Veteran recruiting analyst Tom Lemming impressed with Iowa’s two latest OL commits
By Hawk Fanatic
IOWA CITY, Iowa – In less than 24 hours, the Iowa football team received verbal commitments from two offensive linemen in the 2026 class, and veteran recruiting analyst Tom Lemming thinks very highly of both of them.
Minnesota native Owen Linder committed to Iowa on Sunday, and was then followed by Iowa City West High’s Colin Whitters, who announced his verbal commitment Monday morning.
“They’re very good players,” Lemming said. “Linder is one of the top three or four players in Minnesota. So, that’s very good catch, especially this early, too. That’s amazing.
“And Colin, I’ve seen him a couple times and I really liked him a lot.”
Asked what he likes about the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Linder, Lemming said:
“He’s got good feet, he’s technically sound and he’s a very productive kid. He could probably wind up up playing guard or center. But he’s a strong kid, an outstanding run blocker.”
Linder picked Iowa over scholarships offers Minnesota, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Arkansas, Illinois and California.
As for the 6-4, 285-pound Whitters, he has met twice with Lemming during the recruiting process and has made a strong impression, both in person and with his performance on the field.
“He’s versatile enough to play tackle or guard,” said Lemming, who has been evaluating high school football recruits since the late 1970s. “So, it doesn’t really matter with him. But I really like him, very strong and athletic.”
Whitters picked Iowa over scholarship offers Iowa State and Kansas State.

Lemming also thinks very highly of Whitters’ high school teammate and 2026 class member, Julian Manson, who is the son former Iowa quarterback Jason Manson.
Julian Manson is listed at 6-3 and 180 pounds and Lemming thinks he could play a number of positions in college, including wide receiver, tight end, safety or even linebacker.
“Julian is another really good athlete,” Lemming said of Julian Manson, whose father now works as the Director of Player Development for the Iowa football team. “He’s very fast, one of the faster bigger guys in the country. He’s just an athlete, he can play anywhere.
“He could be a wide receiver with that size, which would be great. You see a lot of those guys in the NFL that are that big. I think more a wide receiver than a tight end, although, he plays both. But he also could be a linebacker or defensive end. He’s a must catch for Iowa because you don’t want to let a guy like that get our of the state.”
It is widely believed that Julian Manson will ultimately commit to Iowa because of his father, but if he wants to look at other schools, Lemming thinks it would be wise for Iowa to give him the time and space to do so.
“He’ll probably wind up at Iowa, but it’s smart to let him look around instead of demanding he go to Iowa without looking around because that never works,” Lemming said.
The Iowa football team held an annual Junior Day event this past weekend. The event often leads to some players committing in the first few days after, as was the case with Linder and Whitters.