Iowa Eight football: Meet the best Iowa high school football prospects for 2020

The Iowa Eight is the Des Moines Register’s preseason list of the eight best football prospects in the state, weighing past performance and future projection. Incoming freshmen through seniors are eligible. Selections are based on Register staff observations and consultation with recruiting contacts.

Since the Register began its Iowa Eight series in 2015-16, this fall provided, without a doubt, the most difficult selection process. The amount of Iowa college football talent is at an all-time high in the state's 2021 and 2022 classes.

Put it this way: Prospects who would have been locks for the Iowa Eight in previous years didn't even make the "just missed" list this time around.

So, without further ado, here is the Register's 2020 Iowa Eight for football:

T.J. Bollers

School: Clear Creek-Amana

Class: 2021

Position: Defensive end/linebacker

Size: 6-foot-3, 250 pounds

College: Wisconsin

Why he made the Iowa Eight: One of those rare prospects who exceeds his hype, Bollers has impressed football fans and coaches around the region and country since his freshman year at Clear Creek-Amana. He finished his recruitment in June, picking Wisconsin over Iowa State, Nebraska, Alabama, Cal and Northwestern. His physical talent is matched by his relentless motor. Bollers is a three-time Iowa Eight member, making the 2018, 2019 and 2020 lists.

Brody Brecht

School: Ankeny

Class: 2021

Position: Receiver

Size: 6-4, 205

College: Iowa

Why he made the Iowa Eight: Brecht has the makings of a top-tier, Power Five receiver. He's got the size and length to win battles with defensive backs. But what really stands out is Brecht's speed, which is rare for his size. He was recently clocked at 4.45 seconds in a 40-yard dash he ran at his high school. Brecht picked Iowa over Iowa State in one of the state's most-watched recruitments.

Connor Colby

School: Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Class: 2021

Position: Offensive lineman

Size: 6-5, 270

College: Iowa

Why he made the Iowa Eight: More people would know about Colby if he hadn't committed to the Hawkeyes so quickly. By the time he made his verbal pledge, which was in the June following his sophomore year, Colby already held other offers from Iowa State, Michigan, Ohio State, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, Virginia Tech and Michigan State. He combines textbook fundamentals with a viscous determination in the trenches. Colby also made the 2019 Iowa Eight.

Thomas Fidone

School: Council Bluffs Lewis Central

Class: 2021

Position: Tight end

Size: 6-5, 225

College: Undecided

Why he made the Iowa Eight: Fidone absolutely blew up in recruiting circles following his junior season at Lewis Central, and he backed up his stock explosion at offseason combines, where he played like the country's top tight end in 2021. Most industry buzz pegs Fidone as a future Nebraska Cornhusker, but he's also considering the likes of LSU, Iowa, Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan, Texas and Alabama.

MORE:IHSAA executive director Tom Keating opens up on COVID-19, 2020 transfers

Aaron Graves

School: Southeast Valley

Class: 2022

Position: Defensive end

Size: 6-6, 260

College: Iowa

Why he made the Iowa Eight: Graves ended his recruitment early, committing to Iowa on the spot after head coach Kirk Ferentz extended an offer after his freshman year, during which he piled up 15 tackles for loss and 11 solo sacks. A destructive and disruptive force on the line, Graves would have plenty more offers from around the Midwest right now had he not committed so quickly. He was the youngest recruit of the Kirk Ferentz era.

Xavier Nwankpa

School: Southeast Polk

Class: 2022

Position: Safety

Size: 6-2, 175

College: Undecided

Why he made the Iowa Eight: It's no exaggeration to say Nwankpa is one of the country's top safeties in 2022. 247Sports pegs him as the No. 5 safety in the class. Even as a sophomore last year, Nwankpa made the amazing look effortless as he paired cat-like agility with impressive power. He already holds 11 offers, including from Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Iowa, Iowa State, Florida, Michigan and Missouri.

Kadyn Proctor

School: Southeast Polk

Class: 2023

Position: Offensive lineman

Size: 6-7, 280

College: Undecided

Why he made the Iowa Eight: If there is a fall football season, plenty of eyes will be on the massive Proctor, who emerged this summer as Iowa's top prospect to watch in 2023. You can't teach his frame and strength, which are both likely to improve over the next three years. He's a plus athlete, too, who also plays basketball. Proctor already has offers from Iowa State, Kansas State, Michigan, Nebraska and Oregon.

MORE: Why Iowa high school is on track to be played — and why the Big Ten isn't

Jake Rubley

School: West Des Moines Valley

Class: 2021

Position: Quarterback

Size: 6-3, 205

College: Kansas State

Why he made the Iowa Eight: Yes, Rubley, who transferred to Valley from Highlands Ranch in Colorado, has only been in Iowa for about a week. But there's no doubt he's among the top eight prospects currently living in this state. Over the past year, Rubley emerged as one of the country's top quarterback talents and picked Kansas State over programs such as Tennessee, LSU, Michigan, Iowa, Michigan State and Wisconsin.

Just missed

Jeff Bowie, West Branch, 2021 — An Iowa Eight selection in 2019, Bowie backed up his hype as a weight-room beast with an impressive junior season in which he compiled 22 tackles for loss at defensive end. Bowie picked Iowa in January over offers from Iowa State, Indiana, Kansas State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.

Hunter Deyo, Lewis Central, 2022 — Very similar to former four-star Lewis Central defensive tackle Logan Jones and former four-star Solon defensive tackle Tyler Linderbaum, Deyo is a relentless interior defensive lineman with good size. Iowa, Iowa State and Kansas State have offered. 

Jaden Harrell, Urbandale, 2021 — Another early 2021 recruit for the Hawkeyes, Harrell picked Iowa over Nebraska in July after his sophomore year. A fundamentally sound tackler with good athleticism, Harrell projects as a high-floor linebacker in the Big Ten.

Griffin Liddle, Bettendorf, 2021 — Liddle is also one of the country's best heavyweight wrestlers in 2021, and he certainly looks the part in the way he's able to gain leverage as a defensive tackle. The son of former Iowa wrestler Josh Liddle, Griffin Liddle picked the Hawkeyes over offers from Iowa State, Army, Nebraska, Minnesota and Michigan State. He made the "just missed" list for the 2019 Iowa Eight, as well.

Max Llewellyn, Urbandale, 2021 — Few prospects in the Midwest enjoyed a bigger spring than Llewellyn, who will play defensive end at Iowa. His junior film led to offers from Iowa State, Kansas, Nebraska, Kansas State, Iowa, Northwestern, Missouri, Michigan State and Penn State from January to April.

Henry Lutovsky, Mount Pleasant, 2021 — Nebraska is getting an intriguing offensive lineman in Lutovsky, who checks in at 320 pounds but is way more athletic than you'd expect. He picked the Huskers over Iowa State, Georgia and Missouri.

Tyler Maro, Davenport Assumption, 2021 — If you want an offensive line prospect with a high ceiling, the 6-7 Maro is your guy. His potential has enticed offers from myriad Power Five programs, including Iowa State, UCLA, TCU, Arizona State, Oregon, Stanford, Utah, Oklahoma State and Indiana. At his size, his upside is considerable.

Tyler Moore, Johnston, 2021 — At 6-5 and 245 pounds, Moore's combination of size and skill is in high demand at the tight end position. He committed to Iowa State in April and has since added offers from Arizona State and Boise State, plus continued interest from the Hawkeyes.

Matthew Bain covers recruiting and pretty much anything else under the sports sun 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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