Iowa football recruiting: A full breakdown of 2024 class

IOWA CITY, Iowa — With only days remaining until the early signing period, Iowa’s 2024 class is virtually complete.

Iowa had 20 commits in the fold by mid-July and since added an Australian punter Rhys Dakin, who announced his commitment Sunday. Those 21 newcomers bring Iowa’s scholarship allotment to 85 for next season. That’s before any current players announce NFL plans, enter the portal or extra-year possibilities return.

The incoming freshman class includes a quarterback, two running backs, two receivers, four offensive linemen, two tight ends, four defensive linemen, three linebackers, two defensive backs and a punter. Tight end Gavin Hoffman and Dakin will enroll in January.

Here’s a breakdown of 21 committed players who plan to sign their letters of intent on Wednesday. The Hawkeyes sit No. 33 in 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Cody Fox, OL

Hometown/high school: East Buchanan (Winthrop, Iowa)

247Sports’ Composite ranking: No. 254 overall, No. 12 IOL, No. 2 Iowa (four-star)

Notable: Fox committed to Iowa after his freshman year and has never wavered. His older brother, Taylor, was a walk-on offensive lineman, but the younger Fox (6 feet 5, 270 pounds) is blessed with physical gifts and a high ceiling. Fox played offensive and defensive line in high school and was first-team all-state. As a defensive lineman his final three seasons, Fox had 197 tackles, including 50 for loss, and 21 sacks despite facing numerous double-teams. He also held off surgery for a torn meniscus last February to reach the state wrestling heavyweight semifinals.

Committed: June 19, 2021

Will Nolan, OT

Hometown/high school: John Hersey (Arlington Heights, Ill.)

Ranking: No. 306 overall, No. 26 OT, No. 8 Illinois (four-star)

Notable: Iowa picked up Nolan at the right time last spring, landing his commitment over Indiana, Iowa State and Vanderbilt. Now a consensus four-star, Nolan (6-6, 275) flipped his solid play as a junior into significant growth as a blocker as a senior. In the running game, he flattens many of his opponents, including pancaking multiple defenders on the same play. He was named honorable mention all-state in Class 7A.

Committed: May 8, 2023

Derek Weisskopf, LB

Hometown/high school: Williamsburg (Iowa)

Ranking: No. 346 overall, No. 29 LB, No. 3 Iowa (four-star)

Notable: Quarterback for the Class 3A state champions, Weisskopf (6-3, 205) did it all. He passed (1,123 yards, 20 TDs) and ran (317 yards, two scores) plus caught 14 passes for 212 yards and four touchdowns. He added 58.5 tackles and four interceptions (including a score) on defense. In one of the state’s more competitive midsized conferences, Weisskopf averaged 19.2 points per game in basketball and won the state high jump crown (6-7) while finishing second in the shot put (55-5 3/4). Iowa had to battle Wisconsin for Weisskopf, but he made his choice as a high school sophomore.

Committed: April 20, 2022

Cam Buffington, LB

Hometown/high school: Winfield-Mount Union (Winfield, Iowa)

Ranking: No. 515 overall, No. 47 LB, No. 4 Iowa (three-star)

Notable: An all-everything threat for his 8-man football program, Buffington rushed 118 times for 1,362 yards (11.5 ypc) and 25 touchdowns plus caught 22 passes for 613 yards (27.9 ypc) and 11 touchdowns. He also recorded 106.5 tackles (18.5 for loss) and four sacks. He’s a multi-sport athlete, averaging nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds a game, and won the state long jump title in the spring at 21-8. Buffington (6-4, 225) has a chance to play right away on special teams.

Committed: July 26, 2021

Gavin Hoffman, TE

Hometown/high school: Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park, Kan.)

Ranking: No. 528 overall, No. 32 TE, No. 2 Kansas (three-star)

Notable: The Hawkeyes battled Missouri, Arizona State and Auburn for Hoffman before landing him after the program’s major recruiting weekend in June. Hoffman (6-5, 220) will enroll early after a stellar high school career. He caught a school-record 18 touchdown passes and has 60 catches for 1,227 yards the last two seasons. Hoffman, who has a vertical of 40 1/2 inches, was named all-state for all classes and was a Class 6A player of the year finalist.

Committed: June 27, 2023

Chima Chineke, DE

Hometown/high school: Plano East (Plano, Texas)

Ranking: No. 539 overall, No. 37 edge, No. 90 Texas (three-star)

Notable: An all-district pick, Chineke (6-4 1/2, 240) has speed, power and skill, all of which will translate once he bulks up. This year, Chineke collected 48 tackles, including eight for loss, and 5.5 sacks. It took a few weeks of debate after his official visit, but Chineke tabbed Iowa over Texas Tech and Kansas. His growth potential could lead him to either defensive end or defensive tackle. Based on his video, he has the chance to excel at either one.

Committed: July 19, 2023

Hometown/high school: Westminster Christian Academy (St. Louis)

Ranking: No. 578 overall, No. 38 edge, No. 10 Missouri (three-star)

Notable: A freakish athlete, Anderson (6-5, 210) is built similarly to former Iowa defensive end Chauncey Golston and has immense upside once his body grows into the position. But Anderson’s explosiveness is rare. He earned All-American honors in the triple jump (47 feet, 4 inches) and leaped 22-6 1/2 in the long jump. On the football field, Anderson recorded 65 tackles, including 23 for loss, and seven sacks. The Hawkeyes beat Kansas and Nebraska for Anderson, and in three years, they’ll be glad they did.

Committed: July 3, 2023

Bodey McCaslin, OT

Hometown/high school: St. Charles East (St. Charles, Ill.)

Ranking: No. 594 overall, No. 47 OT, No. 16 Illinois (three-star)

Notable: Iowa landed a major player from the critical Chicagoland for its offensive line with McCaslin’s picking the Hawkeyes over Penn State, Kansas State and Nebraska. Angular with an expandable frame, McCaslin (6-5, 270) has a nasty on-field disposition. On one play, McCaslin made three credible blocks.

Committed: May 3, 2023

Drew Campbell, DE

Hometown/high school: Cedar Falls, Iowa

Ranking: No. 628 overall, No. 41 edge, No. 5 Iowa (three-star)

Notable: Brother of former Iowa All-America linebacker Jack Campbell, Drew Campbell will play defensive end at Iowa. This season, Campbell recorded 64 tackles, including 21.5 for loss, and six sacks. As a junior, Campbell (6-4, 225) had 52 tackles with 20 for loss and nine sacks. It wasn’t an automatic recruitment for Iowa — Iowa State put up a fight — but familiarity helped lead the second Campbell brother to Iowa City.

Committed: April 1, 2023

James Resar, QB

Hometown/high school: Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Ranking: No. 685 overall, No. 57 QB, No. 96 Florida (three-star)

Notable: Resar committed to Iowa because of the culture, and he rebuffed overtures from ACC programs to remain with the Hawkeyes. Resar (6-4, 205) completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 1,582 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games this year. He also rushed for 356 yards and four scores. As a junior, Resar threw for 1,656 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for six others. Blessed with a big arm and a physical runner, Resar has elite speed, running the 100-meter dash in 10.67 seconds.

Committed: Sept. 11, 2022

Brevin Doll, RB

Hometown/high school: ADM Senior (Adel, Iowa)

Ranking: No. 734 overall, No. 53 RB, No. 6 Iowa (three-star)

Notable: An injury limited Doll (6-0, 185) to only a handful of games this year, when he rushed for 347 yards and scored six total touchdowns. As a junior, he ran for 1,475 yards on 179 carries for 27 touchdowns (8.2 ypc) and added 33 catches for 640 yards and six scores plus two more on returns. A leg injury in the spring cost Doll a chance to repeat as the state’s 200-meter dash champ. As a sophomore, Doll won the event in 21.89 seconds. He also finished second in the 100 in 10.74 seconds.

Committed: April 16, 2023

Preston Ries, athlete

Hometown/high school: Monticello, Iowa

Ranking: No. 918 overall, No. 79 athlete, No. 8 Iowa (three-star)

Notable: One of Iowa’s most well-rounded athletes, Ries led all classes with 57 total touchdowns, including 33 on the ground. Ries (6-2, 195) passed for 2,559 yards and rushed for 1,926 yards. He also had 97 tackles, including 27.5 for loss, and five sacks. He also averaged 23.1 points per game in basketball last season. Ries will open his career at linebacker.

Committed: May 7, 2022

Reece Vander Zee, WR

Hometown/high school: Central Lyon (Rock Rapids, Iowa)

Ranking: No. 950 overall, No. 122 WR, No. 9 Iowa (three-star)

Notable: Vander Zee quarterbacked Central Lyon to a Class 2A runner-up finish but will play receiver at Iowa. He passed for 1,288 yards, completed 74.4 percent of his attempts and rushed for 1,767 yards (9.3 ypc) and 24 touchdowns. He also caught two passes for two touchdowns and registered 41.5 tackles. An all-around athlete, Vander Zee (6-5, 190) averaged 17.8 points per game in basketball last year, placed in hurdles events at state track and is an exceptional pitcher. He recorded a 1.58 ERA last summer with 109 strikeouts and only 18 walks. He chose Iowa over in-state rival Iowa State.

Committed: June 27, 2023

Iowa commit Xavier Williams’ senior season was affected by injuries, but he still rushed for eight touchdowns. (Scott Dochterman / The Athletic)

Hometown/high school: Lake Central (St. John, Ind.)

Ranking: No. 950 overall, No. 68 RB, No. 12 Indiana (three-star)

Notable: Although a knee injury trimmed his senior year to five games, Williams still rushed for 669 yards and eight touchdowns. As a junior, Williams (6-0, 220) ran for 1,451 yards and 13 touchdowns on 223 carries. Physical, powerful and elusive, Williams picked Iowa over several MAC schools.

Committed: April 15, 2023

K.J. Parker, WR

Hometown/high school: Immaculate Conception (Elmhurst, Ill.)

Ranking: No. 950 overall, No. 84 WR, No. 22 Illinois (three-star)

Notable: A two-way threat, Parker (5-11, 165) chose Iowa over Cincinnati and Wisconsin and will play receiver. Parker caught 40 passes for 742 yards and six touchdowns this fall. As a defensive back, Parker added 31 tackles, four interceptions and 13 passes defensed. Parker also could return kicks.

Committed: June 29, 2023

Hometown/high school: Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio)

Ranking: No. 1,032 overall, No. 95 CB, No. 40 Ohio (three-star)

Notable: Perhaps Iowa’s most underrated recruit, Watson (5-11, 165) moved from Belleville, Mich., to Toledo, Ohio, and became a first-team All-Ohio Division III wide receiver. He caught 62 passes for 1,101 yards and nine touchdowns while adding five more scores on the ground. Watson, the nephew of former Iowa running back Fred Russell, will play defensive back, where his speed and quickness should translate well. Watson opted for Iowa over Minnesota, Maryland, Cincinnati and West Virginia.

Committed: July 8, 2023

Josh Janowski, IOL

Hometown/high school: Lincoln-Way East (Tinley Park, Ill.)

Ranking: No. 1,103 overall, No. 88 IOL, No. 23 Illinois (three-star)

Notable: Janowski’s ranking belies his potential. Long-time recruiting analyst Tom Lemming called Janowski one of the nation’s top three center prospects and the best one in Chicagoland. Janowski (6-2, 275) has the perfect characteristics, strength and toughness to play center or guard at Iowa. A Class 8A first-team all-state selection, Janowski picked Iowa before the spring recruiting rush with several MAC teams giving chase.

Committed: Jan. 30, 2023

Michael Burt, TE

Hometown/high school: Creighton Prep (Omaha, Neb.)

Ranking: No. 1,143 overall, No. 62 TE, No. 10 Nebraska (three-star)

Notable: Iowa’s long pursuit of Burt kept him away from the home-state Huskers, which offered him late. Burt (6-5 1/2, 226) picked the Hawkeyes after visiting both campuses. This fall, Burt caught 15 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns. He grabbed 11 passes for 187 yards and a score as a junior.

Committed: June 22, 2023

Devan Kennedy, edge

Hometown/high school: Brophy College Prep (Phoenix)

Ranking: No. 1,290 overall, No. 89 edge, No. 25 Arizona (three-star)

Notable: A raw prospect with only two seasons’ worth of high school football, Kennedy (6-3, 240) oozes potential. The son of former Penn State defensive lineman Jimmy Kennedy, the younger version finished with 49 tackles, including 8.5 for loss, and 4.5 sacks. He also had two forced fumbles. Kennedy picked Iowa over Oregon State and a late offer from Penn State.

Committed: July 26, 2023

Rashad Godfrey, CB

Hometown/high school: Armwood (Seffner, Fla.)

Ranking: No. 1,468 overall, No. 134 CB, No. 192 Florida (three-star)

Notable: Godfrey (6-2, 185) finished with 44 tackles, five passes defensed and two fumble recoveries this year. He picked Iowa over South Florida and Duke, among others. His length makes him a viable candidate at cornerback to open his career.

Committed: July 5, 2023

Rhys Dakin, P

Hometown/high school: Melbourne, Australia

Ranking: N/A

Notable: With Tory Taylor’s unprecedented success the last four years, Iowa chose to recruit from ProKick Australia again rather than offer one of the nation’s top punters, who lives just one hour south of Iowa City (and committed to Georgia). Dakin (6-2) will enroll in January.

Committed: Dec. 17, 2023

(Top photo: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)