Iowa will open spring practice on March 25th, and recruits are already beginning to line up their visits with the Hawkeyes.
Here are the latest Midwest happenings in Iowa recruiting:
Joining in on Hawkeye predictions
I have added to the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine which favors the Hawkeyes heavily for Frankfort (Ill.) Lincoln Way East offensive tackle Mason Halliman. He has long had a great relationship with the staff and speaks highly of Iowa’s offensive line history and development. He has a top six and Illinois is going to try to cut into the Iowa lead when they host him next month but this one trends Hawkeyes.
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Iowa and defensive lineman Tommy Riordan is another prediction I have made. Riordan is the younger brother of incoming Hawkeye offensive lineman Gene Riordan. While I think Tommy will take some visits and not just go where his brother goes, Iowa has also built the relationship here through the duration of Gene’s recruitment which has included in-homes and campus visits.
“I am going on an official to Iowa to have the full experience of Iowa City,” Riordan said. “I also want a chance to meet current players and see how life is like as an Iowa football player. My relationship with Iowa is very good and I could definitely see myself playing there.”
I also like Iowa for in-state offensive tackle Nate Brenneman. Iowa State’s new staff is making a good attempt there and Kansas will also host him for an official, but going into those visits, we believe Iowa is the team to beat.
Close to predictions but not quite
I’m not quite there on quarterback Jake Nawrot yet but do feel Iowa has the inside track on the legacy prospect. He’s been busy with hoops and needs to go see some places. His profile has also risen greatly and we’ll see who else offers.
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Iowa is in a good spot with safety Jake Thies. In-state programs Illinois and Northwestern are also making an impression though so I’m holding there for the moment.
Battle ensuing for four-star prospect
The prediction machine favors Iowa for in-state receiver Landon Blum. He just set a multi-day Penn State visit though and has a relationship with the staff there, so the Nittany Lions are definitely in the hunt on that one.
Spring visit notes
– Cleveland St. Ignatius 2027 receiver Trey Haddad will be at Iowa on April 25th. He is the younger brother of transfer safety Cody Haddad. A couple programs like Kansas and West Virginia have offered, but not Iowa yet.
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– Des Moines Christian 2028 offensive lineman Declan Heying will visit on April 4th. The Hawkeyes have not offered yet but the 6-foot-6, 275-pound Heying has been to campus multiple times.
– Grinnell offensive lineman Will Slagle will visit April 3rd although the intel favors Penn State to eventually land him.
– March 31st will see Shakopee (Minn.) linebacker Blake Betton come to campus. That is turning into a contentious Big Ten battle with Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota and Michigan State all getting spring visits. Getting him back for an official would be a big one.
– Edina (Minn.) defensive lineman Gage Geyer will visit on April 14th. He played with Hawkeye signee Sawyer Jezierski in high school. Geyer, listed at 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, has offers from Kansas and Boston College among others. He’s a good one for the Hawkeyes to vet.
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– West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West junior Reilly Newman visits Iowa on March 31st. The Hawkeyes are recruiting him on the offensive line where others have him on their defensive board. Wisconsin is getting an official from him and appear to have the inside track as of now.
