JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
The Iowa football program is putting together a strong finish to this year's recruiting class.
In using Scout.com's commitment data going back to 2002, here is how Iowa finished each recruiting class in the last week before signing day:
2002: Marcus Paschal, David Vickers, Steve Burch, Jovon Johnson, Clinton Solomon and Mike Elgin. Elgin was the last man in and wound up having a great Iowa career. Johnson did the same, leaving the school near the top of the career interception list. Of the five, Burch and Vickers were the highest rated with three stars; neither finished their career at Iowa.
2003: Richard Kittrell, Brock Ita and Mike Jones. Jones is probably the highest rated last week commit of the Ferentz era, as he was a five-star prospect. Kittrell was one of the early internet legends, thanks to his nickname: 'The Big Human'. He would later transfer. Khalik Price would sign in early March.
2004: Rashard Dunn, Damien Sims and Brandon Myers. Myers was ticketed to Northern Iowa before the Hawkeyes came in and offered him an 11th hour scholarship. It worked out well, as he is still a member of the Oakland Raiders. Kicker Griffin Karr would sign in May of 2004, but never played.
2005: Julian Smith was the lone last week commit, and he was on campus for a few days before a clearinghouse issue ended his Iowa career before it began.
2006: Brett Morse and Jeremiha Hunter were last week commits and both of them had solid careers for Iowa. Hunter was a four-star prospect and had his pick of schools. DJK would sign with Iowa in April of 2006, and Kirk Herbstreit would call him the best player in his class from the state of Ohio, a class that included overall national #1 Beanie Wells.
2007: Mike Daniels, Bruce Davis, Jevon Pugh, Allen Reisner and Cedric Everson. Everson was a signing day surprise, a four-star corner from Michigan. Things didn't work out so well with him. Daniels was headed to Villanova before Iowa came in and he had a fantastic career. Reisner was another 11th hour get for Iowa, and he was also headed to UNI before the Hawkeyes came calling with an offer.
2008: Casey McMillan, Willie Lowe, Steve Bigach, Greg Castillo and Jake Reisen. Each of these players earned a two-star rating from Scout.com.
2009: Matt Murphy, Dakota Getz, Connor Boffeli, Micah Hyde, Nolan MacMillan and Stephane Ngoumou. MacMillan was a three-star player with the rest earning two-stars. Boffeli turned from Iowa State to Iowa late in the game after Gene Chizik left ISU.
2010: Tanner Miller and Anthony Hitchens were the only two Iowa players to commit to this class after December, and they came in the last week.
2011: Jordan Lomax, Damon Bullock, Johnny Lowdermilk, Marcus Collins, Jordan Canzeri and Darian Cooper. To date, this is the best 'closing' class. Lomax and Canzeri were three-star's and Cooper a four-star.
2012 so far: Alex Kozan, CJ Beathard and Nate Meier. Kozan earns three-stars from Scout but four from ESPN and Rivals. He had offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Auburn, LSU, Oregon and a host of other suitors. Beathard was an Ole Miss verbal until they changed coaching staffs and fills a need for a prep quarterback who can redshirt. Meier is one of the classic late in state offers, a great athlete who set records in the eight-man class. Iowa is at 22 players for this class and I think they have room for a few more.
In using Scout.com's commitment data going back to 2002, here is how Iowa finished each recruiting class in the last week before signing day:
2002: Marcus Paschal, David Vickers, Steve Burch, Jovon Johnson, Clinton Solomon and Mike Elgin. Elgin was the last man in and wound up having a great Iowa career. Johnson did the same, leaving the school near the top of the career interception list. Of the five, Burch and Vickers were the highest rated with three stars; neither finished their career at Iowa.
2003: Richard Kittrell, Brock Ita and Mike Jones. Jones is probably the highest rated last week commit of the Ferentz era, as he was a five-star prospect. Kittrell was one of the early internet legends, thanks to his nickname: 'The Big Human'. He would later transfer. Khalik Price would sign in early March.
2004: Rashard Dunn, Damien Sims and Brandon Myers. Myers was ticketed to Northern Iowa before the Hawkeyes came in and offered him an 11th hour scholarship. It worked out well, as he is still a member of the Oakland Raiders. Kicker Griffin Karr would sign in May of 2004, but never played.
2005: Julian Smith was the lone last week commit, and he was on campus for a few days before a clearinghouse issue ended his Iowa career before it began.
2006: Brett Morse and Jeremiha Hunter were last week commits and both of them had solid careers for Iowa. Hunter was a four-star prospect and had his pick of schools. DJK would sign with Iowa in April of 2006, and Kirk Herbstreit would call him the best player in his class from the state of Ohio, a class that included overall national #1 Beanie Wells.
2007: Mike Daniels, Bruce Davis, Jevon Pugh, Allen Reisner and Cedric Everson. Everson was a signing day surprise, a four-star corner from Michigan. Things didn't work out so well with him. Daniels was headed to Villanova before Iowa came in and he had a fantastic career. Reisner was another 11th hour get for Iowa, and he was also headed to UNI before the Hawkeyes came calling with an offer.
2008: Casey McMillan, Willie Lowe, Steve Bigach, Greg Castillo and Jake Reisen. Each of these players earned a two-star rating from Scout.com.
2009: Matt Murphy, Dakota Getz, Connor Boffeli, Micah Hyde, Nolan MacMillan and Stephane Ngoumou. MacMillan was a three-star player with the rest earning two-stars. Boffeli turned from Iowa State to Iowa late in the game after Gene Chizik left ISU.
2010: Tanner Miller and Anthony Hitchens were the only two Iowa players to commit to this class after December, and they came in the last week.
2011: Jordan Lomax, Damon Bullock, Johnny Lowdermilk, Marcus Collins, Jordan Canzeri and Darian Cooper. To date, this is the best 'closing' class. Lomax and Canzeri were three-star's and Cooper a four-star.
2012 so far: Alex Kozan, CJ Beathard and Nate Meier. Kozan earns three-stars from Scout but four from ESPN and Rivals. He had offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Auburn, LSU, Oregon and a host of other suitors. Beathard was an Ole Miss verbal until they changed coaching staffs and fills a need for a prep quarterback who can redshirt. Meier is one of the classic late in state offers, a great athlete who set records in the eight-man class. Iowa is at 22 players for this class and I think they have room for a few more.
