Iowa
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The NFL Draft is two weeks away, and new prospect grades for more than 50 Iowa college and high school football players have been released.
Here is what to know about the 2026 NFL Draft and a breakdown of the draft projections for Iowa players, according to The Athletic’s “The Beast,” its annual comprehensive NFL Draft scouting guide.
When is the 2026 NFL draft?
The 2026 NFL draft will begin with the first round on Thursday, April 23. Rounds 2 and 3 occur the following day, and the draft will conclude on its third day with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 25.
Pittsburgh — home of the Steelers — will host the 2026 NFL draft.
How did The Athletic grade Iowa college football players ahead of the 2026 NFL draft?
The Athletic’s “The Beast” report included rankings of players from Iowa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Drake, Grand View and Upper Iowa.
- Gennings Dunker, guard: No. 5 out of 159 players at his position
- Grade: 3rd round projection
- Logan Jones, center: No. 3 out of 78 players at his position
- Grade: 3rd-4th round projection
- Max Llewellyn, defensive end: No. 18 out of 270 players at his position
- Grade: 4th round projection
- Beau Stephens, guard: No. 11 out of 159 players at his position
- Grade: 4th-5th round projection
- TJ Hall, cornerback: No. 24 out of 318 players at his position
- Grade: 6th round projection
- Kaden Wetjen, wide receiver: No. 30 out of 380 players at his position
- Grade: 6th round projection
- Karson Sharar, linebacker: No. 24 out of 243 players at his position
- Grade: 7th round projection
- Drew Stevens, kicker: No. 3 out of 40 players at his position
- Grade: 7th round-free agent projection
- Mark Gronowski, quarterback: No.17 out of 99 players at his position
- Grade: 7th round-free agent projection
- Xavier Nwankpa, safety: No. 23 out of 271 players at his position
- Grade: 7th round-free agent projection
- Bryant Worrell, long snapper: No. 20 out of 48 players at his position
- Hayden Large, tight end: No. 33 out of 156 players at his position
- Aaron Graves, defensive tackle: No. 67 out of 249 players at his position
- Ethan Hurkett, defensive end: No. 84 out of 270 players at his position
- Jonah Pace, defensive tackle: No. 84 out of 249 players at his position
- Seth Anderson, wide receiver: No. 87 out of 380 players at his position,
- Jacob Gill, wide receiver: No. 106 out of 380 players at his position
- Bryce George, guard: No. 107 out of 159 players at his position
- Sam Phillips, wide receiver: No. 118 out of 380 players at his position,
- Shahid Barros, cornerback: No. 195 out of 318 players at his position
- Derek Anderson, tight end: No. 104 out of 156 players at his position
- Blake Anderson, offensive tackle: No. 109 out of 146 players at his position
- Bill Jackson, running back: No. 111 out of 213 players at his position
- Mo Olowo, safety: No. 122 out of 271 players at his position
- Caleb Frazer, linebacker: No. 177 out of 243 players at his position
- Tucker Langenberg, linebacker: No. 193 out of 243 players at his position
- Jonathan Cabral-Martin, cornerback: No. 198 out of 318 players at his position
- Domonique Orange, defensive tackle: No. 6 out of 249 players at his position
- Grade: 2nd-3rd round projection
- Tyler Perkins, punter: No. 13 out of 40 players at his position
- James Neal III, offensive tackle: No. 27 out of 146 players at his position
- Jim Bonifas, center: No. 27 out of 78 players at his position
- Tyler Miller, offensive tackle: No. 53 out of 146 players at his position
- Tamatoa McDonough, defensive end: No. 56 out of 270 players at his position
- Dylan Barrett, guard: No. 65 out of 159 players at his position
- Tyler Moore, tight end: No. 76 out of 156 players at his position
- Cannon Butler, defensive end: No. 101 out of 270 players at his position
- Tyler Maro, offensive tackle: No. 128 out of 146 players at his position
- Eli Green, wide receiver: No. 185 out of 380 players at his position
- Myles Mendesoon, defensive end: No. 205 out of 270 players at his position
Drake Bulldogs
- Brett Welsing, long snapper: No. 17 out of 48 players at his position
Grand View Vikings
- Jackson Waring, quarterback: No. 53 out of 99 players at his position
- John Argo, linebacker: No. 56 out of 243 players at his position
Upper Iowa Peacocks
- Mante Morrow, wide receiver: No. 142 out of 380 players at his position
Iowa natives playing elsewhere
These Iowa high school players finished playing college football outside the state but still earned spots in The Athletic’s “The Beast” draft guide.
- Kadyn Proctor (Alabama, Southeast Polk), offensive tackle: No. 4 out of 146 players at his position
- Grade: 1st-2nd round projection
- Eli Raridon (Notre Dame, Valley), tight end: No. 9 out of 156 players at his position
- Grade: 4th round projection
- Mosai Newsom (South Dakota, Waverly-Shell Rock), defensive tackle: No. 93 out of 249 players at his position
- Nate Ewell (South Dakota, Waterloo West), linebacker: No. 88 out of 243 players at his position,
- Henry Lutovsky (Nebraska, Mount Pleasant), guard: No. 29 out of 159 players at his position
- Jase Bauer (UT Martin, Ankeny), quarterback: No. 51 out of 99 players at his position
- Harrison Waylee (Virginia, Urbandale), running back: No. 80 out of 213 players at his position
- Noah Fenske (Southern Illinois, New Hampton), center: No. 26 out of 78 players at his position
- TJ Bollers (California, Clear Creek Amana), defensive tackle: No. 60 out of 249 players at his position
- Carter Hewitt (Illinois, South Hamilton), defensive tackle: No. 156 out of 249 players at his position
How to watch the 2026 NFL draft
Live coverage of the NFL draft can be found on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and the NFL Network. Coverage is also available on NFL+, ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited and Fubo TV.
- Thursday, April 23: Round 1 starts at 7 p.m. CT
- Friday, April 24: Round 2 and Round 3 start at 6 p.m. CT
- Saturday, April 25: Rounds 4-7 start at 11 a.m. CT
Watch the NFL Draft on ESPN+
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
Iowa City boasts a rich French history that dates back more than 175 years.
J. David Markham, Knight of the Order of the French Academic Palms and President of the International Napoleonic Society, traveled from Toronto to Iowa City to unveil a sign in Napoleon Park commemorating Iowa’s French past. A ribbon-cutting was held on May 5 at 2501 S. Gilbert Street on the 205th anniversary of Napoleon Bonaparte’s death.
Napoleon was the original name of Iowa City when it was founded in 1838. Along with Bonaparte, Marengo, Waterloo, and Massena, Napoleon/Iowa City is one of several Iowa locations named after battles or events associated with France’s first emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821).
Between 1800 and 1803, before the ratification of the Louisiana Treaty, the future state of Iowa was an overseas territory of the French Republic, ruled by the then First Consul, Napoleon Bonaparte. Iowa’s French past is reflected in its distinctly French-looking flag, inspired by the tricolor of the Revolution of 1789. Designed by Anna Barker, the sign installed at Napoleon Park highlights Iowa City’s and Iowa’s numerous French connections.
Iowans will need to see a doctor in person for abortion medication starting July 1.
Watch as Gov. Reynolds signs charter school funding bill into law
Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during a bill signing for HF 2754, a charter school funding bill, on May 12, 2026, at Des Moines Prep.
Iowans will need to see a doctor in person to receive abortion medication under a new law Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed.
The Tuesday, May 19, signing came as Republican-led states across the country aim to restrict access to abortion pills, usage of which has increased since the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling temporarily preserved access to mail-order prescriptions after Louisiana challenged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s expanded access. But the medication’s future remains uncertain as the legal battle plays out.
The bill, House File 2788, will require Iowans seeking abortion medication, including the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, to have an in-person appointment with a doctor. They will be informed of specific health and safety information about the pill and screened for signs of coercion or abuse.
Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion advocacy groups championed the law, arguing it will crack down on the flow of pills into Iowa from groups and physicians in other states and create opportunities to detect domestic violence.
“We are providing a private clinical sanctuary where an expert can look them in the eye and ask, ‘Are you safe?’ That opportunity for intervention is lost the moment that we move this process to a computer screen, a phone or a mailbox,” Iowa state Rep. Devon Wood, R-New Market, said during debate on the bill May 14.
Maggie DeWitte, director of anti-abortion advocacy group Pulse Life Advocates, said the legislation will restore prior “safeguards.”
“This bill is a step in the right direction to protect Iowa women from this dangerous drug,” DeWitte said in a statement.
Decades of studies have shown that less than 1% of medication abortions result in serious complications such as severe bleeding or infection.
Reproductive rights advocates have criticized the legislation, contending it will limit access to the medication, which they say many Iowans have acquired through means including telehealth since Iowa implemented laws restricting abortion in recent years.
“All this bill does is it takes away power from the people, the people who are knowledgeable about giving care to those people who need it,” state Rep. Megan Srinivas, a physician and Des Moines Democrat, said during floor debate. “This doesn’t touch the problem of black-market abortions. It creates a problem of creating a void in care for so many Iowans.”
Medication abortion has increased since Iowa Republicans passed a law restricting abortions at roughly six weeks after conception. They comprised 63% of all abortions in the country in 2023, compared with 53% in 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit that supports abortion rights.
Planned Parenthood North Central States President and CEO Ruth Richardson said abortion pills will continue to be available at the organization’s Iowa health centers “within legal guidelines.”
“Medication abortion has been trusted by providers and patients for more than 25 years. It is safe and effective care. Make no mistake: both nationwide and state attacks on abortion care do nothing to protect patients,” Richardson said in a statement. “There’s no medically necessary reason to restrict how Iowans can access this common, trusted, and safe method of abortion care.”
The Iowa legislation also clarifies the definition of “abortion” to specify that miscarriages and treatment of ectopic pregnancies do not qualify as abortions under the law. which will go into effect July 1.
Federal lawsuits could limit law’s scope
Out-of-state providers who dispense abortion pills in Iowa without following the legislation’s requirements will face civil liability. Licensed physicians and pharmacists in Iowa would be immune from that penalty and could only be subject to licensing discipline.
But lawsuits at the federal level could either expand or stymie Republican lawmakers’ efforts to restrict abortion medication, as shield laws remain in place protecting health care workers in other states who prescribe mifepristone to out-of-state patients.
Rapid Response Politics Reporter Maya Marchel Hoff can be reached at mmarchelHoff@usatodayco.com. You can find her on X (formerly Twitter) at @mmarchelhoff.
Waukee Northwest sets another Iowa all-time best in 4×400 relay win
Hear from Logan Vogt, Quinn Jorgensen, and Avery Vogt after Waukee Northwest’s record-breaking win in the 4×400-meter relay at Drake Relays.
The premiere event of the Iowa high school track and field season – the state meet – is just a few days away.
Some of the top athletes in the state will converge on Des Moines for the three-day event, which features returning state champions and all-time best record holders, as well as athletes looking to pull off an upset.
From sprinters to long-distance runners, jumpers to throwers, here are 10 high school girls athletes to watch at the Iowa track and field state meet from May 21-23.
Athletes are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Elise Coghlan, Sr., ADM
Events: 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, shuttle hurdle, 4×400
Coghlan is one of Class 3A’s best in the hurdles, with the fastest time this season in the 100 and the second-best time this year in the 400. Her talents helped the Tigers nearly reach top-three qualifying times in both of her relay events.
Morgan Fisher, So., Ankeny
Events: 200, 400, sprint medley, distance medley
It’s only her second season of high school track, but Fisher is already among the state’s top talents. She holds the second-fastest times, statewide, in the 200- and 400-meter dashes and she could help Ankeny to a spot on the podium in both of her relay races.
Kylee Hill, Jr., Burlington
Events: discus, shot put
She won state titles in the shot put in 2024 and 2025, and she is coming off a Drake Relays championship in the event. There is a good chance she adds a third title this season, entering the state tournament with a statewide longest throw of 52-5.50.
Aubrey Johnson, Fr., Gilbert
Events: 100m hurdles, 4×100, shuttle hurdle, long jump
Johnson is only a freshman, but she shouldn’t be underestimated. She holds the fourth-fastest time in 3A in the 100-meter hurdles, and her long jump of 19-4.62 is the best in her class this season.
Quinn Jorgensen, So., Waukee Northwest
Events: 200, 4×200, sprint medley
There are plenty of standout runners on the Wolves roster, and this sophomore is one of them. She holds the fourth-fastest time this season in the 200-meter dash, and she ran legs of the 4×100, 4×200, and 4×400 squads that posted the state’s fastest times at Drake Relays.
Morgan Karr, Sr., Valley
Events: 100, 100m hurdles, 4×100, shuttle hurdle
No one in the state comes close to Karr this season; she’s the only athlete in Iowa to finish the 100-meter hurdles in under 14 seconds. She’s also a part of 4×100 and shuttle hurdle relay teams that hold top-five times heading into the state meet.
Payton Maas, Sr., West Liberty
Events: 100m wheelchair, 200m wheelchair, 400m wheelchair, 800m wheelchair
The West Liberty senior has spent the past few seasons steadily improving her times and enters the state meet with the top time in each of her four events. She already has a state title, and there’s a good chance she adds four more before the end of the weekend.
Abby Mecklenburg, Sr., Linn-Mar
Events: 200, long jump
A few weeks ago, Mecklenburg became the first girls long jumper to surpass 20 feet at Drake Relays. She’s Iowa’s record-holder, jumping 20-8.25 last season, and she enters the state meet with a jump of 20-5.50 this season.
Laura Streck, Jr., Van Meter
Events: 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 4×800
Streck’s name is all over the leaderboards in Class 2A’s distance events. She holds the fastest times in the class in the 1,500- and 3,000-meter runs, and the third-fastest time in the 800.
Katie Willits, Sr., Waukee Northwest
Events: 100, 200, 100m hurdles, 4×100
This senior speedster holds the fastest times statewide in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the second-fastest time in the 100-meter hurdles. She is also a part of several Wolves relay teams that have run the state’s all-time fastest times: 4×100, 4×200, sprint medley and shuttle hurdle.
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
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