Uncovering Intriguing '26 Athletes Still Uncommitted

It appears the transfer portal is pushing back the recruitment of prep prospects. Plenty of high schoolers will finish up their junior years still looking for college homes. Don't panic. Patience is key.   Programs at the next level are combing Iowa for seniors-to-be they may have missed while playing the portal game. Let's take a look at guys whose versatility should intrigue prospective suitors.    Ewing hit opponents from all different angles last season. He threw seven touchdown, ran for 11 scores and caught six TDs. On defense, Ewing collected 51.5 tackles (31 solo, 6.0 TFL), two interceptions and a sack. He averaged 24.7 yards on seven kick returns, housing one of them. It can be tricky evaluating the eight-player game, but Ewing's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18269817/6724f52c4a6314941164687d">junior video highlights</a> match his gaudy statistics. He appears to be playing faster than his opponents, looks explosive and has good size. Ewing probably would fit best at safety defensively. Slot receiver would be a fine home on offense. And he certainly would help on special teams. There's a lot to like when it comes to Ewing's future.     When you're standing out in all three phases of the game as a junior in Class 4A, it's notable. Bodensteiner did just that in 2024. He caught 15 passes for 357 yards (23.8 YPC) and four touchdowns. He registered 31.0 tackles (24 solo, 1.5 TFL) and intercepted three throws. Bodensteiner averaged 26.5 yards on 12 kick returns. He shows us how he pulled off all of that on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17647512/6732303ee53bcbed09772872">junior highlight video</a>. Bodensteiner has a flair for the dramatic as a receiver. His athleticism, toughness and strong hands allow him to win contested passes. Bodensteiner can be described as a physical wideout. He's a slot corner/free safety as a defensive prospect. His physicality and speed also stand out on that side of the ball.     Daniel's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18195327/67290630cd069cd96f9bcd75">junior highlight video</a> contains a nice mix of him performing well on both sides of the ball and special teams. The first three clips show him returning a trio of kicks each more than 80 yards for touchdowns. Daniel employs that impressive speed at receiver. A lot of his success at wideout and in the return game stems from outrunning everybody. That certainly plays well in the secondary, where Daniel's physicality and toughness also stand out. In 2024, he averaged 39.4 yards and scored three touchdowns on 15 kick returns. Daniel averaged 22.0 yards and totaled six touchdowns as a receiver. Forty five of his 56.5 tackles were solo and he intercepted a pass.     Witt gave all he had to the Riverhawks in 2024. He caught 44 balls for 633 yard and four touchdowns. As a cornerback, he contributed 18 solo tackles and intercepted two passes. Witt also returned punts and kicks. His <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17982818/6733a5d61e22d3afb27767e1">junior highlight video</a> reveals how he gets the job done in all three phases. Witt runs crisp routes with good speed. He adjusts well to the ball in the air and fights for catches. A producer on deep passes, Witt also works well underneath and makes people miss in space. He moves fluidly at corner with an easy change of direction. Witt is physical and a sound tackler, which also would play at safety.     Developing in one of the state's better programs for doing so, Horsfall enjoyed a productive junior season that should set up an even bigger senior campaign. Some colleges might like him as a tight end, a position at which he thrives. Horsfall is a well-rounded player there, adept at stressing defenses as a receiver or punishing them as a blocker. He played a lead role in the Bobcats chewing up yards on the ground. That's clearly evident when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18110201/672fb3913a19e7562d9897b3">junior highlight video</a>. Horsfall's skills also would work well at linebacker or up front on defense, depending on scheme. He embraces the game's physicality.     Drefke experienced much of his 2024 success as a receiver. He hauled in 37 balls for 401 yards and five touchdowns. As he shows us during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14948914/6722505c5a40bea3d05a6720">junior highlight video</a>, Drefke combines size, speed and physicality to get the job done. He sells his routes well and runs them crisply. Drefke also contributed on special teams, where he took a punt 45 yards to the house last fall. Production also took place on defense, where he picked off three passes, had 2.5 tackles for loss and recorded a sack. It will depend on the program and its scheme whether he plays offense or defense on the next level, but Drefke is a college player.

It appears the transfer portal is pushing back the recruitment of prep prospects. Plenty of high schoolers will finish up their junior years still looking for college homes. Don't panic. Patience is key.