Scouting Reports: Iowa 2026s We’re Watching

<!-- 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>We started this offseason attempting to write up evaluations for as many student-athletes as possible. They've been added to their Prep Redzone profiles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More guys keep popping up, however. Here's another collection of seniors with something to prove in 2025:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1693789"],"_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-685578ef2a2ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">During his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22729228/67225303a161dd592142075c">junior highlight video</a>, Sam shows off his versatility as a defender. The first clip has him standing up off of the edge, blowing by the offensive tackle and sacking the quarterback. His straight-line speed gave the signal caller no chance of escaping. On the second clip, Sam puts his hand in the dirt on the end of a three-player front, fights off a block and stands up the running back at the line. Sam mixes impresive strength and athleticism in getting the job done. Plenty of colleges could use his services.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1694520"],"_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-68557c2ed9d1a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Downing impresses during his<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17968625/673e28e02e7ac2cc25597ff8"> junior highlight video</a>, which opens with him lining up at center and pulling. He easily reached blocks on the second level as an athletic big guy with a ton of upside. Looking natural at the center position, Downing operates smoothly from snap to contact. Once engaged, he keeps his guy in front of him with sound footwork and active hands. Downing overpowers opponents in the run game when it goes inside. His kick-out blocks open up large lanes and create the potential for a chunk play. While center looks like his future on the next level, his size and talents provide him the flexibility to move to guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1694528"],"_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-6855a6335f2fb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's not difficult finding Flesher on the field. He's bigger than most of his opponents in the eight-player game. That would be enough for them to handle, but Flesher makes matching up with him even more difficult due to his athleticism and agility. You can witness him action during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18238311/66e980cc7f083a3e8a5203ca">junior highlight video</a>. Flesher offers potential on both sides of the ball. He's a bruising offensive lineman with burst and punch. The opposition struggles to disengage once Flesher locks them up. On defense, he gets off of the snap quickly, winning with power and speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1694616"],"_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-6855a6335f358"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coming off of a junior season that saw him earn first-team all-district and second-team all-state laurels as an offensive lineman, Grooters should have plenty of eyes on him in 2025. That's a wise decision for college coaches based on his<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16584003/67aeaf8bed7e1fd1e7918485"> junior highlight video</a>. On it, Grooters is a beast in the middle of the O-Line. He fires off of the snap, delivering pancakes in tight quarters or handing them out once in space. Grooters works angles and plays with good pad level. He drives with his legs with a powerful upper half and violent hands. He'll be at the top of opponents' scouting reports this season but with his ability it will take more than talk to stop him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1694619"],"_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-6855a6335f3a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Highlights are limited on Groetken's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19260260/Mandell-Groetken/highlights">Hudl page</a>. It contains clips from three of last season's contests. From them, we see his upside. During a playoff game against Valley, he produced 50 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Groetken hits the hole hard and gets downhill in a hurry. His powerful lower half make him tough to arm tackle, and he keeps his legs churning. Vision and patience also are keys to Groetken's success as he lets his blocks set up and turns it up the field when he sees daylight. With skills in his toolbox that would work on defense, that possibility exists, and he'll be an asset on special teams no matter what.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1241420"],"_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-6855a7eb5fbcd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Valley fielded one of the state's top defenses a year ago, and Wolter was a key part of the unit for a squad that reached the Class 5A championship contest. His 31.0 tackles tell part of the story but not all. Wolter is disciplined and plays within the framework of the defense as we see on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18010994/6747b6ac625776be6d65101c">junior highlight video</a>. Even when he's not making the stop, he's funneling the ball to teammates for them to do so. It's an important part of the Tiger attack. Wolter is athletic and quick, making him productive in space. His pre-snap reads position him for success, and he's a technically sound tackler. Wolter can run with receivers and tight ends in coverage, keeping open the possibility of lining up at safety in certain college schemes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->