In-State FCS Programs Offer Five 2027 Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evaluating five of UNI and Drake's newest offers in the state of Iowa's class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1644899"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a32d91421464"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Picking up offers from both Drake in April and Northern Iowa last week, [player_tooltip player_id='1644899' first='Hunter' last='Bacino'] has begun to get some much-deserved recognition in his home state, along with offers from Lindenwood and Western Illinois. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we wrote when Bacino was discussed as a prospect <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/five-2027s-worthy-of-their-first-d1-offer-offense-part-4/">worthy of his first Division I offer</a> in February, the 6-foot-4, 315 pound force of a guard is also "A mauler with quick feet that takes the down man completely out of the play in straight-ahead run game and paves the way as a puller on runs to the opposite side of the formation."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With foot speed that only makes his size that much more of a problem for opposing DLs, Bacino is as intimidating as they come when he gets a head of steam and is looking to take out a defensive end or a linebacker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2230140"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a32aa782f5d2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A 3.5 star long snapper according to Kohls Kicking, [player_tooltip player_id='2230140' first='Pierce' last='Beckman'] picked up his first scholarship offer -- from UNI -- after camping at Iowa over the weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sharp and quick with his release on his snaps, Beckman put it on the money all season long on special teams for Liberty, proving to be a consistent piece of the 5A runner up squad. The Lightning kicking game was amongst the best in the state, booting through 11-of-13 field goals and 55-of-55 on PATs -- none of which happens without a consistent, accurate snapper. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On punts, once the ball is out, he's seemingly already halfway down the field to either down the ball where it sits or pursue the returner for a tackle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1705105"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a32aa782f603"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Playing both offensive and defensive line for North Scott, [player_tooltip player_id='1705105' first='AJ' last='Huber'] is effective on both sides of the ball. Tall and long with some natural playmaking ability at the defensive end spot, he'd likely project there with a program like Drake, who offered him last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impactful in the run game, Huber doesn't get taken out by pullers, often recognizing what's happening before the pulling guard can reach him. He'll either blow past them for a tackle-for-loss or shed a block and make the play. In the pass-rush, he doesn't always get to the quarterback, but he's the type of defender that, at the least, he'll get in their face and make the throw difficult.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the offensive line, his greatest strength mirrors what he does well defensively -- as a puller, Huber gets some steam, and he'll take out the defender that's in closest pursuit to the North Scott ball-carrier. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1965050"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a32aa782f626"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mostly playing corner on the defensive side of the ball for Prairie, one can immediately see the athleticism and fluidity in [player_tooltip player_id='1965050' first='Max' last='Patterson']'s game that should translate to a place like Drake, where he just received his first scholarship offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rangy as a CB that stays attached to the hip of pass-catchers in the open field, Patterson doesn't give up on the play until the whistle is blown. Even if it looks like a catch is made, the 6-foot-3 and 190-pound DB will stil fight to pop the ball out and force an incompletion. Deceptively quick and showing some burst when the ball is in the air, Patterson can seemingly appear out of nowhere and get a PBU or an interception. He also showed flashes of being able to blitz off the edge, and with some more work and added weight, he could very well play the nickel position at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2090942"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a32aa782f664"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Playing defensive end for one of the better programs in all of 3A, [player_tooltip player_id='2090942' first='James' last='Thomsen'] was bigger and quicker than the majority of the offensive linemen he faced. Able to beat offensive tackles off the edge with lateral speed and upper body strength, Thomsen is one of the more physically imposing D-ends in eastern Iowa. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With his violence, heavy hands, explosion and high motor, it's a bit of a surprise other Division I programs haven't offered the powerful pass-rusher -- yet. Firing off the edge and terrorizing quarterbacks throughout the season, Thomsen should get more of a shot from DI programs with a bigger senior campaign. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->