Iowa Football Recruiting: Class of 2020 Commitments Week 12 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 came away with a big win last week to crush the hopes and dreams of the Minnesota Golden Gophers. For many Iowa commits in the class of 2020, their playoff dreams are already dead. However, there are still plenty of prospects still in action.

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 a big game in Faith Christian’s first playoff game. Hogan finished with 303 yards and 5 TDs on 24 of 46 passing (52%) as well as a rushing touchdown as Faith Christian beat Tyler Grace Community 48-28.

Through 10 games this season, Hogan is now 144 of 245 passing (58.8%) for 2,090 yards with 27 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Faith Christian moves to 9-1 and will take on Dallas Christian in the second round 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 a monster game for Dowling Catholic, finishing with 140 yards and 3 touchdowns on 11 carries (12.7 ypc) as Dowling took down Cedar Rapids Kennedy 42-6. The win moves Dowling to 10-1 on the year.

In 9 games of action this season, Williams now has 1,118 yards and 17 TDs on 115 carries for a 9.7 yard per carry average. Dowling will take on West Des Moines Valley in the Class 4A state championship game this week.

Leshon Williams, RB

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

No stats available as of yet, but running back commit Leshon Williams and Richards saw their season come to an end in a 60-0 loss to East St. Louis in the state quarterfinals this week.

In five games this season coming into the week, Williams had 928 yards and 12 TDs on 121 carries (7.7 ypc). Richards finishes the year 10-2.

Quavon Matthews, WR

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

Wide receiver commit Quavon Matthews and Largo saw their season come to an end in the second round of the playoffs. Largo fell to Lake Minneola 33-13 to finish the year 8-4.

Matthews finishes his senior season with 414 yards and 2 TDs on 17 catches for a 24.4 ypc average.

Diante Vines, WR

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

Wide receiver Diante Vines and Taft did not qualify for postseason play. Vines finished 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 a big game this week as he hauled in 5 catches for 57 yards and 2 TDs as Trinity Christian defeated Southwest Christian 66-0 in the first round of the playoffs. The win moves Trinity Christian to 10-1 on the year.

On the season, Yelverton now has 505 yards and 7 TDs on 54 catches (9.4 ypc). Trinity Christian will play Brook Hill in the second round this week.

Additionally, Yelverton broke some big news on Twitter this week, announcing he’s accepted an invitation to compete in the Under Armour All-America game. Congrats to Elijah Yelverton!

Luke Lachey, TE

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

No stats available yet for fellow tight end commit Luke Lachey, though Grandview Heights did fall 48-7 to Mechanicsburg. They finish the year 7-5.

Coming into the week, Lachey had 45 catches for 518 yards (11.5 ypc) and 7 touchdowns.

Brenden Deasfernandes, DB

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

Cornerback commit Brenden Deasfernandes had a tackle in Belleville’s 27-22 win over West Bloomfield in the state quarterfinals last week. The win moves Belleville to 12-0 on the year.

Deasfernandes now has 22 tackles, 8 passes broken up and an interception on the season. Belleville will take on Brighton in the state semifinals this week.

Reginald Bracy, DB

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

No stats for safety Reginald Bracy but his St. Paul’s team fell 20-10 to Opelika in the second round of the playoffs. St. Paul’s finishes the year 8-4. Bracy had 81 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 6 PBUs and an interception coming into the week.

Keylen Gulley, DB

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

Defensive back Keylen Gulley had 5 tackles in Largo’s 33-13 playoff loss to Lake Minneola. Gulley finishes the season with 58 tackles, 7 PBUs and an interception. Largo finishes the year 8-4.

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 3 tackles and a TFL, but saw Lewis Central fall 48-14 to Western Dubuque in the state semifinals. Jones finishes the year with 33 tackles, 17 TFL and 8.5 sacks. Lewis Central finishes 10-2 on the year.

Isaiah Bruce, DE

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

Defensive lineman Isaiah Bruce had 2 tackles on defense and 65 yards and 2 TDs on 4 carries on offense as Lena-Winslow took down Aquin Catholic 52-20 in the state quarterfinals. Lena-Winslow moves to 12-0 on the year.

On the season, Bruce has 54 tackles and 13 TFL on defense and 793 yards and 14 touchdowns on 60 carries (13.2 ypc) on offense. Lena-Winslow will take on Annawan/Wethersfield in the Class 1A state semifinals 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 32-0 win over Wilmington in the state quarterfinals this week. The win moves them to 11-1 on the year. They’ll play Princeton in the Class 3A state semifinals 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.