Mason Lewis is navigating the recruiting process with a wish list. A stable program ranks high on it.

That certainly helps Iowa’s chances. Head coach Kirk Ferentz is heading into his 27th season in charge. That’s five more than Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy and Utah’s Kyle Wittingham, who are tied for the second-longest tenure among FBS head coaches.

“Their strong foundation on which the coaching staff is built (is something that stands out about the Hawkeyes),” Lewis said. “Almost every coach has been there for at least a decade, and I find that wave of security very important.”

That comfortability has the Chandler (AZ) Basha High cornerback officially visiting the school. The stay will kick off June 20. That’s two weeks after a visit to Kansas State, the only other official he’s announced setting up so far. He also reports scholarship offers from Arizona State, Iowa State, Kansas, Washington State, Colorado State and UTEP.

In addition to stability at Iowa, Lewis likes what he knows about the program’s defense. He sees it as a good fit for his set of skills.

“I am very smart. I can read plays early and jump routes before they even form,” he said.

While Lewis feels good about the Hawkeye program from afar, he’s looking forward to finding out what life is like on campus.

“I want to learn about the experience of being at Iowa from the players that live it every day,” he said.

Getting a better feel for the academic opportunities also will be a priority during his official visit. He plans to major in Computer Science.

“Other than football, that is my second passion,” he said.

Prep Redzone ranks Lewis (6-0, 190) as the No. 13 player overall among 2026 Arizona prospects. The 247Sports Composite rankings put him 11th, seven spots ahead of where he shows up in the On3 Industry ranking.

According to MaxPreps, Lewis recorded 33.0 tackles (9 solo, 1.0 TFL) with seven passes defended as a junior in 2024. He added 780 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns via offense and special teams.