IOWA CITY, Iowa — Less than two weeks after its big recruiting weekend, Iowa has 12 commits for its 2025 class with several recruits still weighing their choices.
Staring at its smallest freshman class in years, Iowa has 82 players on scholarship or committed in 2025. But with perhaps 18 starters leaving after the 2024 season, the Hawkeyes are likely to invest heavily into the transfer portal in December.
The Hawkeyes have four players who visited last month who have yet to make their decision: defensive tackle Christian Hudson,
wide receiver Terrence Smith, kicker Scott Starzyk and defensive end Iose Epenesa, who is ranked as a five-star prospect by multiple outlets. All but Starzyk plan to announce their choice this month.
Should the Hawkeyes land all four prospects, they still could target another defensive back or a running back for 2025. But it’s likely this class stays below 20 signees.
Here’s a look at the remaining uncommitted prospects who visited Iowa in June plus those who have pledged for the Hawkeyes.
Particulars: 6 feet 4, 245 pounds; Edwardsville (Ill.) High School; No. 46 overall recruit, No. 6 defensive end, No. 2 Illinois prospect (per 247Sports Composite rankings).
Notable: Epenesa has plenty of suitors, and Iowa remains perhaps the favorite. But strong pushes by Miami, Utah and Missouri have made this far from an automatic decision.
Epenesa grew up in the Iowa program with his father playing defensive line, oldest brother, A.J., playing defensive end and older brother, Eric, who is currently a linebacker. Epenesa’s decision day remains undetermined.
Last year for Edwardsville, Epenesa had six sacks. This spring, he finished second in the discus (189 feet, 10 inches) and 12th in the shot put (55-0) at the Illinois Class 3A (large school) track and field meet.
Particulars: 6-4, 175; West Aurora (Ill.) High School; No. 319 overall, No. 44 receiver, No. 8 Illinois prospect.
Notable: Based on position and need, Smith might be Iowa’s most important remaining target. The Hawkeyes have decided to pick up one high school wide receiver for 2025, and Smith is the one the staff wants.
He’s a three-sport athlete, which Iowa likes. Smith caught 59 passes for 906 yards and 11 scores. He averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in basketball and finished sixth at the state track meet in the high jump (6-5). Smith also visited Minnesota, and he plans to decide early this month.
Particulars: 6-0, 260; Mainland High School, Daytona Beach, Fla.; No. 1,021 overall, No. 100 defensive lineman, No. 137 Florida prospect.
Notable: Hudson finished his junior season with 69 tackles, including 39 solo stops and nine sacks. He added three passes defensed.
A powerful defender reminiscent of former Iowa lineman Mike Daniels, Hudson will announce on July 6. His final four are Iowa, Iowa State, Maryland and UCF.
K Scott Starzyk
Particulars: 5-9, 172; The Woodlands (Texas) High School; unrated.
Notable: The Hawkeyes traditionally don’t offer scholarships to kickers out of high school, but they made an exception for Starzyk, the nation’s top-ranked kicker by Kohl’s Professional Camps.
Starzyk also visited Syracuse in June and holds a Mississippi State offer. Starzyk told Hawkeye Report he plans to decide in August.
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