Iowa
Braden Wilmes Talks Iowa Football Offer
There’s something refreshing about the spring and early-summer prospect camps on college campuses around the country. Recruits show what they can do, and staffs share their coaching styles. It’s a valuable exercise for everyone involved.
Braden Wilmes experienced it at Iowa recently. The Class of 2026 tackle worked out with offensive line coach George Barnett and against top competition at the camp.
Barnett and the other Hawkeye coaches liked what they saw and offered a scholarship. It meant a lot to Wilmes.
“It’s an honor, and I’m extremely grateful that coach Barnett believes in me enough to extend an offer,” he told HN. “Iowa is an exceptional school with a tradition-rich football program, and I’m excited about the possibility of playing football at Kinnick Stadium.”
The Hawkeyes face stiff competition for Wilmes’ commitment. The Lawrence (KS) Free State high standout also reports scholarship offers from Arkansas, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Minnesota. Nebraska and others have shown plenty of interest as well.
The 247Sports Composite Rankings show Wilmes as a three-star recruit, the No. 33 offensive tackle nationally and the seventh-best player overall in his state in ’26 . Prep Redzone Kansas views him as the No. 6 player in Kansas and has him at second among offensive linemen in the class.
At 6-foot-8, 285 pounds, Wilmes stands out, especially for a high school junior-to-be in the fall. There’s an excellent chance more attention from colleges comes his way during the next two years.
Iowa admired the whole package.
“(Barnett) liked my effort and the way I competed during camp. He said my size and mobility has the potential to translate well for a Big Ten lineman,” Wilmes said.
When watching Wilmes’ sophomore highlight video, we see that potential. He already displays agility and good footwork to go with the strength and active hands. There’s a lot here for college coaches to dream.
Iowa likely will receive another chance to impress and get to know Wilmes soon.
“I would love to come back to Iowa City. I’ve been invited to the Hawkeye Tailgater event on June 15th and am making arrangements to attend with my dad,” he said.
Being so early in the recruiting process, Wilmes is gathering information and starting to build relationships with programs pursuing him. That’s certainly the case with Iowa.
“I’m really interested in getting to know coach Barnett and the rest of the Hawkeye coaching staff. I’m anxious to learn more about his coaching style, his expectations of the players and how he leads the O-Line room,” Wilmes said.
“I would also definitely want to learn more about the strength & conditioning staff, the academic support services, the sports medicine & recovery team and the nutrition department. All are very important for student-athletes. Most of all though, I’d really like to have a few conversations with current players to help me better understand what their typical day looks like, the Iowa football culture and what it truly means to be a Hawkeye.”
Iowa
17-year-old sought for attempted murder in mass shooting near University of Iowa: police
Police are seeking a 17-year-old on attempted murder charges following a shooting early Sunday in a nightlife district near the University of Iowa campus, authorities said Wednesday.
Five people were treated for gunshot wounds, including three University of Iowa students. One woman remained in critical condition Wednesday after sustaining a life-threatening injury to her head, Iowa City Police Chief Dustin Liston said.
Officials said an arrest warrant was issued for the 17-year-old who was allegedly engaged in the fight, adding that reports indicate as many as 40 people may have been involved. Officers had been dispatched to the fight and arrived within 45 seconds, Liston said.
After walking away from the other participants, the suspect allegedly fired six times into the crowded pedestrian area, Liston said. Iowa City’s downtown pedestrian mall is lined with shops, bars and restaurants.
The minor from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will initially be charged as an adult, as is required by Iowa law for forcible felony charges against an individual aged 16 or older, said Rachel Zimmermann Smith, Johnson County attorney.
The charges, which include five counts of attempted murder, will be brought when the suspect is apprehended, she said.
Liston said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected. About three dozen search warrants have already been executed.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable,” he said, adding that anyone with information on the incident or the suspect are encouraged to come forward.
The five victims were not “targets of the shooting,” Liston said. “We have no reason to believe they were otherwise affiliated with the fight that preceded the shooting.”
Liston also provided details about the other four victims’ injuries, including one struck in the arm and chest, two struck in one or both legs and one in the side of their stomach. One is still hospitalized in stable condition and three have been released, he said.
Iowa
Wrongful death suit filed for prospective Univ. of Iowa student killed in car crash
CHATHAM, Ill. (KCRG) – The families of four children and a teenager killed after a vehicle crashed into an Illinois after-school camp have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, just short of a year after the tragic accident.
The teenager killed, 18-year-old camp counselor Rylee Britton, of Springfield, planned to attend the University of Iowa and would have been finishing her freshman year.
The April 28 accident at YNOT Camp also claimed the lives of 7-year-olds Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, and 8-year-olds Bradley James Lund and Ainsley Johnson. Lund spent five weeks in the hospital before succumbing to his injuries.
At least six other children were severely injured, and numerous children witnessed the accident.
The crash happened after Marianne Akers, 44, veered off of a county highway, traveled through a cornfield and drove straight through the building. Akers was not charged after an investigation found that she was having a medical episode during the crash, and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The lawsuit, filed Sunday, names YNOT Camp, as well as Akers, responsible for their deaths. They claim the building violated multiple safety codes when it was built and was not suitable to protect its occupants.
Legal representatives are holding a press conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the lawsuit.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Iowa State football lands 2027 3-star linebacker commit Keaton Wollan
Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers on offense, defense development
Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers on how the Cyclones offense and defense is developing.
After securing multiple commitments on the offensive side of the ball, Iowa State football has landed its first defensive commitment in the 2027 recruiting class.
Keaton Wollan, a three-star linebacker out of Amery, Wisconsin, committed to the Cyclones on April 21. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound linebacker announced his decision on social media.
He chose Iowa State over other offers from Texas Tech and North Dakota State. He previously visited Ames in March, but he also took recent visits to Minnesota and Wisconsin.
As a junior at Amery High School, Wollan was a two-way standout and earned all-state honors for the 2025 season. Defensively, he racked up a team-high 125 total tackles, including nine for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also had four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
Offensively, he had a team-high 932 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 160 carries. He also caught 15 passes for 179 yards, and he was an impact player in the return game, logging more than 500 kick and punt return yards.
According to 247 Sports Composite rankings, Wollan is the No. 93 linebacker prospect in the country and the No. 11 overall recruit in his class from the state of Wisconsin.
Wollan is the sixth player to commit in the Cyclones’ 2027 recruiting class.
Iowa State football 2027 recruiting commitments
As of April 21
- Gavin Ericson-Staton, OL | Lombard, Illinois/Montini Catholic
- Isaiah Hansen, RB | Newton, Iowa/Newton HS
- Koen Hinzman, OL | Hudson, Michigan/Hudson Area HS
- Will Slagle, OL | Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell HS
- Bryson Thompson, WR | San Antonio, Texas/Claudia Taylor Johnson HS
- Keaton Wollan, LB | Amery, Wisconsin/Amery HS
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
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