As summer workouts continue ramping up, the 2026 recruiting class is starting to become fully integrated into the squad.
In one of Iowa's bigger recruiting classes, the squad welcomed 18 new players via the 2026 class, including seven blue-chip and five four-star prospects. 28 percent of those prospects are also from Iowa, strengthening the program's in-state dominance on the recruiting trail. Even though Iowa does not often attract the highest-ranked recruits, the program makes the most of the players they do get.
With the 2026 season right around the corner, we look back at some of Iowa's biggest recruiting wins of the past five cycles. There were multiple candidates, but we have our top three listed below.
No. 1: Cooper DeJean, ATH (2021)
Rivals Industry Ranking: Four-star prospect No. 3 Iowa, No. 11 CB, No. 211 overall
Former Hawkeye and top-five in-state prospect Cooper DeJean went from being one of the best in-state prospects to one of Iowa's most versatile players of the past five years. DeJean was a talented athlete coming out of OABCIG in Ida Grove, Iowa, and proved that early on with the Hawkeyes. After playing nearly every position in high school, he found a home as a return specialist and defensive back.
In 2022, DeJean notched five interceptions and three return touchdowns, then earned the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and Return Specialist of the Year in 2023. Iowa won 32 games during DeJean's time with the program, including a Bowl victory in the 2022 TransPerfect Music City Bowl. After a bad leg injury sidelined him for the final half of the 2023 regular season, the Philadelphia Eagles selected him with the No. 40 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
No. 2: Kaleb Johnson, running back (2023)
Rivals Industry Ranking: Three-star prospect, No. 11 Ohio, No. 32 running back, No. 421 overall
Running back Kaleb Johnson is best known for his record-setting 2024-2025 campaign, in which he surpassed former Hawkeye great Shonn Greene for the most rushing touchdowns in Iowa program history. During that incredible season for Johnson, he tallied 1,537 total rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. Despite all of Johnson's heroics that season, Iowa finished with an 8-5 overall record and a 27-24 loss to Missouri in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.
Before Johnson was dominating in the Iowa backfield, he was a solid running back from Hamilton, Ohio, but was definitely overlooked on the recruiting trail. He made an immediate impact as a freshman and rode the momentum from his senior year into becoming a third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2025 NFL Draft.
No. 3: Gennings Dunker, offensive line (2021)
Rivals Industry Ranking: Three-star prospect, No. 15 Illinois, No. 34 OT, No. 604 overall
Before he became an internet sensation for his flowing red mullet, mustache, and wacky antics, Gennings Dunker was an underrecruited prospect from Lena, Illinois. Dunker was initially ranked a three-star recruit, but Kirk Ferentz and the program saw something many other programs missed. He instantly became a staple of the offensive line and helped anchor a unit that earned the Joe Moore Award last season.
Dunker redshirted his first season in 2021 before becoming a fixture on the offensive line. Last season, he started all 13 games at offensive tackle, earning his 38th career start. After a stellar collegiate career, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him with the No. 96 overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dunker was one of the many talented players in a loaded 2021 recruiting class that ranked in the top five of the Big Ten.
Honorable mentions: Beau Stephens, (2021), Aaron Graves (2022), Kade Pieper (2023),
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