Film Room: Top Players in ’25 Class Part I
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’24 with Next-Level Game Series IOWA CITY, Iowa – The in-state 2024 Class was strong. The group behind it has gotten off to a good start, a sign that the overall talent pool in Iowa is rising. Scouts at Prep…
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Continue ReadingIOWA CITY, Iowa – The in-state 2024 Class was strong. The group behind it has gotten off to a good start, a sign that the overall talent pool in Iowa is rising.
Scouts at Prep Red Zone offer up a great, extensive list of ’25s. I’m guessing plenty of these names you’ll read about in this series will be on it.
Here’s the first installment:
Xzavion Robinson, WR, West Des Moines Valley – I’ve written about Robinson multiple times as a player who impresses me. Iowa State offered a scholarship on Nov. 19. Iowa did the same during a campus visit late last month. He stands out for his athleticism, which he showed in March while he was helping Valley win a state basketball championship. You can see it at receiver as well. He marries natural gifts with good instincts at the position. It’s not often an in-state receiver boasts offers from his home-state’s Power 5s midway through his prep career. He’s the first and only in-state ’25 with a Hawkeye offer. We’re talking an Adrian Arrington, Keenan Davis, Oliver Martin and Amara Darboh potential. That’s the upside.
Jack Limbaugh Jack Limbaugh 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Algona | 2025 State IA , DL, Algona – Limbaugh does not yet report a scholarship offer but they’re coming. He’s visiting college programs this Spring, including Power 5s Iowa, Iowa State and Kansas State. At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds as a sophomore, Limbaugh could project at multiple positions. He lists D-End and tight end on his Hudl. He features D-Line in his highlights, which is a good idea. He’s a terror on opponents trying to make a play. He combines speed and power, getting off the ball quickly and tracking it down. There’s an explosiveness in his game that could make tight end an interesting option.
Mason Woods, S/WR, Iowa City West – Woods (6-2, 195) flies largely under the recruiting/scouting radar despite being the son of Iowa special teams coordinator, Levar Woods. He’s a multi-sport athlete who misses a lot of spring and summer football showcase event. He reports scholarship offers from Missouri and Wyoming already. It’s easy to see why when watching his sophomore highlights (also saw him play multiple times live in ’22). One-handed, circus catches as a receiver, smooth athlete with good instincts in secondary and a dangerous return man can be seen. Oh yeah, he welcomes contact and physicality. He’s one of the top in-state performers in this class, no question.
Brody Clubb Brody Clubb 6'3" | 245 lbs | DL Clear Creek-Amana | 2025 State IA , DL/OL, Clear Creek Amana – Prep Red Zone Iowa’s No. 1 prospect in the class is someone I’ve watched live during his first two high school seasons. It’s fun seeing a guy benefit from hard work. I’ve projected Clubb at different spots in college. He’s a good athlete with good feet at 6-3, 240. It comes down to how he develops physically. I think 3-4 end or speed tackle in 4-3 could end up being destinations. Clubb rarely loses tests of strength, regularly overpowering the opposition.
Thomas Meyer, DE/TE, Clear Lake – The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Meyer already reports scholarship offers from Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State. The athleticism that allowed him to average 14.6 points and 7.2 rebounds a game as a sophomore shines through on the gridiron as well. He stands out at tight end for his size, fluid movements, catching passes with his hands and running after the catch. The speed and agility play well off the edge, too. He reads plays well and gets off blocks at the point of attack. Crashes down the line effectively when needed.
Joey VanWetzinga Joey VanWetzinga 6'2" | 255 lbs | OL Pleasant Valley | 2025 State IA , C/DT, Pleasant Valley – Prep Red Zone Iowa’s No. 2 player in the class looks nothing like a regular sophomore on his highlights. He appears like a big problem for the other team. They start off with him overpowering offensive linemen from D-Tackle, after which he engulfs quarterbacks and running backs. Double teams often fail in slowing him down much. He’s quick as well. As impressive as he looks on defense, he might be best at center. He’s a road grader with legs, finishing blocks with an edge.
Alex Manske Alex Manske 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Algona | 2025 State IA , QB, Algona – A second Bulldog on this list, Manske (6-3, 200) claims offers from Wisconsin and Pittsburgh with visits to Iowa, Iowa State, Tennessee and Kansas State already under his belt. He’s an excellent athlete as evidenced by his success in basketball and as a two-way player in football. He averaged 16.4 yards per completion, rushed for over 400 yards and recorded 3.0 tackles for loss on defense. He releases the ball quickly with strength, good pace and accuracy. He shows a good feel in the pocket with escapability. He steps into his throws when possible.