Iowa Hawkeyes’ commits, fans react on social media to Kadyn Proctor’s commitment

Five-star OT Kadyn Proctor is staying home in Iowa City. How did recruits and fans react on social media to the decision?

The Iowa Hawkeyes officially landed a commitment from their biggest target—no pun intended—in the 2023 recruiting class. Five-star offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes on Thursday afternoon, spurning his other final choice in the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The 6-foot-7, 330 pound tackle out of Southeast Polk High School in Des Moines, Iowa, followed the path that his old teammate Xavier Nwankpa took in the 2022 cycle, choosing the Hawkeyes instead of some of college football’s traditional heavyweights.

In addition to Alabama, Proctor chose Iowa over offers from 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.

Nwankpa chose Iowa over offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Texas and USC.

According to 247Sports’ list of Iowa’s all-time football commits, Proctor is the highest-rated commit Iowa has landed since the year 2000 and Nwankpa is No. 10 on that list.

With Proctor’s commitment, Iowa now possesses the nation’s No. 15 class nationally according to 247Sports, the No. 15 class according to Rivals and the No. 16 class according to On3. The Hawkeyes’ class checks in as the Big Ten’s No. 4 class according to 247Sports, On3 and Rivals.

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.

While, yes, there’s the in-state tie here with both, these decisions and simply landing players of this caliber could make the Hawkeyes a more attractive destination to high-profile targets to close the 2023 class, in the coming years and signal an uptick in Iowa’s overall recruiting moving forward.

It’s an exciting time to be an Iowa fan. Naturally, the rest of Iowa’s current 2023 commits were fired up as was the entirety of Hawkeyes Nation. Here’s some of the best social media reactions to Proctor’s decision to commit to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

‘I’m home:’ 5-star offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor commits to the Iowa Hawkeyes

Five-star offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor is staying home. The Southeast Polk High School product announced his pledge to the Hawkeyes.

It felt like his recruitment was trending in this direction after he narrowed down his final two choices to Iowa and Alabama and added a final official visit with the Hawkeyes. Now, it’s official for the five-star prospect.

Southeast Polk High School offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor made it official on Thursday afternoon. The 6-foot-7, 330 pound product from Des Moines, Iowa, announced he’s staying home and has committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Here’s a look at some of Proctor’s junior season Hudl highlights at Southeast Polk High School from their 2021 postseason run, his full recruiting profile and the full list of Iowa’s 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.

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.

‘I just want to win’: Iowa Hawkeyes QB commit Marco Lainez III says he patterns game after Brad Banks

In an interview with From the Hawkeye of the Storm, Iowa quarterback commit Marco Lainez III said he patterns his game after Brad Banks.

Iowa fans should be excited about what the 2023 class has in store for the future. The Hawkeyes currently have 12 commits and the class is ranked No. 19 nationally by 247Sports.

Of course, one of the headliners in Iowa’s 2023 class is 6-foot-2, 220 pound quarterback Marco Lainez III out of the Hun School in Princeton, N.J. According to 247Sports, Lainez is a three-star commit, the nation’s No. 22 quarterback and the No. 7 player from New Jersey.

Rivals also ranks Lainez as a three-star commit, but the service grades him a little bit higher and as the No. 14 quarterback in the 2023 class. Lastly, On3 lists Lainez as a three-star commit, the nation’s No. 26 quarterback and the No. 6 player from New Jersey.

The senior-to-be committed to the Hawkeyes on Dec. 13, 2021, and has kept that pledge to Iowa following former quarterbacks coach Ken O’Keefe’s decision to step away in February.

Lainez joined the From the Hawkeye of the Storm podcast to discuss a wide-ranging list of topics. The future Hawkeye said that he’s actually looked to Iowa’s past for one of his game’s biggest influences, patterning himself after former Hawkeye great quarterback Brad Banks. That will no doubt have Iowa fans feeling some kind of way. Perhaps a bit nostalgic and equally electrified.

It’s an excellent interview with host Cory Brada and Hawkeye fans will want to sit down and watch the entirety of it. Here’s the full interview with Lainez and some of the items and quotes that caught our attention attached below.

Iowa Hawkeyes set for biggest recruiting weekend of the year headlined by big names

The Iowa Hawkeyes have their biggest recruiting weekend of the year as they welcome 22 potential 2023 recruits to campus. Here’s the guests.

This Friday to Sunday will be the biggest and arguably most important recruiting weekend for the Hawkeyes this year. They are welcoming 22 potential recruits to campus that are part of the 2023 class. Of the 22 visiting, nine are committed to the Hawkeyes and 13 still have yet to decide where they will call home next fall.

The group is headlined by five-star tackle Kadyn Proctor, who is rated No. 10 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings. He has narrowed his recruitment down to Iowa and the Alabama Crimson Tide. This weekend could play a big factor into his decision.

Another important visitor is quarterback commit Marco Lainez III. His presence could be very beneficial to those uncommitted and be a proponent for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa will have many others on campus as well. Let’s get familiar with the cohort descending upon Iowa City this weekend. Included is each recruit’s position, high school, 247Sports rating, and their measurables.

Iowa Hawkeyes commit Marco Lainez III cracks 247Sports’ top 25 quarterbacks in the 2023 class

Can top-25 quarterback commit Marco Lainez III be the future guy to elevate Iowa to genuine contender status?

Highly-touted quarterback recruits and Iowa football may not be as synonymous as peas and carrots, but the Hawkeyes are looking to change that in 2023 and beyond.

In 247Sports’ recent 2023 quarterback rankings, Hawkeye quarterback commit Marco Lainez III cracked the top 25 signal-callers.

According to MaxPreps, in nine games as a junior, Lainez completed 80.2% of his passes for 1,761 yards with 21 touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing for an additional 451 yards and two touchdowns on 41 carries.

The New Jersey quarterback ranked No. 22 on 247Sports’ list of the top 25 signal-callers and is a three-star prospect on the fringe of being a four-star according to 247Sports. Lainez continues Iowa’s connection with the Garden State. Lainez is coached by Tony Racioppi, the same coach currently working with Hawkeye quarterback Spencer Petras.

Racioppi spoke with 247Sports’ Sean Bock and broke down Lainez’s skill set in a recent look at Iowa’s commits in the 2023 class.

“He has all sorts of physical traits,” Raccioppi said of Lainez. “He has a big arm, he can make all the throws, he has great anticipation, great touch to get the ball over the linebackers. He throws a great deep ball. He’s very athletic for a big kid. He’s 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, and he’s not just a drop-back kid. He’s very good in that game, but at the same time, between protection breaking down, scrambling, extending plays, and designed run plays for the quarterback, I think he’s going to bring something to Iowa that it hasn’t had in a long time.” – Bock, 247Sports.

That is exactly what Hawkeye fans will be hoping for from Lainez, something they haven’t seen in a long time. As a top-25 quarterback, he is one of the highest-touted recruits in the position to enter Iowa City.

Iowa isn’t really known for quarterback play, mostly striving for a passer just good enough to not mess up the strengths of the program. While there is a ton of optimism around Spencer Petras for his senior year after a strong offseason so far, he has mostly been just that for the Hawkeyes.

However, an upper-echelon talent at the position could take an already strong Hawkeyes program to never-before-seen heights in Iowa City under head football coach Kirk Ferentz.

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2023 EDGE David Caulker commits, becomes Iowa Hawkeyes’ 10th pledge

Iowa’s 2023 recruiting class expanded to double-figures with the commitment of three-star edge rusher David Caulker of North High School.

After visiting Iowa during the spring, class of 2023 edge rusher and defensive end David Caulker was back on campus for the Hawkeyes’ recent football camp. The 6-foot-4, 256 pound defensive lineman is out of North High School in Des Moines, Iowa.

After impressing the coaching staff, Caulker picked up that elusive offer from the Hawkeyes. It didn’t take long for him to make a decision either. He committed to Iowa on the same day.

HawkeyeInsider’s David Eickholt detailed Caulker’s commitment over on 247Sports with analysis from his colleague, Allen Trieu.

“Caulker is a high ceiling player. He is still raw but his body type and twitch are what you want in a Big Ten defensive line prospect,” 247Sports’ Allen Trieu told HawkeyeInsider. “Iowa is a place that can develop him and craft those tools. It is a good match for both sides but I am not surprised he has gone on the offer run he has recently because defensive linemen with his skill set are tough to find.” – Eickholt, HawkeyeInsider.

According to 247Sports, Caulker is a three-star recruit, the nation’s No. 77 edge rusher and the No. 10 player from the state of Iowa. Rivals also lists Caulker as a three-star talent. He also had offers from Iowa State, Kent State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa.

“First off, I would love to thank my parents for bringing me into this world. Then I would love to thank my teammates, coaches and staff at North High School. I would not have gotten this far without you.

“I would also like to thank any coach who has ever recruited me, I will be forever grateful for the belief you had in me! Finally, I would like to thank Coach Addy, Coach Niemann, and Coach Bell; the impact you’ve had on my life is immeasurable! With that being said, I am 110 percent committed to continuing my academic and football career at the University of Iowa,” Caulker wrote in his commitment announcement.

Caulker becomes the 10th Hawkeye commit in the 2023 class. The full look at Iowa’s 2023 class is below.

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Aidan Hall commits to Iowa, represents the Hawkeyes’ ninth 2023 commit

Aidan Hall committed to Iowa and became the Hawkeyes’ ninth 2023 commit. What does he add to an already impressive class?

Aidan Hall picked up an offer from Iowa on May 13 and a trio of experts across 247Sports and Rivals quickly forecasted that he would wind up committing to the Hawkeyes.

Now, that’s officially how it’s played out. Hall committed to Iowa, becoming the Hawkeyes’ ninth pledge in the 2023 recruiting class. Here’s a look at Iowa’s full 2023 commitment tracker.

According to 247Sports, Hall is a three-star recruit, the nation’s No. 110 athlete and the No. 13 player from Iowa. Hall also represents the fifth in-state commitment for the Hawkeyes.

The 6-foot-2, 200 pound athlete joins athlete Alex Mota of Marion High School, linebacker Ben Kueter of Iowa City High School, defensive lineman Maddux Borcherding-Johnson of Norwalk High School and Zach Lutmer of Central Lyon High School.

Iowa’s other commitments include quarterback Marco Lainez III from the Hun School in Princeton, N.J., defensive end Chase Brackney from Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colo., offensive lineman Leighton Jones from Brownsburg High School in Indiana, and cornerback John Nestor from Marist High School in Chicago, Ill.

While Hall is listed as an athlete by 247Sports, Rivals lists Hall as a safety. Penciling in where Hall will fit in with the Hawkeyes is interesting to think about.

Last season with Harlan Community High School, Hall carried 94 times for 777 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns, caught 32 passes for 755 receiving yards and had seven receiving touchdowns. He also totaled 29.5 tackles and three interceptions, so he has the skillset to slide in as an offensive skill player or in the Hawkeyes’ defensive backfield.

Iowa has shown that it’s not afraid to move players from one side of the football to the other if the coaching staff feels it could help a player earn more snaps.

The important news for the Hawkeyes is that Iowa now has the ninth piece to its 2023 class and Hall is a talented puzzle piece to add to the fold. According to 247Sports, Iowa currently owns the nation’s No. 17 recruiting class in the 2023 cycle. Rivals rates the Hawkeyes’ class No. 20 nationally and the No. 26 class according to On3.

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Iowa Hawkeyes offer 2023 cornerback Bo Mascoe from Florida

Bo Mascoe, a three-star Florida cornerback according to 247Sports and On3, picked up an offer from the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Iowa is looking for more in its defensive backfield after landing its second commit from a secondary player in Zach Lutmer. Lutmer joins defensive back John Nestor as a pair of 2023 secondary prospects that have committed to the Hawkeyes.

Iowa is hoping that cornerback Bo Mascoe can join that group before long. The 5-foot-10, 165 pound corner from Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Fla., picked up an offer from the Hawkeye coaching staff.

According to 247Sports, Mascoe is a three-star recruit, the nation’s No. 95 cornerback and the 134th-ranked player from Florida in the 2023 class. On3 rates Mascoe as a three-star talent as well. In the On3 consensus rankings, Mascoe is ranked as the country’s No. 968 player overall, the No. 91 cornerback and the No. 141 player from the Sunshine State.

Iowa joins Rutgers as the second Power Five school to extend an offer to Mascoe. The Florida product also has offers from Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Western Kentucky and has seen interest from Miami (Ohio).

According to MaxPreps, Mascoe finished his junior season at Osceola High School with 41 tackles, 11 passes defensed, seven interceptions and a fumble recovery. He also worked as a kick returner for Osceola High School. Between interception and kick returns, Mascoe had four touchdowns during the 2021 season.

Iowa currently has the nation’s No. 15 class according to 247Sports and ESPN, the No. 18 class according to Rivals and the No. 24 class according to On3.

Here’s a look at Mascoe’s junior season Hudl highlights at Osceola High School.