Hawkeyes Hit Trail Hard in January
Iowa Football Recruiting in High Gear
By Rob Howe
Hayden Moore felt special when he received an Iowa Football scholarship offer on Thursday. He picked up on something from Hawkeye assistant coach Ladell Betts.
“I appreciate receiving that offer because when coach looked me in my eyes and told me the good news, I saw that he recognized me and my talent,” Moore told HF. “I could also see a great relationship that could get built in the future with coach.”
The Newberry (FL) High receiver was among a flurry of opportunities the Hawkeyes handed out in January. Staff members were traveling the country meeting with prospects and playing host to a group of them at last week’s junior day.
Moore (6-2, 186) is a long, strong, athletic receiver, as he shows during his junior highlight film. According to Max Preps, he caught 51 balls for 982 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding 69 yards and a score on seven carries.
Euclid (OH) High sophomore Keishjuan Telfair reported an Iowa offer on Jan. 23. The defensive back also posted offers from Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Pittsburgh, SMU, West Virginia and others.
“I appreciate getting an offer from Iowa,” Telfair told HF. “It means a lot because it’s a lot of work that comes behind this. Wouldn’t nobody understand but the one who’s doing the work. So, I really appreciate it.”
“I plan on visiting this summer. I don’t have a official date yet, but sometime in the summer.”
Another defensive back, C.J. Hester, announced his Iowa offer on Wednesday. The Cocoa (FL) High junior also showed offers from Miami (FL), Iowa State, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Kentucky, Indiana and others.
“Not a lot of people get an Iowa offer. The fact I got one, I’m blessed,” Hester told HF. “It was great talking to the coach (Abdul Hodge) that offered me. I’ll try to visit sometime in the spring.”
Miami (FL) became the first program to offer Chicago freshman Marshaun Thorton when the Hurricanes did so in early December. His recruitment has skyrocketed since then. Michigan and Iowa both offered on Jan. 7.
“I’m not sure when I’m going to visit (Iowa City), but I plan on going in the summer,” he told HF. “I appreciated it because it was my third offer. (The Hawkeyes) actually were invested in me.”
The dynamic Mount Carmel ninth-grader reported offers from Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue, Syracuse, NC State, Louisville, Iowa State, Minnesota and Missouri as well this month.
D’Montae Tims felt good about the Hawkeye offer on Tuesday. Fellow Seffner (FL) Armwood Hawks (O’Lontae Dean, Rashad Godfrey) already chose Iowa in recent classes.
“I appreciated (the offer) because a few of my teammates are already there, and they’re obviously there for a reason,” Tims told HF. “I may visit sometimes this spring.”
The Hawkeyes added three offensive line commitments in their ’26 Class off of last weekend’s junior day. Owen Linder (MN), Colin Whitters (IA) and Hudson Parliament (SD) all made the call for Iowa. They joined Waterloo West tackle Carson Nielsen, the program’s first pledge in the cycle.
Despite already securing four commitments from O-Linemen in ’26, Hinsdale (IL) Central standout Gene Riordan has remained a top target. Iowa sent head coach Kirk Ferentz, area recruiter Seth Wallace and position coach George Barnett to visit with him this week. That happened after he was at last Saturday’s junior day.
So, how did that all go?
“I will get you the answer soon!” Riordan told HF through direct message Friday.
The Hawkeyes have continued looking at prep seniors. They offered Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha Catholic defensive back Jacob Wallace this week. He was expected to officially visit Iowa City this weekend.
Some other reported offers handed out by Iowa in January (click on name for video highlights):
Marshaun Ivy, ’27, LB, St. Louis
Justin Williams, ’26, WR/RB, FL