Breaking Down The Top 10 Prospects In Our Class of 2022 Rankings

Iowa is starting to become a college football factory, producing elite prospect after prospect, and this upcoming senior class keeps that trend going. Let’s take a look at the top ten prospects in our class of 2022 rankings. [player_tooltip player_id="23942" first="Xavier" last="Nwankpa"] - S (Southeast Polk) <a href="https://twitter.com/xaviernwankpa01">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10061863/Xavier-Nwankpa">Hudl</a> (Prep Redzone Ranking: #1) Uncommitted Xavier is an elite safety and has been the most high-profile recruit to come out of Iowa in a long time. He can cover every position on the field and can also be used in blitz packages to confuse opposing Quarterbacks. He has an impressive frame, being 6-2 190 lbs, and he will definitely add weight in college. Xavier is flexible in coverage and can easily guard wide receivers and tight ends. He has a great chance of playing as an underclassman at whichever college he commits to and has the making for a potential pro-level safety (especially if he improves his man-to-man ability). His final seven consists of Notre Dame, Clemson, Texas A&M, Arizona State, Iowa, Ohio State, and LSU. If I were to try and predict where he would go, my thoughts would land on Ohio State or LSU. [player_tooltip player_id="23946" first="Eli" last="Raridon"] - TE (WDM. Valley) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliRaridon">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12929326/Eli-Raridon">Hudl</a> (Prep Redzone Ranking: #2) Notre Dame Commit Eli has been a high-level prospect since his sophomore year, and his massive frame plays a role. Eli is 6-6 225 lbs which is an insane build for a high school athlete. He is a great receiving threat who can make absurd plays with his leaping ability and ball skills. Eli committed to Notre Dame on May 2nd, which was a strategic move. Notre Dame has done a great job producing NFL tight ends like Kyle Rudolph, Cole Kmet, and Tyler Eifert - all of who have gone onto quality careers. When Eli fills out his frame at Notre Dame he is going to be a force. If Eli improves on his route running technique he will be a dominant force in the College Football landscape. [player_tooltip player_id="23944" first="Aaron" last="Graves"] - DE (Southeast Valley) <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11577909/Aaron-Graves">Hudl</a> (Prep Redzone Ranking: #3) Iowa Commit [player_tooltip player_id="23944" first="Aaron" last="Graves"] was the youngest recruit Kirk Ferentz has had commit during his reign at Iowa. Aaron has been ahead of his competition since his sophomore year and the fact that he is a whopping 6-5 260 lbs. doesn’t hurt! Get him on a college lifting program and he will be a force on the line. Aaron is extremely physical and is going to be practically unblockable his senior year. If he tunes up his technique and gets some more moves under his belt he is going to excel - especially in the Big 10. [player_tooltip player_id="23945" first="Gabe" last="Burkle"] - TE (Cedar Rapids Prairie) <a href="https://twitter.com/GabeBurkle">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11383704/Gabe-Burkle">Hudl</a> (Prep Redzone Ranking: #4) Uncommitted Gabe immediately jumps out to scouts because of his 6’7” 240 lbs. frame. He is a great blocker at the line of scrimmage but also makes blocks downfield. I would not be surprised if a college coach decided to turn him into a tackle. He is also a good receiver and has above-average ball skills for a blocking tight end. Gabe is quick enough to be used in short passing schemes, and even tight end screens, which are becoming more popular as tight ends become more and more athletic. He has heard from multiple Division One programs, including Kansas State, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Michigan State, Indiana, Army, and Buffalo. He has already been on visits to Iowa and Iowa State and should see an offer coming his way soon. [player_tooltip player_id="23948" first="Hunter" last="Deyo"] - DT (Lewis Central) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeyoHunter">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11080760/Hunter-Deyo">Hudl</a> (Prep Redzone Ranking: #5) Uncommitted Hunter is a highly explosive prospect in the state of Iowa. His power is unmatched at the defensive tackle position, where he can ruin every opposing coach’s game plan on Fridays. It won’t be long until Saturday coaches feel the same heat. Hunter has an insane motor (never giving up on a play) and just flat-out outworks his opponents. He’s received a lot of recruiting attention, scoring offers from Oregon, Iowa, Iowa State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Kansas State, and Wisconsin. I expect to be hearing his name frequently this upcoming fall. [player_tooltip player_id="23949" first="Will" last="McLaughlin"] - LB (Harlan) <a href="https://twitter.com/WillMcL82">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11952049/Will-McLaughlin">Hudl</a> (Prep Redzone Ranking: #6) Iowa State Commit Will was a huge in-state get for Iowa State. It is with good reason that he is ranked as the highest linebacker in the state. Will has an amazing football IQ and can easily ruin an offensive coordinator’s night. He is an elite tackler and seems to be where the ball is every play. Will has a great ability to anticipate where a ball carrier is going and disrupts running lanes at a high level of expertise. I see him compared frequently to Mike Rose and I would agree with that comparison. [player_tooltip player_id="23950" first="Jacob" last="Imming"] - LB (Sergeant Bluff-Luton) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImmingJacob">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11419909/Jacob-Imming">Hudl</a> (Prep Redzone Ranking: #7) Iowa State Commit This player was another big get for Matt Campbell. Jacob is an elite tackler and will be a force to reckon with his senior year. He played in positions all over the field for Sergeant Bluff-Luton and excelled everywhere. He does a great job of making open-field tackles which prevent big plays for opposing offenses. He is also very athletic for his size. Jacob might be the biggest hitter in Iowa, laying massive hits on opposing ball carriers. It’s going to be very interesting to see what he does this fall and what he does at Iowa State. [player_tooltip player_id="23943" first="Spruceton" last="Buddenhagen"] - OT (Clarke) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBuddenhagen_71">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11236305/Spruceton-Buddenhagen">Hudl</a> (Prep Redzone Ranking: #8) Uncommitted Spruceton is one of the most complete linemen in the state. He excels at run blocking and creates huge holes for ball carriers. He takes defenders out of the play consistently and wins reps almost every time the ball is snapped. He has an impressive build at 6-6 270 lbs - a stat that will only grow in a college program. Spruceton is so good that he moves all over the line, following the ball. He is dedicated to making the best play and is successful a high percentage of the time. [player_tooltip player_id="23947" first="Jaxon" last="Dailey"] - QB (Southeast Polk) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaxon1538">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10061822/Jaxon-Dailey">Hudl</a> (Prep Redzone Ranking: #9) Arkansas State Commit [player_tooltip player_id="23947" first="Jaxon" last="Dailey"] has started ever since his sophomore year and has been one of the state’s best quarterbacks from the moment of his first varsity snap. He has a tremendously powerful arm, allowing him to make tons of difficult throws. Jaxon also does a great job of making plays while under pressure. He is sneaky-athletic, making plays with his feet that give opposing defenses headaches. After falling short last season, he will no doubt be on a mission to win a state championship this coming season. Jaxon committed to Arkansas State on April 28th. [player_tooltip player_id="147446" first="Eddie" last="Burgess"] - QB (Montezuma) <a href="https://twitter.com/edburg154">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11411366/Eddie-Burgess">Hudl</a> (Prep Redzone Ranking: #10) Uncommitted Eddie will most likely be playing a different position in college. He is a great athlete and could play running back, wide receiver, defensive end, linebacker - you name it. Offers are starting to come for Eddie and he could be playing at a power five school after his senior year. He has a great arm and makes some impressive throws on the run. Eddie is also an effective ball carrier who makes some amazing plays with his feet. That wraps up my breakdowns on the top 10 prospects in our Class of 2022 rankings! Iowa is starting to trend upward in the national recruiting scene and seems to be having big names every year.