/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65941670/ECG45t4XUAAphQO.0.jpg)
Deontae Craig
Pos: DE
Hometown: Culver, IN (The Culver Academies)
Ht: 6’3”
Wt: 235
Stars: 4
Other Offers: Indiana Hoosiers, Tennessee Volunteers, Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes
Commitment Post: Hawkeyes Land Deontae Craig
Welcome, Deontae Craig!
That Indy-to-Iowa Pipeline remains strong | #Swarm20 @CraigDeontae https://t.co/OXeNkLcoCv pic.twitter.com/blyiSLgAzB
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) December 19, 2019
Before Craig’s commitment, many figured Iowa’s 2020 class would be closed for business. But when a guy displaying the talent that Craig does on the gridiron, it makes sense to open those doors back open.
He was the eighth defensive lineman in the 2020 class and one hardly needs to squint to see a Chauncey Golston starter kit. He lines up a majority of the time on the left side like Golston and demonstrates a quickness in defending the run that highlights Golston’s play. He’s got a relentless nature to his game, as he’ll make plenty of tackles when opponents try to run away from him. During his senior season, he amassed 63 tackles, 22.5 for loss, and 7.5 sacks.
While he doesn’t play the preferred winter sport of Hawkeye football (wrestling) he is a talented basketball player currently averaging 14 points and 5.5 boards as a forward.
With the inclusion of smaller defensive ends like Joe Evans on pass rush downs, it opens up the possibility of some playing time for Craig as a freshman even with an uncertain depth chart ahead of him. The more likely path forward is a redshirt, early playing time or not, to Doyleize for a season and reassess in 2021.
Congratulations again to Deontae!
As a reminder, everything you need to know about the early signing period and Iowa’s SWARM 20 can be found in our EARLY SIGNING PERIOD HEADQUARTERS.