When is too early to start the creepy caring? Iowa, like many of the country's college football programs, hosted several prospective high school juniors the weekend after their 2012 recruiting class filled the fax machine with freshly inked letters of intent. ESPN's Ivan Maisel writes that Iowa invited nearly 60 junior prospects to Iowa City. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said,
"nothing has changed as much as the pace of recruiting. It continues to really accelerate. I don't see it ending."
Ferentz added,
"We were half to two-thirds done with the [2011] class. I got 60 juniors there. And I'm recruiting two or three kids who were eligible for the [NFL] draft to stay. I got two or three balls in the air, and I'm [saying to] the coaches on my staff, 'What the hell is going on?'"
Per 24/7 Sports (Voice of the Hawkeyes), Iowa has already offered 32 juniors a scholarship for football. This isn't uncommon for Iowa as the coaching staff needs to offer early and offers over 100 high school prospects each recruiting year. Not all of these recruits were at Iowa's junior day as several in-state prospects and recruits yet to receive and offer were present.
According to Iowa's latest football roster, Iowa has 16 players on scholarship that will enter their senior season. The positions suffering the biggest losses are quarterback (2), wide receiver (2), offensive line (3), defensive tackle (2), and the defensive backfield (4). In addition to scholarship players Iowa will also lose Tom Donatell (LB) and Zach Derby (TE); Both played significant snaps in 2011. That's 18 for a recruiting class, work in some attrition and the number is around 20 for the 2013 class size.
So, what are some names to watch? Let's start with the newly released Rivals Top 250 and rated recruits in the state Iowa has had the most recent success, Illinois. There is Aaron Bailey, a Top 150 rated dual threat QB (youtube) who probably projects as a wide receiver. Also in the Top 250, is running back Ty Isacc (youtube), offensive tackle Ethan Pocic (youtube), wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (youtube), offensive tackle Kyle Bosch (youtube), offensive tackle Logan Tuley-Tillman (youtube), and quarterback Matt Alviti (youtube).
Quite a list of talent in Illinois, what about Iowa? Jake Campos (youtube), of West Des Moines Valley, makes the Rivals Top 250 at #204. The senior-to-be holds an Iowa offer as well as offers from Iowa State, Missouri and Purdue. Other in-state prospects with either an Iowa offer or interest include: Jon Wisnieski TE (West Des Moines Dowling), Sam Raridon DT (West Des Moines Valley), Trev Hadachek ATH (La Port City), Jeremy Morgan WR (Iowa City West), Jesse Ertz QB (Mediapolis), Kyle Starcevich QB (South East Polk), Joel Lanning ATH (Ankeny), Dondre Alexander WR (Iowa City West) and Bryce Sweeney OL (Sioux City Heelan).
So, that's Iowa and Illinois. For the rest of the prospects I'll list the name (with Rivals profile), position, location, and YouTubes:
Joey Bosa - DE - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida -video
Jaylon Smith - OLB - Ft Wayne, Indiana - video
Dorian O'Daniel - OLB - Olney, Maryland - video
Henry Poggi - DT - Baltimore, Maryland - video
Chris Fox - OL - Parker, Colorado - video
Patrick Kulger - OT - Wexford, Pennsylvania
Greg Webb - DT - Sicklerville, New Jersey - video
Jake Butt - TE - Pickerington, Ohio - video
Elijah Daniel - DE - Avon, Indiana - video
Tim Kimbrough - LB - Indianapolis, Indiana - video
Billy Price - DT - Youngstown, Ohio
Kevin Olsen - QB - Wayne, New Jersey - video
Jourdan Lewis - CB - Detroit, Michigan - video
Antonio Allen - S - Indianapolis, Indiana
Taco Charlton - DE - Pickerington, Ohio - video
Christian Morgan - TE - Plano, Texas - video
Nick Ramirez - LB - Lee's Summit, Missouri - video
David Kenney - DE - Indianapolis, Indiana -video
Trent Hosick - ATH - Kansas City, Missouri - video
Demetrius Stinson - ATH - Detroit, Michigan
James Onwualu- WR - St. Paul, Minnesota - video
Dajaun Drennon- DE - Sicklerville, New Jersey - video
Cory Jasudowich - LB - Cheshire, Connecticut - video
Just because Iowa has offered doesn't mean they have a chance. At this time last year Iowa had offers out to Dorial Green-Beckham, Noah Spence, Ondre Pipkins and more Top 100 recruits. The Hawkeyes were eliminated early in the process by those top rated prospects but did land Top 250 players Ryan Ward, Jaleel Johnson and Faith Ekakitie.
That's certainly not a complete list, but plenty of prospects there to creep you the hell out. Iowa has already started working on the class of 2014. EdgyTim reports that current Illinois sophomore Brian Allen already holds an Iowa offer. Ross Pierschbacher, a Cedar Falls offensive tackle has an offer too.
After the jump, Hawkeye sports round-up and more links.
What's $2100 get you these days? It gets you a Fran McCaffrey autographed chair. Not just any chair, a chair from Michigan State (it's not clear if this is the exact chair McCaffery tossed, doubt it). Iowa baseball held a steak fry and auction last night, this was awarded to a winning bid of $2100.
H/T @BigWeitz
Other links:
- Hawkeye baseball will lean on seniors
- Hawkeye ladie's hoops wins fifth in a row and is moving up the standings
- Iowa women's tennis wins and improves to 33-0 against Iowa State
- Iowa women's softball moves to 3-2 on the season
- Iowa gymnastics finishes behind Minnesota and Nebraska
- State of the B1G's Quarterbacks
- Iowa has had the Big Ten's most NFL combine invites the last three years
- Iowa crowns new Golden Girl
- The worst Grammy performance in the history of the world