Film Room: Closer Look at Interesting Iowa 2026s

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   A new season is quickly approaching. Updated rankings are being released, and we'll be kicking off preseason coverage before long.   It's still June, however. There's plenty of time to keep rolling out student-athlete evaluations as we grow our data base here at Prep Redzone Iowa.   Here's a look at a group of seniors deserving of reports on their profile pages, which they now have:    Yager performed well in 2024 for an Urbandale outfit that's experienced growing pains with a younger roster the past few seasons. With he and other seasoned guys returning, the J-Hawks could make some noise this year. Yager is coming off of a junior season that saw him produce 24.5 tackles (22 solo, 2.5 TFL), a sack and an interception. He also returned a kick. When we watch Yager in action through video highlights on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16671255/Kade-Yager/highlights">Hudl page</a>, it confirms what I saw when scouting him against Iowa City West last fall. He's a versatile defensive back capable of sticking in coverage or supporting the run. Yager effectively diagnoses plays and breaks well on the ball. It's a set of skills and athleticism that play well on defense or special teams, too.     James gets down and dirty on both sides of the ball. He contributed 9.5 tackles with 1.5 stops for loss and half a sack while roaming the second level of the defense last season. Where James really stood out, however, was when operating in the middle of the O-Line. We see that production when viewing his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17965549/679ced80cf64cc2c947b88a4">junior highlight video</a>. James is a mauler at center. He comfortably and consistently gets the ball back to the quarterback before blasting off into the pads of the D-Lineman. The opponent often is back on his heels early, and James leverages his way into pancakes. With athleticism and agility, he easily reaches blocks in space and shows good technique when engaging defenders in the open field. James is a guy deserving of more attention on the recruiting trail.     Miller delivered key contributions for one of the state's top defenses last season. He also caught three passes for 24 yards and punted eight times during the campaign. Miller registered 43.0 tackles (24 solo), recovered three fumbles and intercepted a pass. As one would expect of someone developed in a top-notch program, Miller is fundamentally sound and operates with solid technique. That can be seen when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19409606/6852eff9257c35d9ef972415">junior highlight video</a>. The second clip on it shows him blowing up a returner in kick coverage, which should endear him to college coaches when also factoring in his versatility. He might work at linebacker or safety, depending on the system. He's fast, athletic and prepared, diagnosing plays quickly and breaking on the ball. He backpedals and flips his hips smoothly in coverage.     On a 2024 offense with a lot of mouths to feed, Richmond took advantage of his opportunities to catch passes, while adding a lot as a blocker. He caught five balls for 54 yards and returned a kick 11 yards. The athleticism, speed and agility are there for him to take on a larger role as a pass-catcher this season, when the Hawks will be replacing plenty of production in that area. No matter what, they can count on Richmond to execute his blocks. That can be witnessed when watching his<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16414284/67ca68a057305898cb4f7bf8"> junior highlight video</a>. Richmond is technically sound in locking up opponents, getting under their pads, driving with his legs and controlling them with hand placement. His physicality aids him there and also when he's breaking tackles after a catch. I like the chances of him breaking out as a senior.     What you can expect from Janis on the field is production. He rushed for 261 yards (5.1 YPC) and two touchdowns, and added a 12-yard catch as a junior in 2024. On the other side of the ball, Janis recorded 35.0 tackles (18 solo) and an interception. On a basic level, he can be described as a good all-around football player. We see that when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17874042/671edde2da13d98171acb606">11th-grade highlight video</a>. He's a downhill runner that hits the hole hard and bursts through it. There's some wiggle in space and a toughness through contact. Janis plays disciplined defense within the Trojan scheme, breaking quickly on the ball when it enters his area. Also a special teams' asset, Janis' versatility should open up more opportunities for him on the next level with a sound senior season.     Kohorst is an intriguing prospect that probably should be receiving more attention on the recruiting trail. He racked up 21.5 tackles (11 solo, 9.5 TFL) and 1.5 sacks as a disruptor as a junior on the Panthers' defensive line in 2024. Kohorst's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15089155/671eee9a6c60e68323f33807">11th-grade highlight video</a> lends insight into how he gets the job done. His power makes him tough to contain. Kohorst fires off of the snap and into his opponent's chest, putting the offensive lineman on his heels from the jump. When he's doubled-teamed, he absorbs the blocks and then shows impressive strength in separating from them. Kohorst also boasts quickness and agility with a frame that can comfortably add mass without him forfeiting those assets.

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