Made a little wish list by position to spark some conversation.
QB: Don't believe our prospect has emerged here yet. We have offers out incorrect but I don't think there's any serious mutual interest right now.
RB: My number wish now that we have Epenesa is Eno Benjamin. Absolute game changer.
Right behind him is AJ Dillon. Doubt we can get both with Notre dame after Dillon but what a coup it would be.
There's a really intriguing and exciting 3rd option at running back in Connor Heyward, Ironhead Heyward's son out of Georgia. Great hands, good size, power runner to compliment Benjamin. He's an underrated 3* if you ask me.
WR: 4* Isaiah Robertson out of Illinois. Long, lanky, smooth, technical. Love everything about his game.
Jaevon McQuitty 4* would love to steal this kid out if Columbia, Mo. Not great quarterback play in his videos but man is he a playmaker and I love the Missouri pipeline.
The wild card here is 3* Tyrell Shavers out of Texas. 6'6" 200 pounder out of the Lone Star State. That size would be tremendous to work with.
TE: 3* Jake Ferguson out of Wisconsin. Not a huge position of need after this year's class, but landing a tremendous athlete like Ferguson out of Wisconsin would be gigantic. And he can play several positions a la Beyer.
OL: Might be some names emerge here still but a decent start with Tristan Wirfs and possibly Mark Kallenberger. Not completely sold on those two just yet based on things I've heard coaches say in that part of the state but can't argue with the size.
DE: AJ Epenesa obviously is the top target four the entire class and adding him is absolutely huge.
I think adding another dynamic rusher opposite AJ with guys like Lattimore and Harris and Golston and Simon in the fold could lead to the scariest defensive line Iowa's ever had. The guy to go opposite Epenesa in my mind and my second biggest wish behind Eno Benjamin is Chester Graves out of Park Hill, MO. High 4* weakside end with a huge motor and athleticism.
Really like the wildcard of Coy Kirkpatrick at end as well. He's a versatile hard worker Thst could be a big time back up on the line for this group.
DT: Not sure how many we look at here but obviously Juan Harris is an intriguing and frightening prospect with his combo of size and athleticism. And the staff's ability too develop Carl Davis tells me Harris can be an absolute stud at Iowa.
But I am equally as high on Damion Daniels 3* out of Texas. He's big, he's strong, he's stout, he's everything you want in a defensive tackle. He could be a huge addition.
ILB: 3* Thomas Johnston out of Alabama. Seems to love Iowa and has family from Iowa city. Very high motor and the ability to get sideline to sideline. Underrated 3* in my opinion.
OLB: One of my biggest wishes for this class is unrated prospect Colin Anderson. If you haven't seen him, watch his videos. He's an absolute beast and looks like a 4* prospect to me even though he's unranked. High on Iowa and would be another HUGE get.
Jacob Coons 3*. Just an Iowa linebacker in every way. Blue collar, hard worker, high energy, physical kid that will definitely be a factor a la a Cole Fisher or Bo Bower.
CB: One wish here, ambry Thomas. 4* true corner who looks like a quicker high school version of Desmond from Detroit. Keep that Detroit pipeline open and I believe this kid would be an absolute stud.
S: Jeffrey Okudah 5* from Texas is the top wish here but don't know how realistic that is at this point. Tremendous athlete and size at safety.
There are two other really really good prospects at safety though that I really like. First is Djimon Colbert 3* out of Kansas. Very athletic and physical and covers the field exceptionally well. I don't think he's that far from Okudah to be very honest.
And the other is Jaylen Kelly-Powell a 3* from Cass Tech in Detroit. Physical safety prospect who can also cover a ton of ground and is part of that Detroit pipeline.
Here's my top wishes regardless of position:
1. Eno Benjamin
2. Chester Graves
3. Ambry Thomas
4. Colin Anderson
5. Isaiah Robertson
6. AJ Dillon
7. Jake Ferguson
8. Jeffrey Okudah
9. Jaevon McQuitty
10. Damion Daniels
Sorry for the length. Hopefully make for some good discussion.
QB: Don't believe our prospect has emerged here yet. We have offers out incorrect but I don't think there's any serious mutual interest right now.
RB: My number wish now that we have Epenesa is Eno Benjamin. Absolute game changer.
Right behind him is AJ Dillon. Doubt we can get both with Notre dame after Dillon but what a coup it would be.
There's a really intriguing and exciting 3rd option at running back in Connor Heyward, Ironhead Heyward's son out of Georgia. Great hands, good size, power runner to compliment Benjamin. He's an underrated 3* if you ask me.
WR: 4* Isaiah Robertson out of Illinois. Long, lanky, smooth, technical. Love everything about his game.
Jaevon McQuitty 4* would love to steal this kid out if Columbia, Mo. Not great quarterback play in his videos but man is he a playmaker and I love the Missouri pipeline.
The wild card here is 3* Tyrell Shavers out of Texas. 6'6" 200 pounder out of the Lone Star State. That size would be tremendous to work with.
TE: 3* Jake Ferguson out of Wisconsin. Not a huge position of need after this year's class, but landing a tremendous athlete like Ferguson out of Wisconsin would be gigantic. And he can play several positions a la Beyer.
OL: Might be some names emerge here still but a decent start with Tristan Wirfs and possibly Mark Kallenberger. Not completely sold on those two just yet based on things I've heard coaches say in that part of the state but can't argue with the size.
DE: AJ Epenesa obviously is the top target four the entire class and adding him is absolutely huge.
I think adding another dynamic rusher opposite AJ with guys like Lattimore and Harris and Golston and Simon in the fold could lead to the scariest defensive line Iowa's ever had. The guy to go opposite Epenesa in my mind and my second biggest wish behind Eno Benjamin is Chester Graves out of Park Hill, MO. High 4* weakside end with a huge motor and athleticism.
Really like the wildcard of Coy Kirkpatrick at end as well. He's a versatile hard worker Thst could be a big time back up on the line for this group.
DT: Not sure how many we look at here but obviously Juan Harris is an intriguing and frightening prospect with his combo of size and athleticism. And the staff's ability too develop Carl Davis tells me Harris can be an absolute stud at Iowa.
But I am equally as high on Damion Daniels 3* out of Texas. He's big, he's strong, he's stout, he's everything you want in a defensive tackle. He could be a huge addition.
ILB: 3* Thomas Johnston out of Alabama. Seems to love Iowa and has family from Iowa city. Very high motor and the ability to get sideline to sideline. Underrated 3* in my opinion.
OLB: One of my biggest wishes for this class is unrated prospect Colin Anderson. If you haven't seen him, watch his videos. He's an absolute beast and looks like a 4* prospect to me even though he's unranked. High on Iowa and would be another HUGE get.
Jacob Coons 3*. Just an Iowa linebacker in every way. Blue collar, hard worker, high energy, physical kid that will definitely be a factor a la a Cole Fisher or Bo Bower.
CB: One wish here, ambry Thomas. 4* true corner who looks like a quicker high school version of Desmond from Detroit. Keep that Detroit pipeline open and I believe this kid would be an absolute stud.
S: Jeffrey Okudah 5* from Texas is the top wish here but don't know how realistic that is at this point. Tremendous athlete and size at safety.
There are two other really really good prospects at safety though that I really like. First is Djimon Colbert 3* out of Kansas. Very athletic and physical and covers the field exceptionally well. I don't think he's that far from Okudah to be very honest.
And the other is Jaylen Kelly-Powell a 3* from Cass Tech in Detroit. Physical safety prospect who can also cover a ton of ground and is part of that Detroit pipeline.
Here's my top wishes regardless of position:
1. Eno Benjamin
2. Chester Graves
3. Ambry Thomas
4. Colin Anderson
5. Isaiah Robertson
6. AJ Dillon
7. Jake Ferguson
8. Jeffrey Okudah
9. Jaevon McQuitty
10. Damion Daniels
Sorry for the length. Hopefully make for some good discussion.