Spring practices have concluded, and as Iowa Football looks ahead to the summer and eventually the start of the 2026 season, they added an interesting in-state prospect.
The Hawkeyes brought in a talented 2026 recruiting class, ranked No. 26 overall and No. 7 in the Big Ten according to Rivals.
The class is headlined by four-star prospects QB Tradon Bessinger, DB Darion Jones, LB Julian Mason, OT Carson Nielsen, IOL Hudson Parliament, and IOL Gene Riordan, and a late addition adds even more talent to the class.
A late addition to the 2026 class could be a hidden gem for the Hawkeyes
The Iowa program has a knack for identifying hidden gems, especially in the state of Iowa, and a late addition to the 2026 class has the potential to be just that.
After a lot of thought, conversations with my family, and going through the recruiting process, I’ve decided to commit to the University of Iowa!!!🐤#Committed #GoHawks @CoachSWallace @Spauldingiowa @sambrincks90 @CoachParkerIowa @TylerBarnesIOWA @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/b5w5B8ioZz
— Brayton “B” Alford (@BraytonAlford) May 4, 2026
It is a bit of a surprise that former Kuemper Catholic two-way star Brayton Alford did not sign elsewhere, but the Hawkeyes got a solid two-way player.
Alford lined up at wide receiver and linebacker for the Knights last season, tallying 51 catches for 714 yards and seven touchdowns on offense, and 77 total tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks on defense in 2025. He also added six interceptions.
Alford guided Kuemper Catholic to a 2A State Championship last season and will look to help the Hawkeyes as a late addition in the 2026 class.
He was prolific on both offense and defense, but there has been no indication of where he will line up for the Hawkeyes next season or in the future.
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