Ranking Iowa’s Overall Top 25 for 2025: 20-to-16

One of the most difficult aspects of ranking preps is comparing student-athletes playing at schools with varying enrollments. In Iowa, there's an added degree of mystery when evaluating the eight-player game against 11-on-11 from Class A to 5A. That's a wide variety of elements.   Since shying away from hard tasks isn't in our DNA here at Prep Red Zone Iowa, we came up with an offseason content idea we hope you enjoy. Compiling the Top 25 overall rankings of players returning in 2025 proved challenging, as expected. Anybody, in any grade, no matter his school's enrollment, was eligible.   It's a prime time of the year to look over the talent based on the data we've reviewed. With guys competing in their other sports seasons and visiting college campuses for junior days in the coming months, new information will be scarce until 7-on-7s, camps and combines get underway in the spring and summer.   Here's a closer look at our Top 25 countdown, taking into consideration current production as well as projection for future ceiling:   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/ranking-iowas-overall-top-25-for-2025-25-to-21/">Prospects 25-21</a>   20. [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'], 6-0, 190, DB/WR, Norwalk, '26: Robbins accounted for touchdowns passing, rushing, receiving and via an interception return in 2024. He totaled 16 of them in helping his team all around the field. Dartmouth has extended an opportunity to him. Iowa has been recruiting him for a couple years, and he'll be back on campus for a Hawkeye junior day this weekend.   Robbins is a good athlete who could end up at multiple positions on the next level. He makes plays at defensive back, receiver and as a returner as a prep.   As a junior, Robbins picked off four passes. He averaged 6.8 yards on 48 carries, 15.1 yards on 39 catches, 22.6 yards on 12 kick returns and 13.0 yards on seven punt returns.   Robbins' <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18260169/66f1a65141683669e2056492">junior highlight video</a> reveals a polished receiver that runs crisp routes and separates from defenders. He tracks the ball well in the air and wins contested throws. Defensively, he shows a good feel as a cornerback in zone coverage. His skill set also would work at safety.   19. [player_tooltip player_id='283945' first='Jayden' last='Brown'], 6-1, 170, WR, WDM Valley, '26: The Tigers have plenty of mouths to feed on their offense. They serve plenty to Brown, who delivers regularly.   The junior finished second on a state finalist in receptions (42), receiving yards (626) and touchdown catches (6). Only Iowa State signee [player_tooltip player_id='847795' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'], a senior, produced more in those categories.   Brown illustrates that he's a well-rounded wideout during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18041029/674610a9242cc67520728648">junior highlight video</a>. He shows off the speed to get behind defenders and the toughness to haul in balls across the middle. He looks completing catches in traffic.   With Robinson off to Ames, expect Brown to take another step forward as WR1 and potentially on returns in '25. His stock should rise more during spring and summer camps.   18. [player_tooltip player_id='1038029' first='James' last='Barnett'], 6-2, 250, OL/DL, Iowa City West, '28: Barnett looked at home in the trenches as a freshman on a 5A playoff team. The performance opened a lot of eyes that hadn't already been bulging from his track-and-field throwing exploits on a national level.   Perhaps Barnett says goodbye to football someday and focuses completely on throwing. It's Olympic potential. But with his dad, George Barnett, coaching the University of Iowa's offensive line, something tells me he'll balance both sports as long as he can. That very well could carry over into college.   While it's logical to see his future on the O-Line, Barnett is capable of developing into a nasty defensive tackle. He's coming off of a ninth-grade campaign that saw him produce 38.0 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.   You see the potential on the offensive front as well during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22657975/672fed7f0a2f5644f4e14a8e">freshman highlight video</a>. He embraces the game's physicality whether he's pursuing the football or blocking.   17. [player_tooltip player_id='1234337' first='Mason' last='Goering'], 6-5, 190, ATH, Iowa City West, '26: Back-to-back Trojans on our countdown with a few more to come bodes well for a program that returned to the postseason this past Fall. With graduation losses, Goering and others will need to step up if they're going to advance farther in '25.   Goering will be raring to go due to missing his junior football season after tearing his ACL earlier in the year. He <a href="https://x.com/Mas_goering/status/1846340772821405939">appears to have regained</a> his athletic explosion.   As a sophomore, Goering looked like a player with a sizable ceiling. He stood out as a receiver and defensive back on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17874052/65405d975b3cca0de862989d">highlight video</a> from that season. He intercepted a couple of passes and caught 12, including one for a touchdown.   Goering is starting on a ranked West basketball team this winter. He's averaging 8.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.   16. [player_tooltip player_id='1241376' first='Colton' last='McClish'], 6-3, 305, OL, Johnston, '26: McClish is a large young man. That helps him move people on the football field. He's more than just a big body, however.   You can witness his skill and excellent feel for the game when watching his<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16545697/673402662a3468f40b13a5c1"> junior highlight video</a>. He definitely mauls people at the point of attack, but seeing him get his big body underway and block in space impresses. He has no issue taking out his target when pulling and moving down the field.   McClish looks best suited for the inside of the offensive line. His feet appear slick enough to merit a tryout at tackle, but his skill set plays up more at guard.   Kansas, Iowa, St. Thomas and plenty of other colleges have taken notice of McClish. He looks poised to add scholarship offers with productive outings on the camp circuit this offseason.

One of the most difficult aspects of ranking preps is comparing student-athletes playing at schools with varying enrollments. In Iowa, there's an added degree of mystery when evaluating the eight-player game against 11-on-11 from Class A to 5A. That's a wide variety of elements.