Tag: Rusty VanWetzinga

Former Iowa fullback shares transfer portal destination

The former Iowa fullback has found his transfer portal landing spot.

Another former Iowa Hawkeye has found his transfer portal landing spot.

Former Iowa fullback Rusty VanWetzinga committed to Northern Illinois. VanWetzinga departs Iowa after two seasons in which he played minimally.

The 6-foot, 235-pound fullback saw his first game action with Iowa during the Hawkeyes’ Citrus Bowl loss to Tennessee to cap the 2023 season. VanWetzinga played in four games this season but did not record any statistics.

Now, VanWetzinga joins an NIU program that put together a 7-5 (4-4 MAC) campaign in 2024. The Huskies will face Fresno State (6-6, 4-3 Mountain West) on Monday, Dec. 23 at 1:30 p.m. CT in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

“Thank you Iowa for a great two years,” VanWetzinga said in his post on X to announce his departure. “After a coaching/system change over the past year on offense, I have decided it is in my best interest to enter the transfer portal with three years of eligibility left as a linebacker/fullback.”

VanWetzinga’s younger brother, Joey VanWetzinga, just signed as part of Iowa’s 2025 signing class.

Like his older brother, Joey VanWetzinga comes to Iowa out of Pleasant Valley High School. A 6-foot-2, 260 pound offensive lineman, Joey VanWetzinga was ranked by ESPN as the No. 10 center in the 2025 signing class.

With Rusty VanWetzinga moving on and Hayden Large exhausting his eligibility, Eli Miller is the lone fullback projected to be on Iowa’s 2025 roster.

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Iowa earns 247Sports crystal ball prediction for 2025 in-state lineman

Joey VanWetzinga, a 2025 in-state product from Pleasant Valley High, has been crystal balled to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Iowa football has shown time and time again that they will not let the number of stars on a screen deter them from being interested in a player. One of the best programs at developing talent from under-the-radar recruits, Iowa makes its money off identifying undervalued talent.

They may have just found another diamond in the rough with 2025 in-state lineman Joey VanWetzinga. The Hawkeyes obviously like what they saw from the Pleasant Valley High School product at their offensive and defensive line camp, issuing VanWetzinga his first collegiate offer.

While the 6-foot-2, 255-pound recruit from Bettendorf has drawn interest from schools such as Illinois, Iowa State, Missouri, and Wisconsin, the Hawkeyes were the first to pull the trigger on an offer.

The early offer from Iowa and the fact that his brother Rusty VanWetzinga is also a walk-on at Kinnick has seemingly made an impression on the young lineman.

Iowa picked up a 247Sports crystal ball prediction for Joey VanWetzinga to eventually land with Iowa. Whenever the Hawkeye Insider is ready to make a projection, it’s worth noting. Bock has a 94% all-time prediction success rate.

Here’s a look at Joey VanWetzinga’s sophomore Hudl highlights with Pleasant Valley High School. Plus, his full recruiting profile below.

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Iowa offers 2025 in-state lineman Joey VanWetzinga

Iowa doled out the first college offer to in-state lineman Joey VanWetzinga out of Pleasant Valley High School.

Iowa made sure its interest was known early in the process for class of 2025, in-state lineman Joey VanWetzinga. After an impressive showing at the Hawkeyes‘ offensive and defensive line camp to start this week, Iowa handed out an offer to the Pleasant Valley High School product.

The Hawkeyes also represent the first offer for the 6-foot-2, 255 pound recruit from Bettendorf. Per Rivals, VanWetzinga is also drawing interest from Illinois, Iowa State, Missouri and Wisconsin. Still, it’s Iowa that illustrated just how seriously it’s taking VanWetzinga’s recruitment here early on.

VanWetzinga plays center, defensive tackle and defensive end at Pleasant Valley High School. Projecting forward, he looks like someone that could be a menace along the Hawkeyes’ defensive line.

Here’s a look at his pass-rushing skills from his recent rip to Wisconsin’s camp.

He’s also the younger brother of preferred walk-on arrival Rusty VanWetzinga in the 2023 class. Rusty VanWetzinga turned down a scholarship opportunity with Southern Illinois for the chance to join Iowa’s program as a PWO.

Rusty VanWetzinga was an all-state linebacker for three seasons with Pleasant Valley, but it was the opportunity as a walk-on fullback inside Kinnick Stadium that was too good of to pass up on. The 6-foot-1, 230 pound Hawkeye shared his excitement that his younger brother had picked up the Iowa offer.

It will be interesting to watch how Joey VanWetzinga’s recruitment evolves. There’s already a nice collection of other Power 5 schools interested, but the early offer from the Hawkeyes and the draw to play with his brother feels like it will be tough to pass up.

Here’s a look at Joey VanWetzinga’s sophomore Hudl highlights with Pleasant Valley High School. Plus, his full recruiting profile below.

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