National Signing Day 2016: Top 5 Gets For the Hawkeyes

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Feb 3, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Renaissance High Schools offensive tackle Alaric Jackson signed a letter of intent to play football for the Iowa Hawkeyes at the University of Iowa during national signing day at the Horatio Williams Foundation headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press via USA TODAY NETWORK /

No. 1: ALARIC JACKSON

Because I mean how can it not be Alaric? He was the only guy that Iowa was waiting on to commit coming into NSD 2016. He was actually set to commit on Monday afternoon, but something came up and he pushed his decision to late in the morning on NSD. Some thought Michigan entered the picture, but it appears he either said no, they said no, or the two just became uninterested.

Jackson is a monster at 6’7″ and 285 pounds. He’s rated as a three star prospect by rivals and has only been playing football for two years. That’s really the most impressive part about him. Once he gets into the Iowa system and learns the ways, I’m willing to bet he’ll be playing in the NFL someday.

He’s still really raw as of right now, but he has the size and you can’t teach that. Who knows if Alaric will redshirt or not, but I’m willing to say he will just so they can get another year to mold him. He had Hawkeye Nation absolutely freaking out on Twitter when he committed as they welcomed him to the family.

Alaric Jackson is a giant. Only two years of football. Great potential. Likes to work.
— Marc Morehouse (@marcmorehouse) February 3, 2016

Jackson was really the only drama Iowa fans had to deal with today, but I am fine with that as it can get really nerve racking wondering whether or not you’ll be landing a recruit.

Overall, I think this is a really nice looking class. They have some playmakers, some home grown Iowa boys, and guys that’ll get down and dirty in the trenches. I am very pleased with the class of 2016.

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