Iowa Football: Top 5 remaining must-have recruits for 2025 class

The 2025 recruiting class for the Iowa Hawkeyes is going to be a bit of a step back from 2024. The Hawkeyes are currently ranked No. 57 nationally by 247Sports' rankings and 17th in the Big Ten. Last year's class had eight four stars in the class and finished 32nd nationally and ninth in the conference.

As things stand right now, Iowa has 12 commitments in the 2025 class, only one of which is a four-star: in-state tight end Thomas Meyer.

Iowa is far from solidifying the class, of course, but there are five players they are targetting that they need to land when it's all said and done. Check them out, listed below in order of importance.

5. Iowa 4-star OT Nick Brooks

This is by far the biggest longshot on the list. The best player in the state was once committed to play for Iowa, but when Nick Brooks opened his recruitment back up in November, it was bad news for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa doesn't have many four-star targets at this stage based on the recruiting board from 247Sports, so reeling Brooks back in would be huge. For what it's worth, at the time of writing, Brooks' most recent visit was to Iowa City on June 21 - though that's the same date 247Sports made an official prediction for him to land elsewhere.

Unfortunately, the 6-foot-7 powerhouse appears destined to land with the Georgia Bulldogs after a May 31 visit that seemed to check all of the boxes for the No. 15 offensive tackle in the country.

But, Iowa isn't out of it yet. Brooks told 247Sports Iowa is still a top priority, so we'll just have to wait and see if staying close to home wins out over joining a more established championship contender.

4. Ohio 3-star RB Kentrell Rinehart

Kentrell Rinehart is one of two prospects on this list that will soon announce their commitment. The 220-lb runner with over 3,000 scrimmage yards in his junior season, announces his decision on July 5.

The race appears to be between Iowa, NC State, Minnesota and Syracuse. He visited all four schools in June, making the trip to Iowa City on June 19th, a couple of days before Iowa hosted many of their top targets. Rinehart was instead visiting the Wolfpack on June 21.

247Sports's prediction sees Rinehart landing with NC State when he makes his final decision.

Iowa needs an offensive playmaker, especially a talented running back, to join the fold and Rinehart fits the bill as a thick back that can still rack up yards.

3. Florida 3-star DL Christian Hudson

Like Rinehart, Christian Hudson will also announce his college decision soon on July 6.

The race comes down to Iowa, Iowa State, Maryland and UCF with no clear indication of where he may go. Iowa may benefit from hosting his final visit on June 21.

UCF has a strong chance based on how Hudson described the final four schools, but he reiterated that distance won't play a huge factor when it comes to potentially choosing the other three programs.

Overall though, Hudson kept his language evenly affectionate for all four programs.

While Hudson is a tad undersized at 6-foot-1, 270lbs, his production in high school is difficult to ignore. As a junior, despite playing both sides of the ball Hudson racked up 70 tackles and nine sacks while working next to a five-star prospect.

2. Texas K/P Scott Starzyk

Landing a kicker isn't going to move the rankings needle by very much, but Iowa is one of the primary programs in the running for arguably the best combo kicker/punter in the country.

Scott Starzyk isn't one of the few kickers to earn a star rating from 247Sports (which would likely change after a commitment), but Kohl's Kicking rankings have him as the No. 1 kicker and No. 4 punter in the country.

Starzyk has interest from most powerhouse programs but did tell Hawkeye Nation that Iowa is one of the best landing spots for a kicker in this class. He's not wrong as Drew Stevens enters his senior season in 2025 and with Iowa's lack of offensive prowess, there are more opportunities to put the ball between the uprights as long as they can manage to get into his range.

Starzyk plans to make a decision in August, which gives time for many of the bigger programs that have yet to offer him an opportunity to do so. Right now, 247Sports sees the race being primarily between Iowa, Syracuse and Mississippi State - but that could change with the right suitors getting involved later in the process.

1. Illinois 5-star Edge Iose Epenesa

Considering the lack of four-star targets at this stage, there is no more important player on Iowa's recruiting board than legacy Hawkeye prospect Iose Epenesa.

Epenesa reportedly thoroughly enjoyed his visit to Iowa, which included a surprise visit from his brother, AJ.

Epenesa isn't particularly close to announcing a decision, and Penn State, Miami and Missouri appear to be strong contenders to land him. While Epenesa's father and brother had notable careers with Iowa, he's made it clear he won't follow in their footsteps for the sake of it.

While Iowa isn't guaranteed to land a commitment from Epenesa, he remains a strong possibility. That said, Iowa needs him to strengthen an otherwise underwhelming class to this point. A difference-maker such as Epenesa, who has 12 sacks in his high school career (played in just four games as a junior), would help continue defensive prominence in Iowa.

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