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Iowa wrapped up their 2014 recruiting class several weeks ago, but today brought word of a new addition to that group -- sort of. Former Iowa prep wrestler Eric DeVos is returning to the Hawkeye state, transferring from Penn to Iowa. DeVos missed most of the 2013-14 season while dealing with a knee injury and he indicated that he has three years of eligibility remaining. So far as I know, DeVos is eligible to compete immediately.
State champ Eric DeVos is transferring from Penn to Iowa. He compiled a 270-17 prep record at Apple Valley and Waverly-Shell Rock.
— Andy Hamilton (@Andy_Hamilton) May 1, 2014
DeVos began wrestling at a varsity level at a young age, winning Minnesota high school state championships as a seventh and eighth grader at Apple Valley. He transferred to Waverly-Shell Rock in Iowa during high school and added another state title as a sophomore. He was thwarted in his efforts to win more state championship gold by the logjam of excellent talent in the Iowa high school ranks at the lower weights (in particular, Cory Clark).
While former-opponents-turned-current-teammates like Philip Laux and Cory Clark have remained at lower weights at Iowa, DeVos has bulked up considerably since then. He wrestled at 141 at Penn two years ago and now says he's weighing around 175-180 and intends to wrestle at 157. That's a big increase, but hey -- college is a time for growth, right? If he's healthy and properly motivated, DeVos should be a fine addition to the Iowa wrestling room, but we probably shouldn't expect him to take anything by storm just yet -- he went 4-5 for Penn while wrestling at 141 two years ago and now he's up a few more weights and facing B1G-level competition. That said, he'll have a shot -- along with Mike Kelly, Brandon Sorenson, and possibly Brody Grothus -- next fall to fill Derek St. John's very, very big shoes at 157. Welcome aboard, Mr. DeVos.