The Iowa Football program has sustained success by keeping the most talented in-state prospects at home.
Under Kirk Ferentz, the Iowa program loves to recruit and retain the best the state of Iowa has to offer to play for their home state.
Not only does the program keep talented players close to home, but it also prepares them for the next level.
Cooper DeJean (Odebolt), Tyler Linderbaum (Solon), Tristan Wirfs (Mount Vernon), Riley Moss (Ankeny), and Jack Campbell (Cedar Falls) are just a handful of former Iowa stars who have succeeded thanks to the Iowa program.
Iowa's development under Ferentz has been world-class, regardless of the players' ratings coming in.
An area where the Iowa program truly excels is developing offensive line talent, showcased as the unit won the Joe Moore Award this past season.
With all eyes on repeating as Joe Moore Award winners next season and beyond, the Hawkeyes offered a two-way in-state prospect with tremendous potential.
Had a great meeting and conversation with @CoachBarnett_OL today and I’m extremely grateful to receive an offer from The University of Iowa! Excited to be back out there for a Junior Day visit! pic.twitter.com/Ob3GTQ8m26
— Nate Brenneman (@Nate_Brenneman_) January 8, 2026
Rock Valley, Iowa native Nate Brenneman announced he has received an offer from the Iowa program, and is "excited" for his Junior Day visit at the end of January.
Brenneman is a two-way star for Rockey Valley High School, playing on both the offensive and defensive line, and he has the size and strength that Ferentz and the offensive coaching staff have prioritized over the years.
Brenneman is six-foot-seven, 250 pounds, and racked up 43 pancake blocks on offense, and 29.5 total tackles, including 13 tackles for loss, and five sacks on defense.
He is currently an unranked prospect in the 2027 class, but that shouldn't scare anyone away.
Brenneman's size and strength will allow him to compete right away
Even though Brenneman is unranked, you cannot ignore his physical attributes and ability to play on both the offensive and defensive line.
Standing at six-foot-seven, he has the size to excel at either tackle position and could blossom into a premier blocker on the interior of Iowa's offensive line.
His ability to become a future elite blocker was on full display last season as he pancake-blocked anyone who got in his way.
There are no guarantees that he will pan out, but his tremendous upside is something the Hawkeyes took a chance on.