Class of 2027 To Propel Cedar Rapids Prairie Forward

The Prairie Hawks possess a group of juniors that have a plethora of Division I talent on the offensive line and skill positions going into next season.    A silky smooth receiver that can play the X, Z or slot positions and is also a basketball star, [player_tooltip player_id='1616458' first='Quantae' last='Alexander'] is an athlete, through-and-through. Ranked as the No. 3 receiver and the No. 14 basketball player in the state <a href="https://prephoops.com/iowa/rankings/2027-rankings/">on Prep Hoops</a>, Alexander could have a future in either sport. Coach Kyle Knock sees the junior opting for basketball, but added that he could play at the FCS or D2 levels as a receiver, should he pursue football.   Pairing his basketball acumen with his skills as a wideout, Alexander makes running routes and navigating through defenses as a pass-catcher look effortless, and he'll be a mainstay in the passing attack for the Hawks this season. As a sophomore, he grabbed 11 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown -- expect those numbers to at least double this fall.     Maybe one of the most overlooked prospects in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='1616459' first='Drew' last='Bennis'] has wildly consistent ball skills as a receiver. On one pass in particular Thursday morning, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='458050' first='Cael' last='Kongshaug'] lofted a ball to the opposite side of the field, where Coach Knock leaned over and said "watch this," as the ball was in the air. Bennis proceeded to go up and make a spectacular grab over the defensive back. That was just one of Bennis's fantastic catches, as he followed it up by nabbing a would-be interception from an opposing defensive back for a 40+ yard gain later that morning.   His skills as a receiver don't stop there, either. He's a sure-handed wideout that can grab an out-route, a catch over the middle or can take an end-around and make a play in the open field. Like Alexander, Bennis should be in line for a major uptick in production after grabbing 23 passes for 387 yards and three scores last season. He'll also be a threat as a return man with his speed.     The biggest name on the Prairie roster is undoubtedly [player_tooltip player_id='1207826' first='Will' last='Clausen'], as the growing right tackle has received continued Power 4 interest throughout the summer. Programs like Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and a barrage of FCS programs have begun to invest in him as a potential target, though none have offered at his point in time.   At 6'5" and now listed as 270-pounds in his X bio, Clausen possesses a long frame and a wide stance that make him the top offensive linemen in the state of Iowa's 2027 class. He'll also play defensive end for the Prairie Hawks this fall -- which programs like Iowa prefer in the OL they recruit -- and that should help further develop his aggressiveness as a blocker. With his frame, Clausen should easily continue to fill out, and he has a chance at being one of the more coveted recruits in the Midwest.     Set to play left tackle for Prairie once again this fall, Javen "Bubba" Donald is a massive presence on the OL. Having his first year of experience last season, Donald will enter this year as a much more fluid mover on the outside, making him a more consistent pass-blocker and extremely difficult to beat for pass-rushers.   I look forward to seeing Donald putting pads on this fall to see how much he can use his size to impose his will in the run game, and if he can help not only protect Kongshaug's backside, but pave the way for the Hawks' ground attack.   If Donald slims down a bit and improves his explosion off the ball, he should have the opportunity to play FBS football. Otherwise, any FCS program in the Midwest would benefit by adding him to their roster, considering his potential as a left tackle.     A nine-game starter last season as a sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='1616453' first='Carsyn' last='Hand'] is the leading returning tackler after posting 42.5 tackles in 2024. A true mike linebacker, Hand won't rack up a ton of sacks or tackles-for-loss, but he'll make the right play, fill gaps in the run game and help in coverage on passing downs.   In addition to being a stalwart defensively for the Hawks, he'll have the opportunity to help out offensively as a fullback.     Making the decision to transfer from Iowa City High just two weeks ago, [player_tooltip player_id='1361313' first='Dawson' last='Kahl'] will be an immediate impact addition for the Prairie Hawks. A legacy Hawkeye as the son of 90's running back Kent Kahl, Dawson will step on the field and provide an instant improvement in the Prairie backfield.   As the main work horse in the running game for the Little Hawks last season, Kahl took 145 carries for 941 yards and 17 touchdowns. Though he's not a super fluid runner, Kahl is a tough tackle, and when he sees a hole, he hits it hard and fast.   Coach Knock shared that Kahl's future at the college level is most likely on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker or defensive back, so he may spend more time on defense this fall for Prairie, as well.     Entering his second year with the program, Kongshaug will take over the starting quarterback position after sitting behind senior, Wyatt Eash last season.   In his two years waiting and learning, Kongshaug has developed both physically and in his leadership, taking the reigns and stepping up as a coach on the field for the Hawks offense this summer. With the addition of Kahl, Kongshaug has taken charge of helping the new running back, showing him what he and the offense need and doing the extra work to ingratiate the talented tailback with the team.   As a pure passer, one can tell that Kongshaug has been working on his game for a long time. He's got a firm base and solid mechanics that allow him to throw a beautiful, easily-caught deep ball, making his aforementioned weapons even tougher to cover. He's mobile, can throw on the run and quickly dissects what the defense is doing, finding the weak spot and attacking it. Seen as an FCS prospect at the moment, Konshaug should start stacking up offers this fall and into next spring.

The Prairie Hawks possess a group of juniors that have a plethora of Division I talent on the offensive line and skill positions going into next season.