Iowa Football Recruiting: Class of 2020 Commitments Week 9 Performance Recap

Each week of the high school football season, we break down the performance of each of Iowa’s commits in the recruiting class of 2020. As a reminder, you can keep up to date on all things recruiting by visiting the Iowa Football Recruiting Hub.

---

The Hawkeyes picked up another win this week and while their hopes for a playoff berth are dead, a number of commitments in the class of 2020 are getting ready to kick off their high school playoff runs this week.

Here’s our weekly look at how each performed last week.

Deuce Hogan, QB

Hometown: Grapevine, TX (Faith Christian)
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 205
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 4

Quarterback Deuce Hogan and Faith Christian had a bye this week. Through 7 games this season, Hogan is 106 of 168 passing (63.1%) for 1,571 yards with 19 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Faith Christian will take on Fort Worth Southwest Christian this week.

Gavin Williams, RB

Hometown: West Des Moines, IA (Dowling)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 195
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Running back Gavin Williams had another solid game this week as he racked up 105 yards and a TD on just 8 carries (13.1 ypc). The effort came in a 77-0 trouncing of Sioux City North. That moves Dowling to 8-1 on the year.

In six games of action this season, Williams now has 685 yards and 8 TDs on 73 carries for a 9.4 yard per carry average. Dowling will take on Des Moines Roosevelt in the first round of the playoffs this week.

Leshon Williams, RB

Hometown: Oak Lawn, IL (Richards)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 205
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Fellow running back commit Leshon Williams missed his sixth straight game with an ankle injury this week as Richards finished their regular season with a 35-6 win over Eisenhower. That moves them to 8-1 on the year. This season, Williams has 432 yards and 4 TDs on 67 carries (6.5 ypc). Richards will take on Washington in the first round of the playoffs this week.

Quavon Matthews, WR

Hometown: Largo, FL (Largo)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 170
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

No stats yet for wide receiver commit Quavon Matthews as Largo had a pair of games last week thanks to weather issues the week prior. Largo defeated Osceola 35-0 on Monday, but then fell 35-3 to Lakewood on Friday night. The win and loss move Largo to 6-3 on the season.

Coming into this week, Matthews had 359 yards and 2 TDs on 14 catches for a 25.6 ypc average. Largo will play Wiregrass Ranch this week.

Diante Vines, WR

Hometown: Watertown, CT (The Taft School)
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 190
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Fellow wide receiver commit Diante Vines had another tremendous game this week, finishing with 4 total touchdowns and an interception on defense. He hauled in 5 catches for 63 yards with 3 of them going for a TD. He also ran for a touchdown as Taf defeated Kent 49-14.

The win moves Taft to 4-3 on the year. Vines now has 40 catches for 500 yards (12.5 ypc) and 7 receiving touchdowns on the season. Taft is on a bye this week.

Elijah Yelverton, TE

Hometown: Cedar Hill, TX (Trinity Christian)
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 235
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Tight end Elijah Yelverton had another solid game as he hauled in 4 catches for 22 yards but added 2 rushes for 28 yards and a TD as Trinity Christian defeated Dallas Christian 40-16 this week. The win moves Trinity Christian to 7-1 on the year. On the season, Yelverton now has 363 yards and 4 TDs on 38 catches (9.6 ypc). Trinity Christian will play Tyler Grace Community this week.

Luke Lachey, TE

Hometown: Grandview Heights, OH (Grandview Heights)
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 220
Stars: 247 Sports - 4 Rivals - 3

Fellow tight end commit Luke Lachey had a big week as he finished with 45 yards on 7 catches (6.4 ypc) and added an interception on defense. Unfortunately, Grandview Heights fell 28-7 to Columbus Academy to move to 6-3 on the year.

Lachey now has 37 catches for 429 yards (11.6 ypc) and 6 touchdowns on the season. Grandview Heights will take on Bishop Ready this week.

Brenden Deasfernandes, DB

Hometown: Belleville, MI (Belleville)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 161
Stars: 247 Sports - 2 Rivals - 2

Cornerback commit Brenden Deasfernandes had 1 tackle and a pass broken up last week as Belleville defeated Plymouth 41-29 to move to 9-0 on the year. Deasfernandes now has 16 tackles and 5 passes breakup on the season. Belleville will take on Saline this week.

Reginald Bracy, DB

Hometown: Mobile, AL (St. Paul’s)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 190
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Safety Reginald Bracy had a PBU to go with 7 tackles as St. Paul’s took down Daphne 53-42. The win moves St. Paul’s to 7-2 on the season. Bracy now has 60 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 sacks, 4 PBUs and an interception on the year. St. Paul’s will take on Robertsdale this week.

Keylen Gulley, DB

Hometown: Largo, FL (Largo)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 167
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

As with teammate Quavon Matthews, no stats yet for defensive back Keylen Gulley but he did come away with an interception on the week. On the year, Gulley had 40 tackles and 6 PBUs on the season coming into the game and added the interception this week. Largo (6-3) will take on Wiregrass Ranch this week.

AJ Lawson, DB

Hometown: Decatur, IL (MacArthur)
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 180
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Defensive back AJ Lawson had another big game this week, finishing with 85 yards on 5 catches (17.0 ypc) as MacArthur took down Sacred Heart-Griffin 39-8. Lawson also added an interception on the defensive side of the ball. The win moves MacArthur to move to 6-3 on the season. MacArthur will take on Mt. Zion in the first round of the playoffs this week.

Jay Higgins, LB

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN (Brebeuf Jesuit Prep)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 209
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Linebacker commit Jay Higgins continued his incredible senior season this week, finishing with 16 tackles and a TFL. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough as Brebeuf Jesuit fell to Bishop Chatard 49-7 in the first round of the Indiana State Playoffs, ending Higgins’ senior year.

He finishes with a ridiculous 151 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 5 PBUs and a sack on defense, as well as 329 yards and 4 touchdowns on 26 catches on the offensive side of the ball. Brebeuf Jesuit finishes the year 7-3.

Ethan Hurkett, LB

Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA (Xavier)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 230
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Ethan Hurkett had anotehr solid game for Cedar Rapids Xavier this week, finishing with 5 tackles and 2 TFL. Xavier defeated Marion 52-14 to move to 8-1 on the year.

Hurkett now has 61 tackles, 11 TFL, a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery ton the year. Xavier will play North Scott in the first round of the playoffs this week.

Yahya Black, DE

Hometown: Marshall, MN (Marshall)
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 250
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Defensive end commit Yahya Black 3 tackles and a sack as Marshall defeated Jordan 31-20 in the first round of the Minnesota playoffs. The win moves Marshall to 9-0 on the year. Black now has 56 tackles, 11.5 TFL and 5 sacks. Marshall will take Hutchinson in the next round of the playoffs.

Lukas Van Ness, DE

Hometown: Barrington, IL (Barrington)
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 240
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Defensive end Lukas Van Ness did a little of everything this week, finishing with 5 tackles, including 3 TFL, a sack, a forced fumble and a blocked punt. Barrington beat Schaumbur 50-15 to move to 6-3 on the year. Van Ness now has 44 tackles, 22 TFL and 6 sacks. Barrington will take on Notre Dame in the first round of the playoffs this week.

Deontae Craig, DE

Hometown: Culver, IN (Culver Academies)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 235
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Defensive end Deontae Craig had 6 tackles, 3 TFL and 1.5 sacks as Culver Academies took down South Bend Clay 44-0 this week. The win moves Culver to 6-4 on the year. Craig now has 57 tackles, 20.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception for Culver Academies. They’ll take on New Prairie in the next round of the playoffs this week.

Logan Jones, DE

Hometown: Council Bluffs, IA (Lewis Central)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 252
Stars: 247 Sports - 4 Rivals - 3

Defensive lineman Logan Jones had 2 tackles and a TFL as Lewis Central defeated ADM 28-7 this week. That moves them to 8-1 on the year. Jones has 18 tackles, 9 TFL and 4 sacks on the season. Lewis Central will take on Oskaloosa in the first round of the playoffs this week.

Isaiah Bruce, DE

Hometown: Lena, IL (Lena-Winslow)
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 265
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

As we’ve seen all year, no defensive stats for DL Isaiah Bruce. However, he did rack up 173 rushing yards and a TD on 9 carries as Lena-Winslow finished the regular season undefeated with a 52-21 win over Durand-Pecatonica this week. They’ll take on Aurora Christian in the first round of the playoffs this week.

Tyler Elsbury, OL

Hometown: Byron, IL (Byron)
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 298
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

Offensive lineman Tyler Elsbury and Byron had a big night in a 62-21 win over Dixon this week. The win moves them to 8-1 on the year. They’ll play Rock Island Alleman in the first round of the playoffs this week.

Josh Volk, OL

Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA (Xavier)
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 305
Stars: 247 Sports - 3 Rivals - 3

As mentioned Cedar Rapids Xavier and OL Josh Volk picked up another win with a 52-14 defeat of Marion. That moves Xavier to 8-1 on the season. They’ll take on North Scott in the first round of the playoffs this week.

---

And that’s it for week nine of the high school football season. We’ll be back next week to check in on all the performances.