Looking Back: Native Iowa Hawkeyes as Preps

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking a look back at each Iowa Hawkeye that played prep football in Iowa, and their rankings coming out of high school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Prep Redzone Iowa rankings began in the class of 2021, so sixth-year seniors Ethan Hurkett, Logan Jones and Ty Nissen are not be listed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2021-rankings/">2021</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1741976,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/max-l-e1593488258793-crop-1055x693-1753898284.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1741976" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Max Llewellyn on a visit to Iowa as a prep. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players in italics have left Iowa for the NFL</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/connor-colby/">Connor Colby</a> (Cedar Rapids Kennedy), No. 3 overall, No. 1 OL </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/max-llewellyn/">Max Llewellyn</a> (Urbandale), No. 4 overall, No. 2 DL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jaden-harrell/">Jaden Harrell</a> (Urbandale), No. 7 overall, No. 1 LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Cooper-DeJean/">Cooper DeJean</a> (OABCIG), No. 14 overall, No. 2 ATH</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Zach-Twedt/">Zach Twedt </a>(Roland Story), No. 17 overall, No. 3 ATH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaxon Rexroth (Cedar Rapids Xavier), Unranked LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kolby Telander (Liberty), Unranked LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Karson Sharar (Iowa Falls-Alden), Unranked LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaden Wetjen (Williamsburg), Unranked WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2022-rankings/">2022</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1741975,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/06/gr-crop-1536x1009-1753898137.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1741975" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Aaron Graves poses for a photo while at Southeast Valley. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/xavier-nwankpa/">Xavier Nwankpa</a> (Southeast Polk), No. 1 overall, No. 1 DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Aaron-Graves/">Aaron Graves</a> (Southeast Valley), No. 3 overall, No. 1 DL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Kale-Krogh/">Kale Krogh</a> (Ballard), No. 7 overall, No. 1 OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/landyn-van-kekerix/">Landyn Van Kekerix</a> (Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley), No. 11 overall, No. 2 LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Luke-Gaffney/">Luke Gaffney</a> (Linn-Mar), No. 42 overall, No. 8 DL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Kael-Kolarik/">Kael Kolarik</a> (Indianola), No. 81 overall, No. 11 DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2023-rankings/">2023</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":455774,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/137A2636-crop-1467x964-1664059348.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-455774" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ben Kueter at Iowa City High. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Ben-Kueter/">Ben Kueter</a> (Iowa City High), No. 3 overall, No. 1 LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Maddux-Borcherding-Johnson/">Maddux Borcherding-Johnson</a> (Norwalk), No. 8 overall, No. 2 DL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/watts-mcbride/">Watts McBride</a> (Cedar Rapids Washington), No. 9 overall, No. 1 DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/alex-mota/">Alex Mota</a> (Marion), No. 19 overall, No. 4 DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Zach-Lutmer/">Zach Lutmer </a>(Central Lyon/George-Little Rock), No. 20 overall, No. 5 DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Cael-Winter/">Cael Winter</a> (Waukee Northwest), No. 42 overall, No. 8 OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Nolan-DeLong/">Nolan DeLong </a>(Durant), No. 59 overall, No. 7 RB (LB at Iowa)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jack Laughlin (Carlisle), Unranked LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>George Nahas (Dowling), Unranked OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson Naeve (Regina), Unranked WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2024-rankings/">2024</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1741970,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/Weisskopf.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1741970" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Derek Weisskopf on the field for Williamsburg (Photo: Eliot Clough)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Derek-Weisskopf/">Derek Weisskopf</a> (Williamsburg), No. 3 overall, No. 1 LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Reece-Vander-Zee/">Reece Vander Zee</a> (Central Lyon/George-Little Rock), No. 8 overall, No. 1 WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Drew-Campbell/">Drew Campbell</a> (Cedar Falls), No. 10 overall, No. 2 DL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Preston-Ries/">Preston Ries</a> (Monticello), No. 12 overall, No. 2 LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Brevin-Doll/">Brevin Doll</a> (ADM), No. 18 overall, No. 2 RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dennis-dj-vonnahme/">DJ Vonnahme</a> (Kuemper Catholic), No. 25 overall, No. 1 ATH (TE at Iowa)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kyler Gerardy (North Scott), Unranked ATH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Apollo Payne (Cedar Rapids Prairie), Unranked WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ike Speltz (Van Meter), Unranked LS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2025-rankings/">2025</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1741969,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/IMG_2103-crop-4667x3064-1753897793.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1741969" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mason Woods prior to the 2024 season with Iowa City West. (Photo: Eliot Clough)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/thomas-meyer/">Thomas Meyer </a>(Clear Lake), No. 2 overall, No. 1 TE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/mason-woods/">Mason Woods</a> (Iowa City West), No. 4 overall, No. 1 ATH (TE at Iowa)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/rayce-heitman/">Rayce Heitman</a> (Williamsburg), No. 23 overall, No. 2 ATH (DB at Iowa)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Braeden-jackson/">Braeden Jackson</a> (Ankeny Centennial), No. 29 overall, No. 1 RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/Dylan-stecker/">Dylan Stecker</a> (Spirit Lake), No. 79 overall, No. 8 WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/will-lockhart/">Will Lockhart</a> (Denver), No. 160 overall, No. 30 OL (DL at Iowa)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/will-hahn/">Will Hahn</a> (Decorah), No. 255 overall, No. 43 OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/caden-buhr/">Caden Buhr</a> (Bettendorf), No. 487 overall, No. 2 K</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->