Iowa Hawkeyes continue recruiting hot streak, now at 20 commitments
Written by Ryan Wright
The Iowa Hawkeyes staff, seemingly feeling the pressure of Ohio State’s national championship at the conclusion of the 2014 season and new Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh coming into the conference, have made recruiting a priority in the offseason picking up recruits 18, 19, and 20 to their 2016 class on Monday.
The Hawkeyes added cornerback Cedric Boswell, safety Lance Billings, and defensive end Romeo McKnight bringing their recruiting haul in the month of June to 16 verbal commitments.
When the Hawkeyes accepted McKnight’s verbal commitment the rest of the recruiting world got a glimpse inside Iowa’s recruiting board. The Crystal Lake Central standout is the fifth defensive end/outside linebacker Iowa has reeled for the 2016 class showing the staff’s need to secure the outside of their defense going forward.
Iowa did not have a high level of competition for McKnight fending off Buffalo, Wyoming, Western Illinois, Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Ball State, and Toledo.
Wylie E. Groves two-way star Cedric Boswell brings needed speed to the Iowa roster. The 5’11”, 175 pound, athlete lined up at running back and cornerback flexing his 4.44 speed for college coaches. In all nine teams have offered Boswell including Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), Ball State, Bowling Green, and Western Michigan.
Billings is an under the radar/diamond in the rough find for the Hawkeyes. Ball State is the only other Division-I program to offer the Clearview High School safety. Billings is listed at 5’11”, 161 pounds, with a camp recorded 40-yard dash time of 4.64.
The Hawkeyes now have 11 verbal commitments scheduled to lineup on the defensive side of the ball at the next level. Of the 20 verbal commitments only four recruits are from in-state high schools.
There is a long way to go until National Signing Day 2016 but a sharp contrast in recruiting effort has been turned in by the Hawkeyes staff. Iowa signed 21 commitments to their 2015 recruiting class but did not secure commit No. 20 until Feb. 3.
Iowa Hawkeyes 2016 Verbal Commitment List
QB Nathan Stanley, 6’4”, 183 lbs, Menomonie HS, Menomonie, Wisconsin
WR Frank Darby, 6’1”, 180 lbs, Lincoln HS, Jersey City, New Jersey
WR Devonte Young, 6’0”, 191 lbs, North Point HS, Waldorf, Maryland
RB Toks Akinribade, 6’0”, 205 lbs, Brownsburg HS, Brownsburg, Indiana
RB/LB Barrington Wade, 6’1”, 207 lbs, Niles North HS, Skokie, Illinois
RB Toren Young, 5’11”, 206 lbs, Monona Grove HS, Monoa Grove, Wisconsin
OL Cole Banwart, 6’4”, 275 lbs, Algona HS, Algona, Iowa
OL Spencer Williams, 6’3”, 275 lbs, Cedar Falls HS, Cedar Falls, Iowa
TE T.J. Hockenson, 6’5”, 230 lbs, Chariton HS, Chariton, Iowa
DE Chauncey Golston, 6’5”, 235 lbs, East English Village, Detroit, Michigan
DE Cedrick Lattimore, 6’4”, 251 lbs, East English Village, Detroit, Michigan
DE Romeo McKnight, 6’5”, 230 lbs, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake, Illinois
DE Austin Schulte, 6’4”, 240 lbs, Pella HS, Pella, Iowa
DE Brandon Simon, 6’2”, 240 lbs, Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, New Jersey
LB Amani Jones, 6’0”, 215 lbs, Phillips HS, Chicago, Illinois
LB Nick Niemann, 6’3”, 205 lbs, Sycamore HS, Sycamore, Illinois
LB Kyle Taylor, 6’2”, 220 lbs, Gonzaga HS, Washington D.C.
CB Cedric Boswell, 5’11”, 175 lbs, Wylie E. Groves HS, Franklin, Michigan
FS Lance Billings, 5’11”, 161 lbs, Clearview HS, Lorain, Ohio
SS Amani Hooker, 6’1”, 195 lbs, Park Center HS, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Photo credit: nwherald.com; Romeo McKnight.