What are Iowa football’s recruiting needs for early signing day? What to know

IOWA CITY — The early signing period begins on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Here’s a guide previewing Iowa football’s recruiting endeavors in the 2026 high school class.

The Hawkeyes currently have 17 known scholarship commitments, plus four preferred walk-on pledges.

The offensive line is one of the highlights of Iowa’s class. The Hawkeyes have five commitments in the class, three of whom are regarded as four-star prospects, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Iowa has done well to keep in-state talent home. According to the 247Sports Composite, five of the top eight players in the state’s 2026 recruiting class are committed to the Hawkeyes, including the top three. Iowa got two of those five from right in their backyard — Iowa City West’s Julian Manson and Colin Whitters.

There are some promising pieces for the future of Iowa’s long-ailing passing game. Quarterback Tradon Bessinger is the top-ranked player in Iowa’s 2026 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He is accompanied by a trio of 3-star receivers. The Hawkeyes also recently landed Norwalk’s Luke Brewer, a highly sought-after four-star tight end.

Iowa has been a linebacker pipeline to the next level. There are some well-regarded players set to arrive at that position in this class. In-state prospects Manson and Kasen Thomas are each rated as four-star recruits. The trio of linebackers in the class also includes 3-star Billy Weivoda.

What remains unclear is what Iowa is going to do at kicker following the departure of Drew Stevens, the program’s all-time leader in made field goals. At this moment, the only kicker projected to be on Iowa’s 2026 roster is preferred walk-on Caden Buhr.

Iowa’s recruiting class is still subject to change. But here is who’s expected to officially become a Hawkeye during the early signing period.

Iowa football team recruiting rankings

The Hawkeyes rank 27th nationally in the team recruiting rankings, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Iowa football commitments in 2026 high school recruiting class

Tradon Bessinger

• Position: Quarterback
• High School: Davis
• Home state: Utah
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 140

Julian Manson

• Position: Linebacker
• High School: Iowa City West
• Home state: Iowa
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 183

Carson Nielsen

• Position: Offensive lineman
• High School: Waterloo West
• Home state: Iowa
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 254

Darion Jones

• Position: Defensive back
• High School: Omaha North
• Home state: Nebraska
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 266

Kasen Thomas

• Position: Linebacker
• High School: Bishop Heelan Catholic
• Home state: Iowa
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 289

Gene Riordan

• Position: Offensive lineman
• High School: Hinsdale Central
• Home state: Illinois
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 321

Hudson Parliament

• Position: Offensive lineman
• High School: Brandon Valley
• Home state: South Dakota
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 330

Luke Brewer

• Position: Tight end
• High School: Norwalk
• Home state: Iowa
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 448

Billy Weivoda

• Position: Linebacker
• High School: Milton
• Home state: Georgia
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 496

Marcello Vitti

• Position: Defensive back
• High School: Divine Child
• Home state: Michigan
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 546

Owen Linder

• Position: Offensive lineman
• High School: Chanhassen
• Home state: Minnesota
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 600

Colin Whitters

• Position: Offensive lineman
• High School: Iowa City West
• Home state: Iowa
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 600

Brody Schaffer

• Position: Wide receiver
• High School: Winneconne
• Home state: Wisconsin
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 677

Xavier Stinson

• Position: Wide receiver
• High School: Vero Beach
• Home state: Florida
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 677

Sawyer Jezierski

• Position: Defensive lineman
• High School: Edina
• Home state: Minnesota
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 964

Diondre Smith

• Position: Wide receivers
• High School: Duncan U. Fletcher
• Home state: Florida
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 1,048

Ronnie Hill

• Position: Defensive back
• High School: Adlai Stevenson
• Home state: Michigan
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 1,048

Preferred walk-ons

 Isaiah Oliver

• Position: Wide receiver
• High School: Waukee
• Home state: Iowa
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A

Noah Daniel

• Position: Defensive back
• High School: Fort Dodge
• Home state: Iowa
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A

David Fason

• Position: Defensive lineman
• High School: Cedar Rapids Prairie
• Home state: Iowa
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A

Eli Robbins

• Position: Defensive back
• High School: Norwalk
• Home state: Iowa
• Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A
• National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com