Elijah Willis earned a scholarship offer from Wisconsin this month after being named the defensive line MVP at a Badger camp. Nebraska also offered the Detroit King High junior after seeing him at its camp.

Having already picked up an Iowa opportunity in early May, Willis didn’t need to camp with the Hawkeyes. He did so anyway.

“My biggest takeaway from Iowa camp was seeing how detailed the coaching is and how hard they push us at the camp to be better,” he said.

Willis valued the chance to work with the Iowa staff and get a closer look at the overall operation. He observed a bond.

“What I most like about the Iowa program is how their players get together on random days to do team-bonding activities,” he said.

Willis has a good handle on what it’s like being a Hawkeyes.

“I feel like the main things other people might want to learn about the program they have already told me about it and showed me,” he said.

Washington and several MAC schools also have offered Willis. Michigan, Michigan State, LSU, Illinois and others have shown interest in him.

“Iowa stands pretty high on my list because of how they have welcomed me with open arms, still keep in contact and with how they showed me every little thing about the school on my first time being on campus,” he said.

Willis hopes to commit to a school after his upcoming junior campaign.

“I will know when it’s home when the coaches really see me as a player who can make an impact on their team my first year and if the coaching staff stays in strong contact with me for my last two years of high school,” he said.

Academics will play a key role in that choice as well.

“I want to study Communications, but it might change,” Willis said.