Checking In with Uncommitted Iowa 2027s

<!-- 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='1197489' first='Dyson' last='Thompson'], ATH, Mount Ayr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Announced offers:&nbsp;</strong>None.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Situation:</strong> Thompson stood out on both sides of the ball as a Mount Ayr junior in 2025. He rushed for 1,151 yards (9.4 YPC) and 12 touchdowns. Fifteen of his 26.0 tackles were solo stops, and he had 2.0 tackles for loss. Thompson also returned kicks. It's a broad base of skills that give him development potential at multiple positions on the next level. The <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19681079/691b7e7fce1a8f0f079de199" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19681079/691b7e7fce1a8f0f079de199">junior highlight video</a> reveals a lot of athleticism, agility and speed that feeds the versatility. Those traits and a projectable frame furnish him with the upside colleges covet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson visited Drake in February and again in March. He camped with Iowa State last month. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2053647' first='Griffin' last='Uhlenhopp'], ATH, Osage</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Announced offers:&nbsp;</strong>None.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Situation:</strong> Uhlenhopp earned first-team all-district honors as receiver during Osage's historic run to the UNI-Dome last season. The junior hauled in a team-high seven touchdowns among his 25 catches for 470 yards. He added five solo tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery, and averaged 22.3 yards on four kick returns. Uhlenhopp also shined on coverage teams, as we can witness when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20412770/699c8100dd456a763f6d52af" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20412770/699c8100dd456a763f6d52af">11th-grade highlight video</a>. It's an attractive combination of size and speed for colleges to envision developing. He runs clean, smooth routes and catches everything with his reliable hands. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Uhlenhopp isn't reporting college interest but has the talents to help plenty of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1814186' first='Jonathan' last='Van Roekel'], DE/TE,Boone</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Announced offers:&nbsp;</strong>Morningside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Situation:</strong> After breaking in with the Boone varsity in 2024, Van Roekel broke out for the <a href="https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/boone">Toreadors</a> last fall in earning all-district recognition. Twenty one of his 26.0 tackles were solo. He delivered 7.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and a fumble recovery. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19448475/6984dc94d3473b151b0843c7" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19448475/6984dc94d3473b151b0843c7">Eleventh-grade highlights</a> reveal a tenacious presence coming off of the edge. Van Roekel does well in setting the edge and keeping the play in front of him. He's fast to the football and moves well laterally. Van Roekel also caught a couple of passes and showed an aptitude for blocking, keeping a path open to a future at tight end if progress stalls on the defensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Van Roekel announced his first offer coming from Morningside last month. He visited Upper Iowa and Buena Vista for junior days during the spring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581275' first='Cash' last='Varner'], DB/WR, Alburnett</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Announced offers:&nbsp;</strong>Bemidji State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Situation:</strong> Varner flashed upside for colleges on both sides of the ball in helping Alburnett reach the postseason last year. The junior was named first-team all-district as a defensive back after coming up with 18.0 tackles and three interceptions. On offense, he caught 19 balls for 379 Yards and five touchdowns. Loose hips leading to the easy changing of directions helps Varner stick in coverage. He tracks the ball well in the air and breaks on it quickly. Ability to work different levels of the field as a receiver provide him with potential there, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bemidji State offered Varner an opportunity in February. He's also heard from MSU-Moorhead, Upper Iowa, Augusta, Sioux Falls, Morningside and UW-Platteville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1699638' first='Marshal' last='Warnke'], ATH, South O'Brien</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Announced offers:&nbsp;</strong>None.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Situation:</strong> Warnke paced South O'Brien in rushing and added nine receptions for 91 yards. On defense, he recorded 25.0 tackles, five of them being solo stops. Warnke racked up 5.0 tackles for loss and recovered a fumble. His <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20687153/Marshal-Warnke/highlights" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20687153/Marshal-Warnke/highlights">11th-grade highlights</a> provide evidence of a path to success at multiple positions on the next level. Speed, quickness and a natural feel for making people miss in space make Warnke a problem for opponents with the ball in his hands. The traits that aid him in succeeding on offense transfer well to defense, where he's capable of developing as a hybrid. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warnke visited Dakota Wesleyan and Dakota State for junior days. He's also heard from Northwestern College, Simpson College and Briar Cliff. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->