Texas receiver Gavin Holmes the latest to de-commit from Iowa
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa football team’s recruiting pipeline to Texas is rapidly drying up.
Receiver Gavin Holmes on Tuesday became the fourth Texas native to de-commit from Iowa’s 2017 recruiting class. He announced his decision on Twitter with a lengthy statement explaining exactly why he changed his mind about being a Hawkeye.
Holmes said he didn’t like how the Iowa coaches handled Eno Benjamin’s recruitment, nor does Holmes agree with Kirk Ferentz’s no-visit policy for committed players.
God has a plan. . .
I have decided to officially open up my recruitment! Thank you to those who understand. pic.twitter.com/M7qiuWfuWB— G3 ® (@Gavin_Holmes23) November 22, 2016
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Benjamin and Iowa parted ways after Benjamin, a four-star running back from Wylie, Texas, took unofficial visits to Missouri and Arizona State despite being committed to the Hawkeyes.
Ferentz prohibits his committed players from visiting other schools. However, Ferentz isn’t opposed to recruiting players who are committed to other schools.
In the opinion of some, including Holmes, Ferentz has a double standard.
“The whole situation that happened with my brother Eno and Iowa’s policy and how they went out and offered a committed prospect and tried to get him to visit when their recruits were not allowed to take visits at all just didn’t sit very well with me, and I think it was handled completely wrong,” Holmes said on Twitter.
Holmes also said he doesn’t like Iowa’s offense, nor does he expect the offense to change just for him.
Holmes is the second receiver from Texas to de-commit from Iowa in less than a week. Beau Corrales announced his de-commitment last week on Twitter and then visited Utah this past weekend with Benjamin.
Four-star cornerback Chevin Calloway also de-committed from Iowa this fall after visiting Arkansas.
That leaves quarterback Peyton Mansell and defensive back Matt Hankins as the only Texas natives still committed to Iowa’s 2017 class, which now consists of just 13 players..
Holmes previously was committed to Duke before switching to Iowa where he has relatives.
Iowa’s recruiting pipeline to Texas received plenty of attention this summer and fall, thanks largely to Benjamin, who got the ball rolling by committing to Iowa in April.
Benjamin then became a recruiter for the Hawkeyes on social media. He helped to convince the other Texas natives to commit to Iowa.
Ferentz was asked about his no-visit policy during his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
“I think we’re pretty set with what we’re doing and how we’re doing it,” Ferentz said. “There are no guarantees until signing day. That’s something I think we all realize and we’ll just play every case individually.
“From my standpoint, looking at the big picture, we’re going to have ups and downs. We’ll have guys commit and de-commit. Typically, we have a pretty good feel for who’s in what category. Every now and then you get a surprise. So that’s just the way it goes.”
NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from commenting on a specific recruit before the recruit has signed a national letter of intent. The national signing period for football will start on the first Wednesday in February.
Ferentz disagrees with the perception that his no-visit policy has no wiggle room or flexibility.
"I think it's like discipline, every case, in your kids at home, same way, every case is unique and different," Ferentz said. "There are a lot of things you can consider. I've got 100-plus players I'm responsible for. So if one walks into my office with an issue, and two hours later another guy, you know, one guy may have a lot of credit in the bank, the other guy may not have much credit. Those kind of things. Those all weigh in. It's all human stuff.
"No, it's not like Russia from 1960 or something like that. It's a benevolent dictatorship."
Ferentz then mentioned a conversation he had with the father of former Iowa running back Marques Simmons.
"The best line I ever heard was Marques Simmons' dad said we teach democracy, but don't exercise it here," Ferentz said. "He was a principal at a school. I thought that was a pretty good line. But anyway, every case is unique."
The loss of Holmes and Corrales leaves Iowa with just one receiver in the 2017 class – Mississippi native Brandon Smith.
Iowa is believed to be one of the favorites, along with Michigan, to land Iowa City West receiver Oliver Martin.
"I'm confident at the end of the day, by Signing Day, we'll have the right 20 to 22 guys here, and hopefully, the guys that are out looking find the places — most importantly, they find the places that are best for them," Ferentz said. "Because that's what it's all about for every individual, find the best place for you to be. What is the best school, the best program to be in where you can thrive and be happy."