Iowa recruiting primer: Key targets visiting as Hawkeyes look to bolster 2025 class

Entering the most impactful month of the recruiting calendar, Iowa football has seven commits for its 2025 class and official visits scheduled with 23 players traveling to Iowa City over the next two-plus weeks.

After bringing in 21 freshmen in the 2024 class, it’s undetermined what the number is for Iowa in 2025. The Hawkeyes will lose 18 scholarship seniors and figure to hit the transfer portal fairly hard next winter. Additionally, there are current walk-ons — such as North Dakota offensive lineman Cade Borud, a transfer — who likely will pick up a scholarship.

Here’s a top-10 list based on priority among Iowa’s uncommitted visitors, a list that was compiled using the players’ X pages and aided by Hawkeye Report’s Blair Sanderson.

1. Iose Epenesa, edge

Epenesa (6 feet 4, 250 pounds) kicks off the month with a solo official visit this weekend. The brother of former Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa and current Iowa linebacker Eric Epenesa and the son of former Iowa defensive lineman Eppy Epenesa, Iose Epenesa has attended countless Iowa games and made numerous unofficial visits since childhood. He is well-versed in Hawkeyes culture.

Iose Epenesa is a 247Sports Composite five-star recruit, ranked No. 15 overall and the nation’s No. 3 edge. Last year for Edwardsville (Ill.) High, Epenesa had six sacks. This spring, he finished second in the discus (189’10”) and 12th in the shot put (55’0″) at the Illinois Class 3A (large school) track meet.

Epenesa has a comparable build to A.J., who plays for the Buffalo Bills. Unlike his oldest brother, who committed to Iowa nearly two years before signing day, the youngest Epenesa has visits scheduled. They include past trips to Penn State and Missouri and upcoming visits to Utah and Miami. Iowa is in the running, but this is a competition.

2. Nick Brooks, OT

Brooks (6-7, 340) has built up quite an offer list and has scheduled visits to Georgia, USC and Texas before finishing up in Iowa City on June 21-23. Brooks initially committed to Iowa last September but backed off to take unofficial trips. But he and the Hawkeyes remain tight.

Brooks, who competes for Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kennedy High, is a four-star tackle (No. 170 overall) and is ranked as the state’s top 2025 prospect. He lives about 25 miles north of Iowa City, although he lived in Georgia for more than a year in his early high school days. His choice likely will come down to the Hawkeyes and Bulldogs.

3. Terrence Smith, WR

Iowa was among the first power-conference schools to offer Smith, and the Hawkeyes have built a solid base with him as his profile has taken off. Smith (6-4, 175) is a consensus four-star and the No. 8 prospect in Illinois.

At West Aurora High, Smith caught 59 passes for 906 yards and 11 scores last fall. He averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game on the basketball team and finished sixth at the state track meet in the high jump (6’5″). Smith also will visit Minnesota this month.

4. Luke Allgeyer, OT

The Hawkeyes annually pull a prospect or two out of the St. Louis area, which is about a four-hour drive from Iowa City, but it has become a major battleground. The Hawkeyes are among several Midwestern teams vying for Allgeyer, an all-state defensive lineman at Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day who projects as an offensive tackle.

Allgeyer (6-6, 260) finished last year with 19 tackles for loss (including 15 sacks) on defense, but his long, angular frame would fit with any offense. Ranked as the nation’s No. 37 tackle prospect, Allgeyer has visits scheduled to Kansas State and Iowa, which are the favorites.

5. Cameron Herron, iOL

Based on his video highlights, Herron should pick up a nickname like “The Spatula” because he’s flipping guys on their backs. A guard at Indianapolis Warren Central High, Herron fits the profile of what Iowa likes in a guard. He’s physical with size (6-4, 260), good feet and room to grow. Most important, Herron has a nasty streak.

There’s competition for Herron, who has taken previous visits to Northwestern and Cincinnati and has upcoming trips to West Virginia and Boston College. But he’s visiting Iowa right before the dead period, and he’s a priority. Although he’s rated in the 800s in the 247Sports Composite, Herron has the potential to become a multiyear starter at Iowa.

6. Chris McCorkle III, DB

McCorkle committed to Indiana this spring and visited Bloomington last weekend, but he’s still taking visits this month, including to Iowa and Michigan State. There’s also interest from Florida, which makes the Sarasota, Fla., defensive back a challenging prospect.

McCorkle (6-1, 173) produced in major fashion last year with nine interceptions and 15 pass breakups on defense. He also caught 13 passes for 371 yards and seven touchdowns. This might be a tough flip for Iowa, but at least getting him on campus gives the Hawkeyes a shot.

7. Joshua Guerrier, ATH

A do-it-all athlete from Ocoee, Fla., Guerrier has the explosive athletic ability to play cornerback or receiver and contribute right away as a kick returner. Last year on offense, Guerrier (5-11, 160) played some quarterback (53 passing yards on 13 attempts), ran for 218 yards and two scores and caught six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. And he added another 447 yards on 16 returns and had 38 tackles on defense.

As a sophomore, Guerrier recorded five interceptions for 139 return yards, and he has four career return touchdowns. He scheduled five visits this month, including past or upcoming trips to Boston College, Iowa State, Pittsburgh and South Florida before the finale in Iowa City.

8. Brock Heath, iOL

Kansas City remains a solid recruiting spot for the Hawkeyes, especially on the Kansas side of the Missouri River. Last year, Iowa snagged tight end Gavin Hoffman — Kansas’ highest-ranked prospect — from Blue Valley Northwest. This month, the Hawkeyes will try to do the same with Heath, Hoffman’s former teammate.

Heath (6-5, 258) visited Northwestern in May and has a trip planned to Kansas State before coming to Iowa City. The Hawkeyes seemingly run into K-State just about everywhere.

9. Mason Woods, ATH

The son of Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods could play multiple positions, ranging from wide receiver and tight end to defensive back or linebacker. Last year at Iowa City West High, Woods caught 35 passes for 535 yards and three touchdowns, and he intercepted two passes while playing safety.

Woods (6-3, 215) placed in four relays at the Iowa state track meet this spring. He could bulk up and become a solid tight end, but Iowa has struggled to find a quality X-receiver since 2020. Woods has the size and speed to at least open his career there.

10. Brad Fitzgibbon, DL

Fitzgibbon had seven tackles for loss in just five games last year for Marist High in Chicago. Although not highly touted (No. 86-ranked defensive lineman), Fitzgibbon (6-3, 280) displays good size, power and tenacity coupled with a frame capable of carrying more weight.

The Hawkeyes will get his final visit this month, with Fitzgibbon already visiting Michigan State and scheduled for Kansas this weekend. He has a 4.6 cumulative weighted grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

Others visiting (all June 21-23 unless otherwise noted):

• WR Braylon Collier (6-1, 170), Perkins High, Sandusky, Ohio
• DL Christian Hudson (6-0, 260), Mainland High, Daytona Beach, Fla.
• CB C.J. Bell (6-0, 160), St. Thomas More School, Oakdale, Conn.
• CB Mason Ellens (5-11, 155), Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
• LB Maguire Richman (6-2, 200), Blue Valley High, Overland Park, Kan.
• RB Kentrell Rinehart (6-2, 200), Westland High, Columbus, Ohio (June 19)

The Hawkeyes have seven players committed in the 2025 class, and at least six of them plan to attend the program’s primary recruiting weekend beginning June 21. Here is a breakdown of those seven committed players.

TE Thomas Meyer, TE

The only current four-star commit and the state’s top-ranked recruit, Meyer was a big pickup for the Hawkeyes. Every program in the Midwest had offered him, plus Miami and Texas A&M. His power and athletic ability make Meyer (6-5, 210) a possible rotational player once he arrives on campus. Last year, he caught 25 passes for 407 yards and eight touchdowns for Clear Lake (Iowa) High. A few programs saw Meyer as a potential defensive end. He recorded 38 tackles (14 for loss) and was a Class 3A first-team all-state defensive lineman. In basketball, Meyer was honorable mention all-state and averaged 12.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Carson Cooney, LB

Cooney (6-3 1/2, 215) fits the personality and work ethic of what Iowa wants in its linebackers, as demonstrated by exceeding his weight room max jumps by a combined 1,330 pounds this offseason. He packs a heavy punch as a hitter and finished with 71 tackles (eight for loss), one interception and one blocked kick last year for Oswego (Ill.) High. Cooney was a critical pickup for Iowa, and not just because of his playing ability. The Hawkeyes landed him over foes Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan State and Iowa State.

Burke Gautcher, LB

Playing at Sycamore (Ill.) High, located just on the outskirts of Chicagoland, Gautcher (6-2, 200) put together a solid junior season with 70 tackles (10 for loss) and four interceptions while throwing for 1,084 yards and 12 touchdowns as a quarterback. Showing good range and striking ability, Gautcher has similarities to former Sycamore star Ben Niemann, who started three seasons at linebacker for Iowa. He also qualified for the state track meet in the long jump and the 4×100 and 4×200 relays.

Joey VanWetzinga, iOL

The younger brother of Iowa fullback Rusty VanWetzinga can play offensive or defensive line. However, it appears Joey VanWetzinga (6-2, 250) will play either center or guard for the Hawkeyes. Last year at Pleasant Valley (Iowa) High, VanWetzinga was named a Class 5A first-team all-state defensive lineman with 38 tackles, including 10 for loss. He also competed in the shot put with his season-best launch of 53’1″ while finishing sixth at state at 52’4.5″.

Jimmy Sullivan, QB

Sullivan was named the Indiana Football Coaches Association’s top junior quarterback for Class 6A, the state’s largest class. Last fall, Sullivan (6-3, 180) played in nine games at Fort Wayne (Ind.) Carroll High and completed 115 of 213 passes for 1,508 yards (54 percent), 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. A pro-style quarterback, he ran 70 times for 406 yards and five touchdowns. Before committing to Iowa in December, Sullivan had Big Ten offers from Michigan State, Minnesota and Illinois.

Eli Johnson, TE

Last fall, Johnson (6-5, 220) caught 17 passes for 214 yards and six touchdowns for River Falls (Wis.) High. He also averaged 8.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in basketball and competed in the 100-meter dash and shot put in track. With good hands, a versatile skill set and a build capable of stacking more weight, Johnson has developmental potential. He picked up offers from Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Purdue and Kansas among others before pledging to Iowa.

Drew MacPherson, DB

MacPherson, the son of former Northwestern associate head coach Matt MacPherson, helped Loyola Academy in Chicago win its second straight Illinois Class 8A championship last fall. He ran for 120 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown in the title game and finished the season with 855 rushing yards, 515 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns. However, Iowa sees MacPherson (6-1, 190) as a safety even though he played only offense at Loyola.

(Top photo of Iose Epenesa, current Iowa linebacker Eric Epenesa and former Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa: Scott Dochterman / The Athletic)