By Tyler Devine

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Three-star linebacker Ernest Hausmann first heard from the Iowa coaching staff around a month ago.

On Thursday, the Columbus, Neb., native received a scholarship offer from the Hawkeyes.

“It definitely means a lot,” Hausmann said. “Just from my conversation with (linebackers) coach (Seth) Wallace, he was talking about how methodical Iowa was in their recruiting process and how the offers mean a little more just with how in-depth they go in choosing the players that they give offers to.”

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Hausmann said he has become familiar with Iowa’s style of play on defense over the years.

“I’ve been watching Iowa for a long time,” Hausmann said. “And just recently I’ve been watching different aspects of the game. I like the defensive side of the ball, so I key on a lot of different parts of the defense. But the thing that stood out to me the most was their physicality. I always knew that Iowa – it’s clear to see that they love to be physical. I thought their defenders had a nose for the football and I thought they were pretty disciplined football players.”

Though the NCAA currently has restrictions in place that prohibit in-person contact between coaches and recruits, but many recruits have taken it upon themselves to make their own visits.

Hausmann said that he is hoping to be able to take a normal visit to Iowa City, but knows that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may hinder that.

“I’m just going to keep my fingers crossed the dead period ends,” Hausmann. “But we know that there’s a possibility that it doesn’t, so right now we’re discussing options, what to do with the next step.”

According to Rivals.com, Hausmann also has Power Five scholarship offers from Arizona State, Boston College, Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and Virginia.

Iowa currently has one player committed to its 2022 recruiting class in four-star defensive lineman Aaron Graves, a native of Gowrie, Iowa.