Hawks get hints of bumper crop
All-star game could have 7 future Hawks
By
Andy Hamilton </apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=45>
Iowa City Press-Citizen
Iowa City Press-Citizen
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=275 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Prep showcase • What: U.S. Army All-American Bowl, a game featuring top high school football players. • When, where: Noon Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. • TV: NBC (KWWL-7 in Eastern Iowa). • Updates: Some recruits are expected to announce their college destinations during the game. We'll update Iowa recruits on Hawk Central as they make their announcements.
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Editor's note: Stay with Hawk Central on Saturday as we keep you posted with news of recruit commitments announced at the All-American Bowl.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- They dropped more hints than passes Thursday.
They didn't just let the cat out of the bag, they paraded it around the Alamodome.
A few of Iowa's football recruits were invited to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl because they're considered among the 78 finest players in the country, not because they're skilled at keeping secrets.
The Hawkeyes came into this week with three players in this game who have publicly said they will sign with Iowa in February. But Thursday afternoon, there were seven players gathered for an "Iowa photo" while several of their parents took snapshots.
Unless this was a hoax, the Hawkeyes could be on the verge of harvesting an impressive crop of recruits this weekend. If it's a legitimate picture of the future, blue-chip offensive tackles Dan Doering and Dace Richardson, defensive lineman Ryan Bain and tight end Tony Moeaki could be ready to join an Iowa class that already includes quarterback Jake Christensen, defensive lineman Tyler Blum and receiver Trey Stross.
"It'll be a good turnout for the Hawkeyes," said Christensen, who has been selling Iowa to nearly ever top prospect with ears since he committed in June.
"We talked about starting a dynasty and getting all the top recruits from our area and all the guys who were considering Iowa to choose Iowa. It's close to coming true. You never really know until signing day, but after this weekend I think there will be a lot of pleased Iowa fans."
The Hawkeyes are in position to close out one of the nation's top recruiting classes and likely the best in school history, according to ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.
As of last week, Lemming had Iowa's class ranked the fifth-best group in the nation, behind Nebraska, Michigan, Tennessee and Georgia.
"You know, I've always considered the biggest part of recruiting to be perception," Lemming said. "Perception is something special is happening to a certain program, and Iowa's got it right now. There are a few schools that have it nationally, and they're certainly one of them.
"There's an air about Iowa for the past few months that something special is happening in recruiting and that they're building something."
Doering, Richardson, Bain and Moeaki are expected to announce their college choices Saturday. We'll update Hawk Central as the commitments are officially announced.
Bain, a five-star prospect from Bolingbrook, Ill., said he has already informed college coaches of his decision. He said his final list of schools included Iowa, Purdue, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
"I kind of want to tell (other people) when they ask me where I'm going," he said. "I've been telling them that I'm looking at these schools, and I've been doing that for a while. To be honest with you, I just wish I could get it done with."
Moeaki may have given away Bain's decision Thursday.
"Bain will randomly ask me if I'm going (to Iowa) or not," and only about Iowa, Moeaki said. "(He does that) about 20 times a day."
Moeaki said he had not finalized his decision as of Thursday afternoon. He said he narrowed his final choices to Iowa, Tennessee and Brigham Young.
"I think I might have an idea, but I want to make sure in the next 48 hours," Moeaki said. "I'm 85, 90 percent sure."
Richardson -- Moeaki's prep teammate at Wheaton-Warrenville South near Chicago -- said reports in Chicago papers that he had already committed to Iowa are inaccurate. He said he still is wavering between the Hawkeyes and Tennessee.
"Jake and (Tennessee quarterback recruit Jonathan) Crompton have been competing to get my attention because they both want me to go to their school," Richardson said. "I'm still open, but I think Saturday I'm going to announce. I'm still not 100 percent sure if I'm going to announce, but I think I am."
Christensen and Stross have been recruiting others this week, too. Christensen said he's been talking about Iowa to running back Jason Gwaltney. Stross said he has mentioned the Hawkeyes to receiver Fred Rouse. Both have made a pitch to receivers Nyan Boateng and David Nelson, who visited Iowa in December.
Nelson, ranked by Lemming as the No. 6 receiver in the country, said Iowa is at the top of his list with Florida, Notre Dame and UCLA. He said he plans to visit Florida and UCLA later this month, but said Iowa has "a real good chance of me going there."
"I really feel comfortable around (Christensen) and the rest of the (Iowa) players around here," said the 6-foot-6, 200-pound receiver from Wichita Falls, Texas. "We've really developed a great relationship in the one week we've been here. I'm having a great time with these guys, and hopefully we can get this going as a four-year thing."
Reach Andy Hamilton at 339-7368 or ahamilton@press-citizen.com <mailto:ahamilton@press-citizen.com>.
