Iowa football: Meet the Hawkeyes' expected 2018 recruiting class
Barring anything unforeseen, Iowa will add four new signees to its 2018 recruiting class on Wednesday. That will bring its 2018 class to a total of 23 recruits.
Here's a breakdown of those 23 incoming Hawkeyes:
Jayden McDonald
LB: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Georgia)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Iowa's top 2018 target for the Feb. 7 signing period, McDonald picked the Hawkeyes over Ole Miss, Kansas State and Purdue. According to MaxPreps, the former Rutgers pledge logged 76 tackles and 13 tackles for loss this season. He was Iowa's 23rd commitment for 2018.
Logan Klemp
LB: 6-3, 210, South Hamilton (Jewell, Iowa)
Rivals: 2 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Klemp, who also played running back and wide receiver in high school, picked up a late offer from Iowa and committed to the Hawkeyes over a host of FCS programs. He led South Hamilton with 82.5 tackles, 11 solo tackles for loss and six solo sacks last season.
Kaevon Merriweather
S: 6-2, 195, Belleville (Belleville, Michigan)
Rivals: 2 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Merriweather is raw, having only played two years of high school football. But his physical gifts are without question. Those, plus impressive instincts for someone relatively new to the sport, attracted Iowa’s attention. Iowa was his lone Division I football offer.
Nico Ragaini
WR: 6-0, 185, Avon Old Farms (Avon, Connecticut)
Rivals: 2 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Ragaini racked up 3,345 receiving yards in four years from 2013-17 at West Haven Notre Dame. He then played one post-graduate year at Avon Old Farms School. He picked Iowa over Army, Boston College, Brown, New Hampshire, Princeton and Yale.
Already signed:
Henry Geil
RB: 6-1, 215, Preble (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Geil committed to Iowa last April. He also had offers from Michigan State, Iowa State and Indiana, among others. According to WisSports.net, he racked up 1,479 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
Tyrone Tracy
WR: 6-0, 187, Decatur Central (Indianapolis)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Tracy picked the Hawkeyes last April. He also held offers from Louisville, Illinois and Northwestern, among others. According to MaxPreps, he piled up 1,412 rushing yards, 1,132 receiving yards and 29 total touchdowns this season. The Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year projects as a receiver at Iowa.
John Waggoner
DE: 6-5, 245, West Des Moines Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines)
Rivals: 4 stars; 247Sports: 4 stars
Quick facts: Waggoner picked the Hawkeyes on Dec. 5 over Minnesota, UCLA, Nebraska, Iowa State and Penn State. The state’s top prospect, he projects as a productive member of Iowa’s defensive line. He amassed 11 solo tackles for loss and five solo sacks this season.
Spencer Petras
QB: 6-5, 225, Marin Catholic (Greenbrae, California)
Rivals: 4 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Petras flipped from Oregon State to Iowa after a successful official visit to Iowa City on Dec. 10. He racked up 4,157 passing yards and 50 passing touchdowns this season, according to MaxPreps. Those are both school records. He graduated in December and early-enrolled at Iowa.
Dallas Craddieth
S: 6-1, 197, Hazelwood Central (St. Louis)
Rivals: 4 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: The talented safety finished his senior season with 66 tackles, five interceptions, one forced fumble, one sack and three tackles for loss. His film reminds you of a certain Hawkeye cornerback who led the country in interceptions this year. Craddieth projects at safety or cornerback for Iowa.
Calvin Lockett
WR: 6-2, 160, Largo (Largo, Florida)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Lockett picked the Hawkeyes over South Florida and Florida International on Dec. 13. A tall and lean receiver like Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Lockett is a deep-ball threat who averaged 21.8 yards per catch this season.
Jeffrey Jenkins
OG: 6-4, 270, Prairie Ridge (Crystal Lake, Illinois)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: One of two recruits from Illinois powerhouse Prairie Ridge, Jenkins picked Iowa over offers from Purdue and Northern Illinois, among others. He was a solid Hawkeye pledge since January last year.
Tyler Linderbaum
DT: 6-2, 270, Solon (Solon)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick stars: Linderbaum is an elite athlete at nose tackle. The state’s No. 2 prospect behind Waggoner, he racked up 34.5 tackles, four fumble recoveries and a 70-yard pick-six for the Class 3A semifinalist Spartans this season. Named to the Register’s All-Iowa Elite Team. Could also play center for Iowa.
Noah Shannon
DT: 6-1, 300, Oswego (Oswego, Illinois)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Shannon committed to Iowa last July after decommitting from Minnesota. He also had offers from Michigan State, Iowa State, Duke and Missouri, among others. According to the Chicago Tribune, he recorded 77 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and eight sacks this season.
Dillon Doyle
LB: 6-3, 215, Iowa City West (Iowa City)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: The state’s No. 3 recruit, Doyle picked the Hawkeyes over Central Florida, Northern Illinois and Harvard. A physically imposing outside linebacker who logged 49.5 tackles, six solo tackles for loss and two solo sacks this season. A Register All-Iowa Elite Team selection. He graduated in December and early-enrolled at Iowa.
Jack Plumb
OT: 6-8, 250, Bay Port (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Plumb picked Iowa over Wisconsin. Michigan State and Minnesota were also in the picture. He played tight end and offensive tackle in high school, but he projects as an offensive tackle at Iowa.
Seth Benson
LB: 6-1, 210, Washington (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
Rivals: 2 stars; 247Sports: 2 stars
Quick facts: Benson was South Dakota's Gatorade Player of the Year. He was an 11th-hour pick-up for the Hawkeyes — literally the night before the early signing period ended. He recorded 110 tackles and led Washington to its third consecutive state title this season.
Julius Brents
DB: 6-2, 180, Warren Central (Indianapolis)
Rivals: 4 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Brents is thought to have signed in December but is waiting until Wednesday to officially announce. An Iowa pledge since September, Brents picked the Hawkeyes over offers from Michigan State, Indiana, North Carolina State and Louisville, among others. He’s a sure tackler with a 39.2-inch vertical, according to his Hudl profile. Projects at safety or cornerback.
D.J. Johnson
CB: 6-0, 170, North Central (Indianapolis)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Johnson is thought to have signed in December but is waiting until Wednesday to officially announce. Johnson committed to Iowa over Notre Dame back in August and has remained a firm pledge, despite a late offer from LSU. According to MaxPreps, he logged 30 tackles and 5.5 solo tackles for loss this season.
Cody Ince
OT: 6-5, 260, Unity (Balsam Lake, Wisconsin)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Ince committed to Iowa last June over North Dakota State and Minnesota. Maryland, Purdue and Virginia were also in the picture. He projects as an offensive tackle. According to his Hudl profile, he can squat 425 pounds.
Samson Evans
ATH: 6-1, 205, Prairie Ridge (Crystal Lake, Illinois)
Rivals: 2 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Starting quarterback for back-to-back state championships with Prairie Ridge. He accumulated 2,211 rushing yards, 815 passing yards and 56 total touchdowns (43 rushing) this season. Named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. Projects as a running back/slot receiver at Iowa.
Terry Roberts
CB: 5-10, 171, Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pennsylvania)
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Roberts picked Iowa last June over Duquesne. He played cornerback, wide receiver and kick-returner for Pennsylvania powerhouse Cathedral Prep. According to his Hudl profile, he runs a 4.76-second 40-yard dash and boasts a 32.7-inch vertical.
Daviyon Nixon
DT: 6-5, 295, Iowa Western Community College
Rivals: 3 stars; 247Sports: 3 stars
Quick facts: Originally a 2017 pledge, Nixon started up at Iowa this spring after playing one junior college year because of eligibility issues. He stuck with Iowa despite an Alabama offer. He has an opportunity to play right away.
Riley Moss
DB: 6-1, 182, Ankeny Centennial (Ankeny)
Rivals: 2 stars; 247Sports: 2 stars
Quick facts: Moss, originally at North Dakota State pledge, flipped over to the Hawkeyes for a grayshirt opportunity. He won't be with the team until next spring.
Matthew Bain covers college football and basketball recruiting for the Des Moines Register. He also helps out with Iowa and Iowa State football and basketball coverage for HawkCentral and Cyclone Insider. Contact him at mbain@dmreg.com and follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.