Iowa football continues to have success with instate recruiting
Iowa's 2024 class has strong instate presence, and 2025 class starts with another instate player
By Alex Pruismann
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa football team’s 2024 recruiting class includes an impressive seven-player haul from in-state, and there could be more to come.
Kirk Ferentz’s staff also has started building the 2025 recruiting class, and that process recently got off to a bang, thanks to a commitment from another player from instate
Pleasant Valley two-way lineman Joey VanWetzinga didn’t need much time to commit to Iowa after having recently received a scholarship offer.
He announced his commitment to Iowa on July 1.
Van Wetzinga appreciated the fact that Iowa offered him a scholarship this early in the recruiting process, and then he showed his appreciation by taking less than two weeks to commit after being offered.
The 6-foot-2, 255-pound VanWetzinga is the first player to commit to Iowa’s 2025 class.
He will now follow in the footsteps of his older brother Rusty VanWetzinga, who has accepted Iowa’s offer to be a preferred walk-on fullback in the 2024 class.
“The idea of playing alongside my brother and being on the field together will be something that will push me to be the best,” Joey VanWetzinga said to Hawk Fanatic.
And though Joey VanWetzinga would love the option of playing on defense for Iowa, he believes he is better suited to play center for the Hawkeyes, partly because of his build and physical attributes.
Joey VanWetzinga also believes that one of his biggest strengths is his ability to get off the line of scrimmage and get under his opponent’s pad level.
That is crucial to playing center.
Iowa has produced some top-notch centers under Kirk Ferentz, including Solon native Tyler Linderbaum, who won the 2021 Rimington Award as the nation’s top collegiate center.
Linderbaum was picked in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens and now starts at center for the Ravens.
Joey VanWetzinga said his relationship with Iowa started to grow when Iowa offensive line coach George Barnett reached out to him and invited him to camp last month.
Barnett apparently wanted to see VanWetzinga in person before offering him a scholarship.
Joey VanWetzinga is excited about his chance to be a Hawkeye, and eager to prove himself to the staff and to the Iowa fans.
“Can’t wait to be a part of Hawkeye Nation,” he said.