Kirk Ferentz and Iowa fell flat in an attempt to pry a talented prospect from Michigan

You win some, and you lose some, and the Hawkeyes found that out the hard way on the recruiting trail.

Kirk Ferentz and company have earned several recruiting wins during the offseason, and they won't lose sleep over one recruit, but it always stings to miss out on a prospect that you were so close to convincing to sign.

Iowa made the final four of a rising athlete prospect in the 2027 class who could have easily solidified the class in the top 25 in the early going, but now the program will have to pivot after he decided to stay closer to home.

Lundon Hampton snubbed Iowa in favor of the Michigan Wolverines

For Iowa to even be named in the final four with a blue-blood like Michigan in the mix is a good sign for the program, but they couldn't quite convince a gifted athlete to head west to Iowa City.

Lundon Hampton, a three-star athlete prospect, is heading to Michigan after announcing his decision during a commitment event in the gym of Kenowa Hills High School. Surrounded by family and friends, Hampton never even motioned towards the Iowa hat, going straight for the Michigan State hat.

He immediately tossed the MSU hat and picked up the Michigan hat to signal his final decision.

Iowa had long odds of landing the talented athlete, but as he heads to Ann Arbor, the Hawkeyes won't be too disappointed. The good news for Iowa is that they are slowly becoming a consistent player for multiple top-level athletes, something the program can build on in the future.

Rivals currently ranks Iowa's 2027 recruiting class among the top overall, with plenty of time for the program to add to it. The class is propped up by four-star linebacker Gavin Stecker, alongside tight end Jaxx DeJean, and offensive linemen Tommy Riordan and Reilly Newman.

This is not the first time the program has failed to add an athlete, and it won't be the last, but as Tim Lester and the offense continue to improve, we could easily see the script flip. All the program can do is continue pushing forward and using its reputation as one of the top development programs to attract more top talent.

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