Season Review: Iowa Guys with Highest Ceilings

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   Future projection is one of the factors considered when preparing rankings for the network. Scouts weigh facets of the evaluation differently. It's a pretty big one for me. It's also entertaining to take an educated guess on how good a student-athlete can become.   I thought it might be cool to share a list of guys I see having the most potential from all the graduating classes in Iowa following the conclusion of another prep campaign.   Here we go...    I've had the pleasure of watching Whitters grow physically and, more importantly, as a football player during the last several seasons. The monster on the inside of the offensive line blew me away during a pair of in-person scouting opportunities in 2025. He not only beat his guys, he punished them. On some plays, he took care of multiple opponents. As mentioned, Whitters has improved his technique, including his leverage, keeping the pads down and driving through the dude across from him. That power on the bottom complements the strength and violent hands up top. Whitters plays through the whistle and flattens the opposition regularly. I think he can play early at Iowa and has the potential to be All-Big Ten or better.     I've written in previous Barrett evaluations that he was one of the most impactful popup prospects for me since I started working at Prep Redzone Iowa. He had me doing a double-take when seeing him starting as a freshman at left tackle for Dowling in last year's state semifinals against rival Valley. And Barrett was winning already. He took another step forward in 2025 during the two in-person scouting opportunities I had. Some of that was natural. He's bigger and stronger. He also improved his technique, keeping his pads down, using angles and smoothing out his footwork. Barrett is natural in pass pro, moving well laterally and operating with balance. He's trending up as a run blocker with more power, too. With two more years of high school before college, there's an argument for Barrett having the most potential among present Iowa high schoolers.     We will move Brewer into our 2026 rankings in our update, arriving in the next week or so. He reclassified up a grade during this season and then committed to Iowa. You may have heard, the Hawkeyes have a rich history at his position. He'll be joining a room with experience and depth, but his potential and college readiness could have him on the field early. A national recruit with offers from Georgia, Miami (FL) and just about everybody else that utilizes the tight end, Brewer looks like a receiver running routes and catching passes. He already brings physicality to the field as a blocker and when playing defensive end for Norwalk. His frame is such that it can add good weight and strength without the loss of speed or quickness. The Iowa prep ranks has had, and still has, really good tight end prospects. Brewer has a case to be the best prospect among them.     Offensive linemen and tight ends, that's what Iowa produces for colleges on a regular basis. Many of the guys at those positions are sought after by the top programs. Severson appears to fit the description with schools on the next level recognizing the natural talent and upside. He reports scholarship offers from Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. Not too shabby for a guy only halfway through his prep career. Severson is tall with long arms and speed. His frame can comfortably add good weight and strength without the loss of athleticism and quickness. As he tightens up his technique and skills at the position, a rise up the ladder towards his considerable potential will further increase interest in him. It's a really high ceiling here.     With the top prospect in Iowa's 2027 class reclassifying, Slagle likely will move to the top spot when the update is released in the next week or so. The Iowa State pledge certainly is deserving as an offensive lineman presently producing at a high level but nowhere near what he can become as a player. Slagle looks very natural playing the position. He moves his feet smoothly and makes defeating the opponent often look easy. Quickness off of the snap followed by power and punch makes Slagle a dominant force in the run game. His ability to get to the second level and reach blocks in space adds to the success. The aforementioned skill set and talents also make Slagle consistently good in pass protection. He could see the field early in Ames with the upside of being at least all-conference.     The younger brother of former Iowa All-American and current Philadelphia Eagle defensive back Cooper DeJean, Jaxx is a different player than his older sibling. He has a few inches on Cooper with longer arms and more position flexibility. Jaxx does possess high-end athleticism like his brother, but in the bigger frame. He could conceivably be a receiver, a tight end, an edge rusher or a linebacker at the next level, depending on how his frame develops physically. Jaxx is a prospect with a high floor and ceiling. He's likely to be good on the next level with an opportunity for much more. It will be interesting to see where he ends up positionally and in what college program because development is key to reaching his considerable potential. Iowa, Michigan, Kansas State, UNLV and UAB have reportedly offered him scholarships.

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