Recruiting notebook: Ali eager to learn more about Iowa; Hankins offered
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Receiver is always a tough position to recruit for a traditionally run-heavy school like Iowa.
But that doesn’t seem to matter much to three-star receiver Joshua Ali.
The Hollywood, Fla., native received a scholarship offer from Iowa on Wednesday and thinks he would be a good fit in Iowa’s offense.
“It feels great,” Ali said. “I love the program they run and watching them last year they look like a well-coached team and they have a lot of talent.
“Knowing how much they run the ball, I would be a big threat when they pass it.”
Other than its vaunted running game, Ali is not that familiar with the Iowa program, but is eager to learn more.
Iowa is coming off a 2015 season in which it set a school record with 12 victories while also winning the Big Ten West Division and playing in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1991.
“I’m looking forward to learning more about Iowa,” Ali said. “The Big Ten is a very competitive conference and Illinois is the only other Big Ten offer I have."
Even with just two Big Ten offers, Ali has nearly 20 scholarship offers overall from schools that include Louisville, Kansas, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Utah and West Virginia.
The 5-foot-11, 173-pound Ali said he doesn’t have any favorites right now and is more focused on preparing for his senior season.
Hankins offer: Iowa’s historic 2015 season has been paying dividends on the recruiting trail, the latest example being Texas three-star cornerback Matt Hankins.
He is interested in Iowa after receiving a scholarship offer on Wednesday.
“I’m extremely excited,” Hankins said. “They had such a great season last year and their defense was stellar so it meant a lot knowing that they think I can play at that level.”
Hankins also has received attention from Michigan, Mississippi State and Arkansas, but he said no school stands out to him at this point.
“They all do, honestly,” said Hankins, who is listed a 6-1, 160 pounds. “They are all really good schools.”
Hankins said he would like to make a decision before the start of his senior season.
Another Texas offer: Iowa offered another scholarship to a Texas native on Wednesday, but landing three-star defensive back Kobe Boyce could be difficult.
Boyce is currently committed to Texas, although he said on Twitter that he was blessed to receive an offer from Iowa.
Hankins’ highlight tape here: