It's been a while -- about a month, in fact -- since our last recruiting update, but Iowa football added another verbal commitment to its 2013 haul on Friday, landing Minnesota defensive back Malik Rucker. Rucker's a universal 3* recruit who chose Iowa over offers from Arizona State, Boston College, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, and several mid-major programs. He doesn't have "wow" measurables -- he's listed at 6-0, 175 lbs. and his (fake) 40 time was 4.48 -- but he was quite productive as a junior: 83 tackles and two interceptions.
He's listed at S by a few sites (and he spent plenty of time in that role in high school), but that might be a stretch in his current form. 175 is pretty light for a safety in the Big Ten. If safety is his ultimate destination, he'd better get well acquainted with Chris Doyle after he arrives on campus. But he could also play cornerback, which seems more likely at present. Either way, his most likely path to playing time will be special teams.
Rucker becomes the second defensive back recruit to join this class, alongside Delano Hill out of Michigan. With Iowa graduating four defensive backs after this season (Micah Hyde, Greg Castillo, Jack Swanson, and Collin Sleeper), there's a good chance Rucker won't be the last defensive back to join this class, either. Welcome aboard, Mr. Rucker.