We are just over 20 days from Iowa's trip to Tampa to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores on New Year's Eve.
While the squad continues its preparation for bowl season, the program remains active on the recruiting trail and earned its first big win in the 2027 recruiting class.
The Hawkeyes offered talented Texas running back prospect SaRod Baker, who is currently playing for DeSoto High School in the Texas high school state football playoffs.
Iowa also got some great news from the recruiting trail, as talented in-state linebacker prospect Gavin Stecker decided to stay home and commit to the program.
Stecker, a Bettendorf, Iowa native, is ranked as a four-star prospect and is Iowa's first commitment in the 2027 recruiting class.
At around the same time Iowa gained its first commitment in the 2027 recruiting class, Iowa State lost its only recruit in the same class.
— Will Slagle (@slagle_will) December 9, 2025
Will Slagle, a four-star offensive line prospect from Grinnell, Iowa, announced that he is reopening his recruitment process.
Slagle initially turned down multiple offers, including one from Iowa, to commit to Iowa State in November.
Slagle decided to decommit from the Cyclones after former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell took the head coaching job at Penn State after the conclusion of the regular season.
He left the door open for a return to Ames in the future following a discussion with new head coach Jimmy Rogers, but Iowa has a chance to swoop in and steal the talented prospect from a hated rival.
Rivals' industry ranking has Slagle as a four-star prospect, Iowa's No. 3 overall prospect, the No. 20 interior offensive line prospect, and the No. 317 overall prospect in the 2027 recruiting class.
247Sports has ranked Slagle as a four-star prospect, Iowa's No. 1 overall prospect, the No. 10 interior offensive line prospect, and the No. 198 overall prospect in the 2027 recruiting class.