Iowa City native Jackson Naeve is returning home to play for Hawkeye Football

Naeve accepted a preferred walk-on offer after spending last season with Iowa Western CC
Iowa City Regina's Jackson Naeve (7) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during a first round Class 1A high school football playoff game against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at Regina Catholic High School in Iowa City, Iowa.
Iowa City Regina's Jackson Naeve (7) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during a first round Class 1A high school football playoff game against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at Regina Catholic High School in Iowa City, Iowa. | Joseph Cress/For the Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Iowa Football continues to add depth ahead of the 2025-2026 college football season. After the spring transfer portal window closed in April, the Hawkeyes continued to recruit for future classes.

Over the past few weeks, the Hawkeyes have contacted multiple future prospects and added depth to their 2026 recruiting class.

2026 three-star defensive lineman prospect Sawyer Jezierski from Edina High School in Minneapolis verbally committed to the Hawkeyes after attending a football camp last month.

After a football camp this week, 2026 athlete prospect Isaiah Oliver received a preferred walk-on offer from the Hawkeyes, and another Iowa City native inked a deal after spending last season with Iowa Western Community College.

Jackson Naeve, a Regina High School graduate, is returning to Iowa City to play football for the Hawkeyes next season. Naeve is a six-foot-one, 195-pound receiver who played for former legendary Iowa Hawkeye receiver Ed Hinkel.

After joining the Hawkeyes, Naeve will have at least three years of remaining eligibility and a redshirt.

Naeve impressed the Hawkeyes' coaching staff at camp this week after running an impressive 4.46 second 40-yard dash. Naveve gives the Hawkeyes another speedster at wide receiver or on special teams to pair with the 2024 Jet Award winner, Kaden Wetjen.

The Jet Award is presented annually to the best return specialist in college football.

Wetjen also began his college career at Iowa Western Community College (2021-2022) before joining the Hawkeyes as a preferred walk-on.

During his first and only season for the Iowa Western Reivers, Naeve tallied 86 receiving yards and one touchdown in seven games.

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