IOWA CITY, Iowa — In a six-month period, Iowa shook up its 2022 recruiting narrative and turned a seemingly lost class into one of the highest rated of coach Kirk Ferentz’s career.
In mid-summer, the Hawkeyes were ranked last in recruiting among Big Ten teams. But a surge throughout the fall and especially on early signing day helped Iowa finish stronger than anyone could have expected. The 247Sports composite rankings listed Iowa sixth in the Big Ten and 27th nationally. By composite score, Iowa’s recruits were fourth-best among the league’s programs. The Hawkeyes would have placed higher had ESPN — one of the contributing outlets — not ranked them 12th in the league and 44thin the nation.
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The class turned out to be a win for the program, which largely was focused on building toward 2023. So, in what initially was considered a stop-gap recruiting year now shows no drop-off in player acquisition.
“First and foremost, I think we just try to be patient,” Ferentz said. “We move at a pace that we think is smart. Ultimately, when we go out for prospects, we try to run the race with them, see where it’s going to take us. At some point you find out you’re doing well with the prospect. Sometimes you’re not. Then as you move forward, you just make adjustments.”
Here’s a snapshot of the Hawkeyes’ 2022 class as they enter the February signing day.
Recapping Iowa’s 2022 class
The Hawkeyes have two composite four-star recruits (safety Xavier Nwankpa, defensive lineman Aaron Graves) but there are a few ranking discrepancies among the outlets. Rivals and 247Sports lists Nwankpa as a five-star and Graves universally is a four-star prospect. Rivals also ranks defensive end Brian Allen Jr., quarterback Carson May and running back Kaleb Johnson as four-star prospects.
Iowa grabbed six December commits, including five on signing day. Nwankpa was the headliner in choosing Iowa over Ohio State and Notre Dame. But three more defensive backs committed on signing day. Koen Entringer, who lives just east of Ann Arbor, Mich., picked the Hawkeyes over Michigan and Wisconsin. California native T.J. Hall committed to Iowa over Washington. Allen, who originally pledged to Illinois, flipped to Iowa from Oregon on signing day.
Current 2022 Iowa recruiting class
| Player | Stars | Overall Rank | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
S Xavier Nwankpa | 4 | 52 | Pleasant Hill, Iowa |
DL Aaron Graves | 4 | 127 | Dayton, Iowa |
RB Kaleb Johnson | 3 | 437 | Hamilton, Ohio |
DE Caden Crawford | 3 | 509 | Lansing, Kan. |
QB Carson May | 3 | 519 | Jones, Okla. |
DB T.J. Hall | 3 | 567 | Fresno, Calif. |
DL Brian Allen Jr. | 3 | 571 | Lake in the Hills, Ill. |
DB Koen Entringer | 3 | 607 | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
DB Olando Trader | 3 | 608 | Jackson, Mich. |
DB Deshaun Lee | 3 | 615 | Belleville, Mich. |
WR Jacob Bostick | 3 | 617 | Palatine, Ill. |
RB Jaziun Patterson | 3 | 643 | Pompano Beach, Fla. |
TE Cael Vanderbush | 3 | 754 | Plainfield, Ind. |
OL Kale Krogh | 3 | 836 | Huxley, Iowa |
OL Jack Dotzler | 3 | 899 | Waunakee, Wis. |
TE Addison Ostrenga | 3 | NA | Sun Prairie, Wis. |
LB Landyn Van Kekerix | 3 | NA | Inwood, Iowa |
LB Jayden Montgomery | 3 | NA | Suamico, Wis. |
(Ranks and star ratings via the 247Sports Composite)
The class appears to run the spectrum of what Iowa likes to build in recruiting. There are upper-echelon talents like Nwankpa, Graves and Johnson who could become rotational players on defense or offense by early fall. There are perhaps seven or eight players who have the potential to find roles by midseason. Then there are a handful of developmental candidates whose growth will be gradual.
Updates since December
On the high school front, Iowa’s coaches mostly have moved on to the 2023 class, which is filled with high-level prospects both in Iowa and throughout the region. But in typical fashion for defensive coordinator Phil Parker, he plucked an overlooked defensive back from the Detroit area on Sunday in Deshaun Lee.
As an athlete on both sides of the ball, Lee helped Belleville (Mich.) pull out the state’s Division I football championship last fall. Lee (5-11, 175) is the third Belleville player to land at Iowa, joining fellow defensive backs Kaevon Merriweather and Brendan Deasfernandes, both of which were two-star prospects.
Roster check
The Hawkeyes now have 81 players officially on scholarship. Two or three current walk-ons also have joined the full-ride ranks and that number should stand at 83 or 84.
Four scholarship freshmen have enrolled early: Nwankpa, Hall, Allen and defensive lineman Caden Crawford. Those coming to Iowa in June include May, Johnson, Graves, Entringer, Lee, running back Jaziun Patterson, tight ends Cael Vanderbush and Addison Ostrenga, receiver Jacob Bostick, offensive linemen Jack Dotzler and Kale Krogh, defensive back Olando Trader and linebackers Landyn Van Kekerix and Jayden Montgomery.
The Hawkeyes lost three All-Big Ten players with eligibility to the NFL draft: center Tyler Linderbaum, defensive back Dane Belton and running back Tyler Goodson. Iowa brings back two highly decorated players who will use an extra season based on the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. They include Big Ten defensive back of the year Riley Moss and Big Ten return specialist of the year Charlie Jones.
Portal targets
Unlike many of its Big Ten competitors, Iowa merely dabbles in the transfer portal. The Hawkeyes’ involvement usually revolves around a previous connection or a positional need. There also is a preference for athletes who enjoyed success at lower-level programs.
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The Hawkeyes are competing for two transfer portal candidates, both of whom fit in the graduate category. Cornell University offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad (6-4, 298) started 20 consecutive games at right tackle. Nourzad, a two-time second-team All-American and three-time All-Ivy League pick, visited Iowa last weekend. He named Iowa, Illinois, Penn State, Auburn and Virginia Tech as his finalists.
Iowa also has offered first-team All-MAC defensive end Kam Butler (6-3, 250) of Miami (Ohio), who posted eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss last year. Butler has the potential to replace right end Zach VanValkenburg in the starting lineup.
The staff also has made previous offers to a tight end and could be in the market for a receiver after four pass catchers (three receivers, one tight end) hit the portal during or after the regular season. The Hawkeyes potentially could re-evaluate quarterback prospects following spring practice.
(Top photo of Xavier Nwankpa: Reese Strickland / Des Moines Register via USA TODAY Sports)
Scott Dochterman is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Iowa Hawkeyes. He previously covered Iowa athletics for the Cedar Rapids Gazette and Land of 10. Scott also worked as an adjunct professor teaching sports journalism at the University of Iowa.
