After adding three-star defensive back prospect Ronnie Hill to the 2026 recruiting class, the Hawkeyes continue adding talent to their 2026 class. Hill immediately chose the Hawkeyes after attending a football camp last week.
Hill became the tenth player to join the 2026 recruiting class and the third defensive recruit following Sawyer Jezierski (defensive line) and Marcello Vitti (defensive back).
Iowa also hosted a top in-state linebacker prospect this weekend to bolster their 2026 class. After officially visiting Iowa City, Kasen Thomas announced he has verbally committed to the Hawkeyes.
I’m Home 🏡. Go Hawks🐤🐤@CoachSWallace @LeVarWoods @TylerBarnesIOWA @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/HvY22geLv6
— Kasen Thomas (@KasenTHOMAS3) June 23, 2025
Thomas, a highly coveted in-state recruit, chose the Hawkeyes over offers from Arizona, Iowa State, Kansas State, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Every ranking organization has Thomas as a top-five Iowa prospect, excluding 247 Sports (ranked No. 6).
On3 Sports ranked Thomas as a four-star prospect (three-star industry ranking), Iowa's No. 3 prospect, and the No. 209 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class.
247 Sports, ESPN, and Rivals ranked him as a three-star prospect.
Thomas, a six-foot-two, 217-pound prospect from Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in Sioux City, Iowa, is a two-way star for Crusader Football.
Last season, Thomas had 44.5 tackles and 15.5 tackles for loss on defense, while also racking up 1,841 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on offense.
Thomas excels on both sides of the football, proven by his numbers last season
His primary recruiters were Special Team Coordinator LeVar Woods and Assistant Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Seth Wallace, which implies that the Hawkeyes want to play him on the defensive side of the ball and possibly on special teams.
Thomas is a huge signing for the Hawkeyes as they keep an in-state star home in Iowa.