Recruiting stock watch: Checking in on top in-state 2021 football prospects
Matthew BainAmid concerns over the spread of COVID-19, basically everything in the world of sports has shut down for the time being. Except marble racing. And recruiting.
Although they can't visit prospects or host anybody for campus visits, colleges are still hard at work recruiting their 2021 classes and beyond. Prospects are still getting offers, still rising up recruiting boards, still releasing top lists of schools.
It's just all being done without coaches seeing kids in person.
Several 2021 prospects in Iowa have seen their recruiting profiles blossom amid the coronavirus era of football recruiting.
Here's the latest recruiting news on the uncommitted juniors in the Register's top 25 in-state 2021 recruiting rankings, as well as a handful of unranked juniors who have seen their stock surge this March:
(If you're interested in reviewing our most recent top 25, here's that, too.)
1. T.J. Bollers
Defensive end, Clear Creek Amana
6-foot-3, 240 pounds
Previous offers: California, Iowa State, Iowa, Washington, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Florida, Virginia Tech, Arkansas, Army, Kansas State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Missouri
New offers: Alabama, Texas A&M, Northwestern, Michigan State (from new staff)
Stock watch: Bollers spoke with Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban last week. He has official visits to Iowa State and California scheduled in June. We'll see if Saban can pluck another star from Iowa.
2. Thomas Fidone
Tight end, Lewis Central
6-5, 220
Previous offers: Nebraska, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Iowa, Iowa State, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas State, LSU, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Wisconsin
New offers: Alabama, Miami, Utah, Auburn, Kansas, FAU, Florida State, UCLA, Arizona State, Ohio State
Stock watch: Fidone continues to be considered one of the best, if not the best, tight end in the 2021 class. He recently released a top six of Notre Dame, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan, LSU and Nebraska, although he noted his recruitment is still open.
6. Brody Brecht
Wide receiver, Ankeny
6-4, 190
Previous offers: Iowa State, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas State, Kansas, William and Mary
New offers: None
Stock watch: Brecht has narrowed his decision down to two schools: Iowa vs. Iowa State. He would be a major addition for either program, and he'd be the highest-rated in-state 2021 product for Iowa State.
► Iowa or Iowa State? Brecht goes in-depth on his Cy-Hawk recruitment
10. Marcus Morgan
Quarterback/athlete, Iowa City West
6-3, 180
Previous: Iowa State
New offers: None
Stock watch: Morgan is no doubt one of Iowa's top 2021 athletes. He could go Division I in football, baseball or basketball. He feels like a kid who could land several offers during his senior season, if there is a football season next fall.
15. Max Llewellyn
Tight end/defensive end, Urbandale
6-5, 230
Previous offers: Iowa State, Miami of Ohio, Illinois State, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois
New offers: Northern Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota State, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas State, Northwestern
Stock watch: Llewellyn's film is making its way around the Midwest, and he is blowing up. We fast-tracked Llewellyn up from unranked to No. 15 in our most recent update, and he's going to keep rising in our next update.
16. Luke Pinnick
Offensive line, West Marshall
6-4, 290
Previous offers: Iowa State, Kansas, Northern Illinois
New offer: Western Illinois
Stock watch: Pinnick continues to stay on the radar of programs throughout the Midwest, recently receiving invites to Kansas and Kansas State's now-canceled March junior days.
17. Seth Malcom
Linebacker, Fremont-Mills
6-3, 200
Previous offers: Iowa State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Nebraska
New offers: None
Stock watch: Not a whole lot of new updates with Malcom. He visited all four schools that have offered in January and February.
18. Tyler Maro
Offensive line, Davenport Assumption
6-8, 240
Previous offers: Louisville, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Northern Illinois
New offers: William and Mary, Dartmouth, Columbia, Harvard, Western Michigan, Tulane, Yale, Indiana State, Western Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Lehigh
Stock watch: Maro continues to pile on Group of Five, FCS and now Ivy League offers. Coaches no doubt love his upside, thanks to his huge frame. Power Five programs, such as Iowa State, where he visited in March, continue to show interest.
19. Nasir Washington
Defensive end, West Des Moines Valley
6-3, 230
Previous offer: Miami of Ohio
New offers: North Dakota State, Bowling Green, Illinois State, North Dakota, Navy, Indiana State, Western Illinois, Central Michigan, Penn, Air Force, Yale, Western Michigan, South Dakota, Furman, Harvard, Princeton, Northern Iowa, Dartmouth
Stock watch: Since rising from unranked to No. 19 in our latest rankings, Washington has seen his stock skyrocket. He still hasn't hit the Power Five range, but just look at those new offers — 18 from Group of Five, FCS or Ivy League programs.
20. Matthew Mahoney
Wide receiver, West Des Moines Valley
6-2, 180
Previous offers: Northern Illinois, North Dakota
New offers: William and Mary, Youngstown State, Eastern Illinois, Penn, Western Illinois, Northern Colorado, Bowling Green, Army, Cornell, Northern Iowa, Furman, Harvard, Yale, South Dakota State, Dartmouth, Columbia, Princeton
Stock watch: Just like his teammate Washington, Mahoney has blossomed into a hot commodity among Group of Five, FCS and Ive League programs. He's a versatile, plug-and-play pass-catcher who can fit in any number of offenses.
21. Joey Petersen
Defensive end, North Scott
6-3, 200
Previous offer: Iowa State
New offers: None
Stock watch: The Cyclones remain involved with Petersen, the younger brother of star defensive end Zach Petersen. Iowa State visited him in January and February.
22. Jordan Ver Meer
Offensive line, West Lyon
6-6, 285
Previous offers: None
New offers: None
Stock watch: Ver Meer visited junior days at South Dakota State and Iowa State in February and March.
23. Jamison Bean
Offensive line, Cedar Rapids Kennedy
6-5, 270
Previous offers: None
New offers: None
Stock watch: Since the Register's latest rankings, Bean has taken junior day visits to South Dakota and Iowa State, and he had invites from Toledo, Northern Illinois and Drake before coronavirus canceled those.
24. Jaxon Rexroth
Athlete, Cedar Rapids Xavier
6-2, 190
Previous offers: None
New offers: None
Stock watch: Rexroth received a junior day invite from North Dakota State before coronavirus threw a wrench into those plans.
25. Carson Petlon
Offensive line, West Delaware
6-6, 295
Previous offers: None
New offers: None
Stock watch: Petlon visited Northern Iowa on March 7 and had other junior day invites from Iowa State, Northern Illinois, Illinois State and Minnesota that were derailed due to the coronavirus.
Other notable stock-risers
Aaron Smith
Defensive back/athlete, Waukee
5-11, 170
Previous offers: None
New offers: North Dakota, Navy, Northern Iowa, Army, Air Force
Stock watch: Smith is just so dang fast. He's electric with the ball in his hands. He'll need to bulk up, but colleges are starting to fall in love with his upside. Regional Power Fives, such as Iowa and Iowa State, are also taking notice.
Jase Bauer
Quarterback, Ankeny
6-1, 205
Previous offers: None
New offers: Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Northern Iowa
Stock watch: Bauer has a cannon for an arm and, along with Brecht, formed one of the most potent quarterback-receiver tandems in Iowa last year. His arm is his best attribute, but he can also make plays with his feet.
Tyler Moore
Tight end, Johnston
6-5, 225
Previous offers: None
New offers: Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois
Stock watch: Moore has emerged as a Midwest FCS/Group of Five target in recent weeks. He also visited both Iowa and Iowa State in March.
Seth Bullock
Linebacker, Dubuque Senior
6-3, 210
Previous offers: None
New offers: Southern Illinois, Indiana State, North Dakota
Stock watch: Bullock has landed his first three offers so far in March, and schools such as South Dakota State, Northern Illinois and North Dakota State have shown interest.
Ashton Cook
Quarterback, Iowa City Regina
6-4, 180
Previous offers: None
New offers: South Dakota, Northern Iowa
Stock watch: As his body has started to fill out, Cook is starting to move up Midwest colleges' recruiting big boards. South Dakota and Northern Iowa are the first to offer the athletic lefty.
Matthew Bain covers recruiting, Iowa/Iowa State athletics and Drake basketball for the Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Network. Contact him at mbain@dmreg.com and follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.
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