Hawkeyes Continue Locking Up In-State Recruits, Land OT Mark Kallenberger
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Hawkeyes seem to have a renewed push in landing in-state talents, perhaps because of a new staff at Iowa State. Despite the motivation, Iowa has done a great job so far of keeping in-state talents at home landing another on Thursday in offensive tackle Mark Kallenberger.
Kallenberger is an undersized tackle at 6’6”, 260 pounds, but has the frame to add more weight and grow into a monster Big Ten lineman. Kallenberger already looks the part for Bettendorf High School showing great quickness off the ball and getting to the second level. He plays with an attitude and roughness that all offensive line coaches love. He locks on to his assignment looking to pancake the opposition on every play.
Iowa’s newest commitment went public via Twitter with Kallenberger posting, “I am very excited to announce that I will be furthering my education and football career at the University of Iowa!”
Nebraska was the first big program to offer Kallenberger with Iowa State extending a scholarship on Nov. 3. The budding Iowa talent has taken unofficial visits to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa State before committing to the Hawkeyes. Iowa offered Kallenberger on Jan. 17. Other teams to offer Kallenberger includes Colorado State, Eastern Michigan, and Kansas State.
The Hawkeyes now have seven verbal commitments to their 2017 class with five coming from in-state programs.
Iowa Hawkeyes 2017 Verbal Commitment List
CB Djimon Colbert, 6-0, 210, Bishop Miege HS, Mission, KS
DE A.J. Epenesa, 6-5, 230, Edwardsville HS, Edwardsville, IL
DE Coy Kirkpatrick, 6-4, 240, Madrid HS, Madrid, IA
DT Juan Harris, 6-4, 368, North Fayette HS, West Union, IA
OT Mark Kallenberger, 6-6, 260, Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, IA
OT Tristan Wirfs, 6-4, 265, Mount Vernon HS, Mount Vernon, IA
ATH Jacob Coons, 6-3, 215, Solon HS, Solon, IA
Photo credit: todaysu.com; No. 77 Mark Kallenberger commits to Iowa.