A Look at Iowa 2027s Searching for College Homes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colleges have done well in mining Iowa's 2027 recruiting class. Twelve different guys have verbally committed to Power 4 programs. Quite a few others have pledged to FBS and FCS schools. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even with those sizable numbers, a lot of talent from the state for the cycle remains in the board. Here's a closer look at a group of them: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1895319' first='Braylin' last='De Jager'], ATH, Council Bluffs Lincoln</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Announced offers:&nbsp;</strong>None. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Situation:</strong> Simply put, De Jager is being slept on. There's plenty of potential here that could pay off for a program willing to invest time in developing it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A starter in basketball, too, the 6-foot-2, 175-pounder boasts a projectable frame capable of filling out and adding strength without the loss of athleticism. That could be as a pass catcher or lining up in the secondary on the next level. His<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/21205688/68fcee40eb7926ec3656a2e7" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/21205688/68fcee40eb7926ec3656a2e7"> junior highlight video</a> provides evidence of a high ceiling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De Jager took a visit to Colorado State Basketball and camped with the Wayne State hoops team last summer. He visited Jewell for a football game last season and took in a Drake football junior day in April.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A college camp tour this summer is recommended for De Jager. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1656855' first='Adam' last='Malik'], ATH, Carroll</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Announced offers:&nbsp;</strong>None. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Situation:</strong> I first saw Malik compete in person at the Back to Ballin 7v7 tournament in Cedar Falls during the spring of 2025. His speed, athleticism and explosion impressed. It was not surprising to see him earn first-team all-state honors last fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is surprising not to see more college interest. He could develop at running back or find a home on defense. Either way, he'd be a special teams' asset as evidenced by his<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19643329/68e27eaa9175870d02edc0f4" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19643329/68e27eaa9175870d02edc0f4"> junior highlight video</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Malik checked out games at Northwestern College and Iowa Western last season. North Dakota, South Dakota and Drake visited him at Carroll in January. The Coyotes, Bulldogs and Upper Iowa played host to him on spring visits. North Dakota State invited him summer camp, which he should take it and along with any others that come his way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2088149' first='Jake' last='Mace-Maynard'], OL/DL, Newton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Announced offers:&nbsp;</strong>Northwestern College, Grand View. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Situation:</strong> I was fortunate enough to watch Mace-Maynard in person twice last season. He combined present production with potential for much more in the future, as he showed throughout his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19574303/6901859672554d600e1df483" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19574303/6901859672554d600e1df483">junior highlight video</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A good athlete in the trenches, Mace-Maynard also competes in wrestling and track. Colleges have recognized that there's recognizable upside once he's focused on one sport at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mace-Maynard was invited to several college camps last summer, but his recruitment has picked up since the calendar flipped to 2026. Augustana, Wayne State, St. Thomas, Morningside, Dordt and Bemidji State have played host to him for campus visits. He reported his first offering coming from Northwestern College last month. A second offer arrived from Grand View on May 16. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1198819' first='Ozzie' last='Grimm'], RB/ATH, Dallas Center-Grimes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Announced offers:&nbsp;</strong>None. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Situation:</strong> Grimm has been appropriately active and reactive during his recruiting process. He camped with Iowa and Iowa State before his sophomore season of 2024 and steadily built relationships with programs on the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grimm boasts a broad base of skills at running back, as he displays during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19714256/68f508863d533836b9a784cc" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19714256/68f508863d533836b9a784cc">junior highlight video</a>. He also has the speed, athleticism and frame to develop on defense and would be a special teams' asset no matter what. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Drake, Northwest Missouri State, Upper Iowa, Army and Cornell played host to Grimm for games last season. Drake and Northern Iowa visited him at DCG in December. He visited Augustana in January, and North Dakota State, Wayne State and South Dakota visited him at school that month. Drake had him back on campus on Feb. 1. He took in a Wisconsin-Platteville junior day in March. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like other guys in this rundown, Grimm could increase college interest by camping with programs on that level during the next month of so. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1617718' first='Brennan' last='Swanson'], WR/ATH, Southeast Polk</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Announced offers: </strong>None. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Situation:</strong> Southeast Polk had 16 different players catch a pass last season and 11 of them hauled in at least three balls. That prevented any one player from shining, but Swanson took advantage when opportunities presented themselves and is being being under-recruited relative to the talent he offers up on these <a href="https://x.com/BrennanSwanson6/status/2048463019135352971?s=20" id="https://x.com/BrennanSwanson6/status/2048463019135352971?s=20">7v7 clips</a> and his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16877557/671f0d264c20845194a42e7d" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16877557/671f0d264c20845194a42e7d">10th-grade highlight video</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It appears colleges are aware of the potential here as Swanson has dedicated time to being noticed. He attended the Lindenwood Mega Camp during the summer after his sophomore year. He was back at Lindenwood's prospect camp last year and also camped with Iowa State. Oklahoma State, North Dakota State and Eastern Illinois have all invited him to camps during the next month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swanson has the quickness and athleticism to develop at receiver. It's also a skill set that would work at other positions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->