Iowa Football Enjoys Active Signing Day
Hawkeyes Add Five Commitments on Wednesday
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa Football wrapped up most of its recent recruiting classes during the summer before the early December signing day. That trend changed this year.
The Hawkeyes entered Wednesday’s early signing period with 12 known verbal commitments. They finished the day with 17 signed prospects in the 2022 Class.
Boyden Hull-Rock Valley (IA) High Athlete Landyn Kekerix, Oakdale (CT) St. Thomas More defensive lineman Brian Allen Jr., Jackson (MI) defensive back Olando Trader, Walled Lake (MI) Western High safety Koen Entringer and Fresno (CA) San Joaquin Memorial cornerback TJ Hall all announced their Iowa commitments on Wednesday and signed their national letters of intent.
Kekerix (6-2, 195) kicked off the flurry when he announced for Iowa Wednesday morning. Projected to play linebacker in college, he led the Nighthawks with 76 tackles (45 solo, 11.5 for loss) this fall for a team that reached the Class 3A state title game. He added three sacks and an interception to go with over 1,500 yards of total offense. He also reported offers from South Dakota and South Dakota State.
“Landyn is one of the best athletes I have ever coached, but he is also a humble and outstanding young man as well,” Boyden Hull-Rock Valley coach Cory Brandt told HF. “He’s hard-working and plays with a uniquely high level of intensity. He is very versatile and did everything for his team.
“I can’t wait to see what happens to him at Iowa under their coaching, and strength and conditioning program. I think his potential is just beginning to show.”
Allen Jr. (6-4, 250) jumped in next. The former Illinois verbal pledge and resident of the Prairie State officially visited the Hawkeyes in June. He de-committed from the Illini in October. He reported offers from Iowa State, Oregon, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, among others.
“They’re getting a leader, first and foremost,” St. Thomas More coach Ernest Anderson told HF. “He’s a well-raised, humble and disciplined young man. Brian Allen is a blue-collar, hard-working young man, who was a captain for me. We love Brian and will miss him.”
Trader (6-0, 185) announced his decision after Allen Jr. The one-time Central Michigan commitment spoke with HF after officially visiting Iowa last weekend. He reported offers from Nebraska and Vanderbilt, among others.
“I felt like I could really fit in their defense as I was watching their practice. They are a high-energy team and very disciplined,” Trader said on Sunday.
Next up was Entringer (6-2, 190), who like Trader was verbally committed to Central Michigan. He listed offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Utah and Wisconsin, among others. He officially visited the Badgers, Wolverines and Boston College during the last month before stopping at Iowa this past weekend.
“Iowa is getting a very physical and rangy safety with a ton of athleticism,” Walled Lake Western coach Kory Cioroch told HF. “Koen has only been playing the safety position for a year, so his ceiling is very high. Koen is also a great student and young man of character.”
Hall (6-0, 166) finished up the productive day. A former Washington commitment, he reported offers from Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon State and others. He officially visited during the season and unofficially visited this past weekend, when he bonded with guys like Trader, Entringer and others.
“I think we all connected well,” Hall told HF. “We all went to practice and chilled with the other players almost the whole time there.”
Iowa defensive coordinator and defensive back coach Phil Parker helped with the late additions in the secondary.
“My time with coach Parker was great,” Hall said. “He has so much knowledge for the game and the vibe with him was great.”
The Hawkeyes don’t often recruit California, but they had a connection with Hall. Former offensive coordinator Don Patterson, who helps the Iowa program with analytics these days, coached Hall’s father, Terrance Hall, at Western Illinois.
“A lot of people say Iowa doesn’t recruit California. I just believe if you can play ball, they will find you, no matter who it is,” TJ Hall said.
For a closer look at Iowa’s ’22 Class, click HERE.