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Iowa Football: Grading the Hawkeyes’ 2018 recruiting class

By Quinn Douglas

MADISON, WI - NOVEMBER 11: Head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes waits with his team prior to a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - NOVEMBER 11: Head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes waits with his team prior to a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Kirk Ferentz reeled in one of his best recruiting class as the head coach of Iowa football. How does the Hawkeyes’ 2018 class grade out?

Iowa has never had much of presence in high-profile recruits come signing day. Kirk Ferentz has always recruited kids who are willing to work and are classy individuals, who are usually two or three-star recruits.

The Hawkeyes did land some blue chip recruits such as Iowa natives Tyler Linderbaum and John Waggoner, St. Louis safety prospect Dallas Craddieth, and California quarterback Spencer Petras, Iowa’s first California recruit since the class of 2000. Iowa did fill a lot of needs, especially at linebacker where they lost all three starters from 2017. Hawkeyes also picked up some needed depth at defensive tackle.

Iowa did lose a few battles along the way, such as linebacker Ben VanSumeren who flipped his commitment to his home state Michigan Wolverines. Center Will Farniok chose conference rival Nebraska over the Hawkeyes back in April 2017, and Iowa lost to in-state rival Iowa State in the battle for offensive guard Trevor Downing.

The early signing day benefited Kirk Ferentz and company a lot this year, being able to bring in Petras, defensive tackle Dayvion Nixon and others in for an extra semester of preparation. How did the Hawkeyes 2018 class grade out?

Player                        Position          Stars

Calvin Lockett                          WR                         3
Tyrone Tracy Jr.                        WR                         3
Jack Plumb                                OT                          3
Henry Geil                                 HB                          3
Spencer Petras                        QB                          4
Jeff Jenkins                                OG                          3
Cody Ince                                   OT                           3
Samson Evans                         WR                          3
Nico Ragaini                             WR                          3

Offense: C+

The Hawkeyes didn’t recruit too heavy on the offensive side of the ball as there is plenty of youth already working into Brian Ferentz’s offense. The gem of the offensive class is quarterback Spencer Petras, who hails from Greenbrae, Calif.

Iowa did make pull in a nice bunch of wide receivers, a position where they will gladly accept more players. The highest rated out of the four is Indianapolis prospect Tyrone Tracy Jr., who can be an absolute burner off the line of scrimmage. Calvin Lockett was solid pickup as well keeping Ferentz’s Florida pipeline in tact for at least another year.

As always, Iowa did pick up a few big boys for the offensive line. Jack Plumb was a high school tight end who was recruited by Iowa as an offensive tackle, with the right training program could become a monster in the future. Other solid pickups were three-stars Cody Ince and Jeff Jenkins, two guys who fit the Ferentz mold on the offensive line.

Iowa gets a possible quarterback for the future along with some explosiveness at wide receiver. That always makes for excitement among fans.

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