weigh in on Class of 2023

USA TODAY Sports college wire editors share their thoughts about the most exciting prospect from some of the top Power Five programs in the country.

The Class of 2023 left the football recruiting world—and college fan bases—entranced for well over a year and a half, with high-profile names like Arch Manning creating significant buzz about their possible college landing spots.

The hype didn’t fall short on the field in 2022, either, as the top-tier crop  delivered consistently, adding to the excitement about one of the better classes in recent high school football history.

And now that the signing-period commotion is in the rearview, we know where the ’23 talents are headed to begin their college football careers, which introduces the other side of the recruiting tunnel.

To better grasp that part of the equation, we’ve turned to the USA TODAY Sports college wire writers who will be following the top recruits at Power Five schools in the SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC, and beyond in 2023.

Our question was simple: Who are you most excited to watch from the Class of 2023?

Here’s what they had to say…

Iowa dominating in-state recruiting with 6 of top 7 2024 recruits already Hawkeyes

Few teams own their states the way the Iowa Hawkeyes do. They have locked up commitments from six of the top seven 2024 recruits in Iowa.

The Iowa Hawkeyes currently sit at ESPN’s No. 14 recruiting class for 2024 and that is largely in part to the success they are having in the state of Iowa. The Hawkeyes dominate their in-state recruiting with the best of them and that is no different here.

The 2024 class sees the Hawkeyes littered among the top 10 recruits from Iowa. The Hawkeyes have received commitments from six of the top seven prospects per 247Sports already.

With the new era of NIL deals and the transfer portal, recruiting high school talent has not only become immensely different than it was just five years ago, but even a bit more difficult. Now, there is competition among transfers, junior college players, and the always present NIL money involved.

Throughout all of that, Iowa and Kirk Ferentz have navigated the recruiting in Iowa and excelled at it. Here is a look at the top commits from the state of Iowa.

Updating 11 recent Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball 2022 summer offers

A busy summer has continued over the past month for the Iowa men’s basketball staff. Here’s a look at 11 of their latest offers.

It’s been a busy offseason for the Iowa men’s basketball program. Keegan Murray was drafted No. 4 overall by the Sacramento Kings and has put on a show with his NBA Summer League performances.

Murray’s stardom throughout the Summer League has made Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery look pretty smart with his remarks for any of the immediate naysayers. Murray’s fit with the Kings is looking better every second.

Meanwhile, in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes got great news with the return of Keegan’s twin brother, Kris Murray. Kris is happy with his decision to come back to Iowa for another season and it sets up an opportunity for him to fully showcase everything that he’s capable of as the Hawkeyes’ primary star.

With the potential emergence of Payton Sandfort and more production from Patrick McCaffery, Iowa has the makings of another NCAA Tournament team heading into the 2022-23 men’s basketball season. All in all, it’s a pretty talented projected starting lineup and set of reserves for the Hawkeyes.

Of course, Iowa had some staff changes this summer as well. Courtney Eldridge was elevated to one of the Hawkeyes’ assistant coaches from director of recruiting and player development. That replaced the departure of former assistant coach Billy Taylor.

Then, to replace former assistant coach Kirk Speraw, McCaffery and the Hawkeyes went and found a familiar face in new assistant coach Matt Gatens from Drake. Gatens sounds thrilled with the opportunity to be back in Iowa City.

Finally, Iowa added Tristan Spurlock to the staff as the team’s director of player development.

Of course, while all of this was underway, the staff remained busy on the summer recruiting trail. Hawkeyes Wire detailed a series of seven Iowa basketball offers last month.

That group included 2023 small forward Kaden Cooper, 2023 small forward Jamie Kaiser, 2024 center Raleigh Burgess, 2024 combo guard Nick Janowski, 2024 shooting guard Nojus Indrusaitis, 2024 point guard Travis Perry and 2025 center Kai Rogers.

Of course, Iowa also picked up a commitment from four-star, class of 2024 power forward Cooper Koch out of Peoria Notre Dame High School in Illinois. Koch is rated as a four-star talent, the nation’s No. 51 overall player in the 2024 class, the No. 8 power forward and the No. 4 player from Illinois by 247Sports.

That’s just the tip of the recruiting iceberg. Over the past month, 11 more players across the 2023, 2024 and 2025 recruiting classes have been offered by the Iowa Hawkeyes. Let’s take a look at those 11 players below.

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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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.

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.

4-star 2023 OT Trevor Lauck commits to the Iowa Hawkeyes, becomes 13th commit

Four-star offensive tackle Trevor Lauck committed to Iowa, fortifying the Hawkeyes up front and representing the 13th pledge so far.

A big recruiting weekend for Iowa has already netted the Hawkeyes their first commitment. Class of 2023 offensive tackle Trevor Lauck announced his pledge to the Hawkeyes Sunday evening. He is a 6-foot-6, 285 pound from Roncalli High School in Indianapolis, Ind.

According to Rivals, Lauck is a four-star commit, the nation’s No. 229 player overall, the No. 25 offensive tackle, and the No. 3 player from Indiana. In the 247Sports composite rankings, Lauck is also regarded as a four-star commit, the No. 396 player nationally, the No. 33 offensive tackle and the No. 5 player from the Hoosier State.

ESPN and On3 both rate Lauck as a three-star commit. According to On3, Lauck is the nation’s No. 40 interior offensive lineman and the No. 8 player from Indiana. The On3 consensus rankings has Lauck as the country’s No. 441 player overall and as the No. 34 interior offensive lineman. Finally, ESPN rates Lauck as the No. 48 offensive tackle and the No. 5 player from Indiana.

“I’d like to thank God for putting me in the position I am in and for the blessings he’s gifted me with. I want to thank my mom, dad, family, and friends for everything they do for me and their endless support. Thank you coach Otley, Rodenberg, Quintana, and all the Roncalli staff. I want to thank each coach that has recruited me and built a relationship with me throughout the process. With that being said, I am committed to the University of Iowa! Go Hawkeyes!!!” Lauck wrote in his Twitter announcement.

Lauck represents the 13th commitment in Iowa’s 2023 class that currently ranks No. 17 nationally according to 247Sports and No. 18 according to Rivals. The Hawkeyes’ class is headlined in part by quarterback commit Marco Lainez III, who recently detailed why he’s remained loyal to Iowa.

Lauck also joins three-star offensive linemen Leighton Jones and Cannon Leonard. Here’s a look at Lauck’s junior season Hudl tape at Roncalli High School and a look at his full recruiting profile.

Social media reaction from the Iowa Hawkeyes’ visitors following big visit weekend

Iowa hosted a number of top targets this weekend. Here were their reactions on social media to the recruiting weekend that was.

Iowa just finished hosting its largest and most important official visit weekend of the year. A series of 2023 commits were on hand, including quarterback Marco Lainez III, athletes Aidan Hall, Zach Lutmer and Alex Mota, offensive lineman Leighton Jones, defensive ends Chase Brackney and David Caulker, linebacker Ben Kueter, defensive lineman Maddux Borcherding-Johnson and defensive back John Nestor.

Beyond those 2023 pledges, the Hawkeyes also welcomed in 13 key targets. Of course, that group included five-star offensive tackle target Kadyn Proctor of Southeast Polk High School, who just narrowed his list of possible college choices down to Iowa or Alabama. If you believe a pair of Rivals experts, then Proctor mixing this Hawkeye visit in means he’ll ultimately commit to Iowa.

In addition to Proctor, Iowa brought in fellow 2023 offensive tackles Logan Howland of the Hun School, Trevor Lauck of Roncalli High School and Christopher Terek of Glenbard West High School. A pair of tight ends made the trip, too. Mount Vernon High School’s George Burhenn and St. Louis University’s Zach Ortwerth.

Along the defensive line, Iowa welcomed in Martin Luther King High School edge rusher Kenneth Merrieweather, Cathedral High School defensive lineman Kendrick Gilbert, Washington High School defensive lineman Trevor Buhr and Olathe South High School edge rusher Jordan Allen.

Also in attendance were athletes Asa Newsom of Waverly-Shell Rock High School and Kahlil Tate of Kenwood Academy and wide receiver Jaron Tibbs of Cathedral High School. Here’s a look at the full list of visitors and their 247Sports recruiting profiles. Below, several of the Hawkeyes’ visitors shared their reactions to their trip to Iowa City.

Iowa Hawkeyes with two in 247Sports’ top 25 incoming Big Ten freshmen

247Sports listed two Iowa Hawkeyes signees among its top 25 incoming Big Ten freshmen.

The 2022 recruiting class for the Iowa Hawkeyes is packing some serious punch. The class that just arrived on campus is loaded with talent and features two individuals that could become household names quickly.

Those two are Xavier Nwankpa and Aaron Graves. Nwankpa is a consensus five-star recruit that will come in at defensive back and compete for reps right away. Graves is a consensus four-star recruit fresh off of being named MaxPreps National Athlete of the year.

The two of them have been placed in 247Sports’ top 50 Big Ten incoming freshmen list. The duo is not just in the top 50, but both crack the top 25. Nwankpa is listed at No. 9 and Graves at No. 23.

Nwankpa made a big splash in Iowa City when he committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes. Joining an experienced and talented secondary is something that can only help the freshman grow quickly. Joining the team early, Nwankpa began practicing with Iowa this past spring.

His time with the team showed during spring practices and was noticed during the open practice to cap off the spring. It has been noticed by fellow defensive back, Riley Moss, who spoke highly of Nwankpa’s physical attributes and how important the extra practices will be.

Graves is the second-highest rated member of the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 2022 recruiting class and comes in to join a defensive line that is always a stout unit of Phil Parker’s defense. Graves will have the chance to compete for time early and continue his development into a big contributor on defense.

Nwankpa and Graves are part of a 2022 signing class that has officially joined the Hawkeyes and will get their summer camp and training underway the second they get their dorm rooms set up.

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