Messiah Blair was going to visit Iowa Football last month for its open spring scrimmage at Kinnick Stadium. A busy schedule altered that plan.

The Class of 2023 Detroit King defensive end called an audible. He stopped in town Friday for an unofficial Hawkeye visit.

“The thing that stood out at Iowa was the support staff that the players have,” Blair told HF.

Blair (6-7, 230) shares a body type with a fellow Detroit product when the Hawkeyes recruited him out of high school. Current Dallas Cowboy defensive lineman Chauncey Golston checked in at 6-5, 235 coming out of East English Village High in ’16.

“I think I would fit to be a great rush end at Iowa if I was to commit there,” Blair said.

Blair knew the Hawkeyes consistently competed at a high level. He received more detail during his visit.

“I learned that Iowa is the fourth winningest team in the Big Ten (during the last 10 years), which is great,” Blair said.

Blair plans on officially visiting Iowa during the weekend of June 24. The Hawkeyes are well positioned after Friday’s stop.

“After the visit, I feel that Iowa is a great place for me. I loved it as soon as I stepped foot on campus,” he said.

Blair reports 20 scholarship offers, including opportunities from Cincinnati, Maryland and Purdue.

“As of right now, I like NIU, Eastern Michigan, Akron, Purdue and Toledo,” he said.

Rivals ranks Blair as a three-star recruit, the No. 47 strong-side defensive end nationally in ’23 and the No. 12 player overall in Michigan for the cycle. The On3 consensus rankings show him as the No. 49 edge rusher in the class.