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While the Iowa Hawkeyes were busy kicking off their season with a win over the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday, they were also laying the groundwork for the future. Kirk Ferentz and staff hosted more than 20 unifficial visitors for the game. Most were relatively local products, hailing from Iowa and the surrounding states.
One such visitor was 3-star class of 2020 defensive end Michael Lois, of Wisconsin. Lois was already very familiar with the Hawkeyes, having been on campus several times, including for Iowa’s junior day back in July. He left the cookout without committing, but has seemed to be all-Hawkeyes ever since, even telling Hawkeye Report he wasn’t planning to commit until after his senior year started, but that ““the Hawkeyes have nothing to worry about.”
Today, Lois made those words ring true as he announced his commitment to Iowa.
Dreams coming true! #proudtobeahawkeye pic.twitter.com/HriErTTQME
— Michael Lois (@MichaelLois90) September 1, 2018
Lois is an impressive get this early in the cycle. Only a 3-star by the major services, he’s got a great frame a 6’4” and nearly 260 pounds. He’s likely to enter Hawkeye camp north of 280 with 2 more offseasons between now and his freshman year.
Beyond the frame, Lois has a high motor and great burst on the edge. He shows tremendous athleticism and versatility as a prep star at Elkhorn High in Wisconsin. They utilize him as a tight end, but also hand him the ball out of the backfield regularly on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively, he plays all over on the line.
At Iowa, he could slot at either defensive end or tackle, but my early money is on tackle. He has solid burst, but strikes me as the type of kid who’s going to buy into everything Doyle has to say and explode onto the scene as a RS sophomore or junior to be a stalwart in the middle a la Drew Ott or Nathan Bazata.
Lois becomes the second member of Iowa’s class of 2020, joining Texas QB commit Deuce Hogan, who committed back in June. With the class of 2019 sitting nicely at 14 members in what figures to be a small class (expect roughly 20 in total), the Hawkeye coaching staff can spend additional time focusing on building relationships with 2020 prospects and their families. We see the fruits of that labor today with the commitment of Lois.
Welcome aboard Michael Lois! Go Hawks!