Iowa has 15 commitments in its 2014 recruiting class, but in terms of star power, the Hawkeyes are lagging well behind the likes of Ohio State and Michigan. Iowa’s class ranks eighth in the Big Ten and 48th nationally, according to the 247 Sports composite.
Iowa football recruiting 2013: Jay Scheel headlines modest Hawkeyes haul
The Hawkeyes are light on star power in this recruiting cycle, but they have some solid talent assembled in their 15-member class.
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A significant portion of Iowa’s verbals came during the summer, but the Hawkeyes have added a couple of players since the season began. Consensus three-star defensive back Jalen Embry is the team’s most recent pledge; he committed on Oct. 6. The Hawkeyes also picked up a verbal from defensive back Marcel Joly in September.
Here’s a glance at some of the top prospects in Iowa’s class:
Jay Scheel was the first player to join Iowa’s 2014 class and is also its highest-ranked player. The consensus three-star athlete from La Porte City (Iowa) Union High School is considered the 348th-best overall player in the country and a top-five player from the state of Iowa. He could end up in several different spots at the next level, including quarterback or wide receiver.
Matt Nelson is a three-star tight end from Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Xavier High School. Like Scheel, he is a top-five player from the state of Iowa, and he is considered the 23rd-best player at his position in the country. Nelson is ranked 567th overall.
The aforementioned Joly hails from District Heights (Md.) Forestville High School. Joly is the No. 22 player from the state of Maryland and is regarded as a top-60 player at his position. He’s a consensus three-star prospect.
The Hawkeyes also hit the Mid-Atlantic to land three-star cornerback Omar Truitt, who is from St. John’s College High School in Washington D.C. Truitt is rated the sixth-best player from D.C. and the No. 62 cornerback in the nation.
Top target
Iowa is in play for St. Louis’ Christian Brothers College offensive tackle Brian Wallace, a 6’6, 305-pound tackle who is a consensus four-star player. It is still fairly early in his recruitment, and Wallace is hearing from Arkansas and Nebraska, as well.
