As we progress deeper into the college football season, not only do the games become more significant, but they also become more important.
They are essential for players, the coaching staff, fans, and recruiting purposes. Talented prospects nationwide are scheduling visits to interested programs, and the better the game and the experience, the higher the chance a program has to snag a highly coveted prospect.
You will often see young recruits standing on the sidelines of Kinnick Stadium during football games throughout the season, and a top in-state prospect in the 2027 class has scheduled a visit to Iowa City in November.
Gameday visits locked in 🔒 #BigAthlete @TheStrengthU @GrinnellTigerFB @515Graphx pic.twitter.com/sJbwSjtEXd
— Will Slagle (@slagle_will) August 28, 2025
A top 2027 in-state prospect, Will Slagle, has set his campus visit schedule for this season. He scheduled a visit to Iowa City on November 7 during the Iowa home game against Oregon, but he will be in attendance for two Hawkeye games this season.
As a Grinnell, Iowa native, Slagle has both big Iowa schools on his visit list, and he will attend the Iowa versus Iowa State game in Ames, Iowa, this weekend on September 7.
Grinnell is an hour from both Iowa City and Ames, but a victory for either squad would be a significant boost to their recruiting pitch.
Slagle is a six-foot-four, 280-pound interior offensive line prospect, and currently plays for Grinnell High School.
Rivals has ranked Slagle as a four-star prospect, Iowa's No. 4 overall prospect, the No. 11 interior lineman prospect, and the No. 258 overall prospect in the 2027 recruiting class.
247 Sports has ranked Slagle as a four-star prospect, Iowa's No. 1 overall prospect, the No. 5 interior lineman prospect, and the No. 144 overall prospect in the 2027 recruiting class.
The Iowa program is known for recruiting big offensive linemen, especially those from the state. Rivals listed George Barnett (offensive line) and Seth Wallace (assistant head coach) as the primary recruiters for Slagle as they attempt to secure one of the best offensive lineman prospects in the country.
If Iowa can play well against Iowa State and upset the Cyclones in Ames, it would a great way to convince Slagle to take the hour drive east to Iowa City.