ATTN: College Coaches – ’24s with Next-Level Game – Part VIII
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24s with Next-Level Game – Part I ’24s with Next-Level Game – Part II ’24s with Next-Level Game – Part III ’24s with Next-Level Game – Part IV ’24s with Next-Level Game – Part V ’24s with Next-Level Game –…
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Continue ReadingIOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa is becoming more fertile ground for college prospects with each passing year. It’s growing at a rate I didn’t see coming when I started covering preps in the state during the 1997 season.
Still, schools hesitate offering scholarships to some recruits. It could be that they’re flying under the radar, coaches may want to see them at junior days or camps, they speculate that a bigger program might swoop in for the player or a variety of other reasons.
The Class of 2024 guys listed below I saw in person this season or watched highlights and asked around. They should be getting more attention, and it could be coming soon:
Tono Cornell Tono Cornell 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Independence | 2024 State IA , DT/OG, Iowa City High – Cornell is an intriguing prospect who developed nicely this season after moving over from Independence. He’s drawn interest from Power 5 schools and all other divisions. He looks the part at 6-2.5, 280. He plays with good pad level and has a strong base. I thought defense when he was a sophomore but can also see projection on offense. Strong showings at upcoming camps and a productive senior campaign will be important for him. He reports offers from North Dakota and Northern Iowa.
Brady McDonald Brady McDonald 6'3" | 210 lbs | TE Independence | 2024 State IA , LB/TE, Independence – Versatility stands out on McDonald’s film. He’s used all over the field and competes hard at each spot. I could see him succeeding on both sides of the ball with a slight lean to offense. McDonald (6-3, 220) caught 40 balls for 374 yards and three touchdowns, rushed seven times for 45 yards and a score, and recorded 24 tackles (16 solo, 3.5 for loss) as a junior in ’22.
Tyron Wright Tyron Wright 6'5" | 180 lbs | DL Des Moines East | 2024 State IA , DL, Des Moines East – I researched Wright after seeing him at No. 12 overall in our Prep Red Zone state rankings for ’24. I found a lot of video of him playing basketball. He’s good at that sport. I couldn’t find football video, which was disappointing. The basketball skills interested me in what I’d see from him on the gridiron. He produced 29 tackles (17 solo, 4.5 for loss) and a sack with an interception in the Fall. He also caught one pass for a 12-yard touchdown. Is he next level? I’d like to see some film to judge for myself. That said, if the scouts here at Red Zone see him as the No. 12 player in that state, that’s good enough for me.
Drew Kluender Drew Kluender 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Woodbury Central | 2024 State IA , QB/DB, Woodbury Central – There’s no doubt that Kluender (6-2, 180) can throw a fade route. He does so with excellent timing and accuracy. He moves well and throws well on the run. He shows solid arm strength. He’s a good athlete, which could make him work on defense as well. He led Class 1A with 3,419 yards passing and 37 touchdowns in ’22. He also scored three times in the ground and picked off two passes playing cornerback.
Trent Cakerice Trent Cakerice 6'5" | 235 lbs | DL Grundy Center | 2024 State IA , DL/OL, Gundy Center – Cakerice experienced a junior day at Northern Illinois this month and looks like a player whose recruitment might pick up. At 6-5, 240, he offers a lot of athleticism and potential. He possesses a nice combination of strength and quickness with good get-off at the snap. He’s a physical player who does a good job with angles. He racked up 69 tackles (37 solo, 11.5 for loss) with 5.0 sacks. He threw in a Pick-6 for good measure.
Dayton Harrell Dayton Harrell 5'9" | 165 lbs | DB Sioux City North | 2024 State IA , ATH, Sioux City North – Harrell plays all over the field for the North Stars and could be seen as a fit at multiple positions at the next level. I like his instincts and skill set at defensive back. He displays good hip movement and smoothness in changing direction. He picked off two passes as a junior with a Pick-6. He also produced 35 solo tackles in the Fall.
Chase Schutty Chase Schutty 6'5" | 210 lbs | TE Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA , TE, Ankeny Centennial – Somebody on the next level can use this kid. He impresses on film with his ability to convert contested catches with a combination of athleticism and strong hands. He runs solid routes and blocked well in-line while also being able to operate on the outside. He caught 28 passes for 416 yards and two touchdowns in ’22. He leads the basketball team with 7.1 rebounds a game this winter.