Iowa Football Recruiting: Class of 2020 Commitments Week 11 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.

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The Hawkeyes were back to heartbreak this week as they fell 24-22 to Wisconsin in Madison, thus ending their hopes of winning the Big Ten West. For a number of recruits in the class of 2020, their dreams of a playoff run are also gone, but still others were in action this week keeping their dream alive.

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 had another quiet game this week finishing with just 83 yards and no TDs on 6 of 11 passing (55%) as Faith Christian beat Fort Worth Christian 27-23 to move to 8-1. Through 9 games this season, Hogan is 120 of 199 passing (60.3%) for 1,787 yards with 22 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Faith Christian will take on Tyler Grace Community in the first round of the playoffs 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 big game for Dowling Catholic, finishing with 191 yards and 4 (!!) touchdowns on 17 carries (11.2 ypc). Dowling took down Ankeny 42-14 to move to 9-1 on the year.

In 8 games of action this season, Williams now has 978 yards and 14 TDs on 104 carries for a 9.4 yard per carry average. Dowling will take on Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the Class 4A state semifinals 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 had another monster game since his return from an ankle injury. He finished with 301 yards (that’s not a typo) and 3 TDs on 34 carries (8.9 ypc) as Richards beat Peoria 42-34. That moves them to 10-1 on the year.

In just five games this season, Williams now has 928 yards and 12 TDs on 121 carries (7.7 ypc). Richards will take on East St. Louis in the Class 6A state quarterfinals this week.

Quavon Matthews, WR

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

Wide receiver commit Quavon Matthews had 2 receptions for 40 yards as Largo came away with a 14-0 win over Countryside in the first round of the playoffs. The win moves Largo to 8-3 on the season.

Matthews now has 414 yards and 2 TDs on 17 catches for a 24.4 ypc average. Largo will play Lake Minneola in the second round 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 caught 5 balls for 53 yards and a TD as Taft beat Hotchkiss 25-20 this week. Vines also came away with an interception on defense to seal the win. Taft moves to 6-3 with the win. Unfortunately, that was not good enough to qualify for postseason play.

Vines finishes his senior year with 45 catches for 553 yards (12.3 ypc) and 8 receiving touchdowns.

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 6 catches for 33 yards and a TD as Trinity Christian defeated Bullard Brook Hill 44-7 this week. The win moves Trinity Christian to 9-1 on the year.

On the season, Yelverton now has 448 yards and 5 TDs on 49 catches (9.1 ypc). Trinity Christian will play Fort Worth Southwest Christian in the first round of the playoffs 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 an interesting game this week. He Caught only one pass for 24 yards, which came before he moved to quarterback for Grandview. After the move, Lachey racked up 256 rushing yards and 3 TDs on 26 carries out of the Wildcat as Grandview Heights took down Paint Valley 35-28 in the state playoffs. The win moves Grandview to 7-4 on the year.

Through 11 games, Lachey now has 45 catches for 518 yards (11.5 ypc) and 7 touchdowns. Grandview Heights will take on Mechanicsburg in the next round 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 2 tackle and a pass broken up k as Belleville defeated Woodhaven 67-14 in the second round of the playoffs last week. The win moves Belleville to 11-0 on the year.

Deasfernandes now has 20 tackles, 7 passes broken up and an interception on the season. Belleville will take on West Bloomfield in the third round of the playoffs 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 6 tackles, a TFL and a blocked punt as St. Paul’s took down Lanier 20-14. The win moves St. Paul’s to 9-2 on the season. Bracy now has 81 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 6 PBUs and an interception on the year. St. Paul’s will take on Opelika in the second round of the playoffs this week.

Keylen Gulley, DB

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

Defensive back Keylen Gulley had one tackle in Largo’s 14-0 win over Countryside. On the year, Gulley now has 42 tackles and 7 PBUs. Largo (8-3) will take on Lake Minneola in the second round this week.

AJ Lawson, DB

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

Defensive back AJ Lawson and MacArthur fell in the first round of the playoffs. Lawson finished his senior year with 681 receiving yards and 7 TDs on 39 catches (17.5 ypc) on offense and a pair of interceptions on defense. MacArthur finished the year 5-5.

Jay Higgins, LB

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

Linebacker commit Jay Higgins and Brebeuf Jesuit fell in the first round of the Indiana State Playoffs. Higgins finished the year with 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 finished 7-3.

Ethan Hurkett, LB

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

Ethan Hurkett and Xavier fell in the first round of the playoffs. Hurkett finished his senior season with 70 tackles, 14.5 TFL, a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. Xavier finished 8-2 on the year.

Yahya Black, DE

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

Defensive end commit Yahya Black and Marshall fell in the second round of the playoffs. Black finished his year with 60 tackles, 11.5 TFL and 5 sacks. Marshall finished 9-2.

Lukas Van Ness, DE

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

Defensive end Lukas Van Ness and Barrington fell in the first round of the playoffs. Van Ness finished his season with 49 tackles, 25 TFL and 6 sacks. Barrington ended the year 6-4.

Deontae Craig, DE

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

Defensive end Deontae Craig and Culver Academies saw their season end in the second round of the playoffs. Craig finished his senior year with 63 tackles, 22.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception. Culver Academies finished the year 6-5.

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 a big game in Lewis Central’s 12-0 win over Dallas Center-Grimes. Jones finished with 10 tackles, 6 TFL and 4.5 sacks. The win moves Lewis Central to 10-1 on the year.

Jones now has 30 tackles, 16 TFL and 8.5 sacks on the season. Lewis Central will take on Western Dubuque in the Class 3A state semifinals this week.

Isaiah Bruce, DE

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

Defensive lineman Isaiah Bruce and Lena-Winslow took down Orangeville 52-8 in the second round of the playoffs. Lena-Winslow moves to 11-0 on the year.

On the season, Bruce has 49 tackles and 12 TFL on defense and 688 yards and 11 touchdowns on 56 carries (12.3 ypc) on offense. Lena-Winslow will take on Aquin Catholic in the Class 1A state quarterfinals 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 came away with a 42-14 win over Durand-Pecatonica in the second round of the playoffs this week. The win moves them to 10-1 on the year. They’ll play Wilmington in the Class 3A state quarterfinals 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 fell in the first round of the playoffs. They end the year 8-2.

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And that’s it for this week. We’ll be back next week to check in on all the performances.