As Iowa gears up for its ReliaQuest Bowl showdown with No. 14 Vanderbilt, the focus in Iowa City isn’t just on the present - it’s also firmly locked on the future.
With 27 seniors and graduate players on the roster, the Hawkeyes are staring down a significant offseason of transition. That’s a lot of leadership, experience, and on-field production potentially walking out the door.
For head coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff, that means one thing: it’s time to reload.
And they’re wasting no time doing it. The Hawkeyes secured 23 signatures on early signing day for the 2026 class - a strong haul that lays the foundation for the next wave of Iowa football. But the staff’s recruiting efforts are already stretching even further, diving deep into the 2027 class with a flurry of new offers going out in recent weeks.
So far, Iowa has extended offers to 69 prospects in the 2027 cycle. And while they’re casting a wide net, some position groups are clearly getting more love than others.
Defensive line leads the pack with 13 offers, followed by nine athletes - those versatile, do-it-all types - and eight each to wide receivers and edge rushers. But lately, it’s the running back room that’s getting some serious attention.
The Hawkeyes have now offered seven running backs in the 2027 class, with two of those offers coming in just the past few weeks. The most recent? A name that’s starting to bubble up on recruiting boards across the country: Kelsey Gerald.
Gerald, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound back out of Santaluces Community High School in Boynton Beach, Florida, announced over the weekend that he’s received an offer from Iowa. And while it’s still early in the 2027 cycle, Gerald is already approaching 20 offers from major programs - a clear sign that his stock is rising fast.
He’s not yet ranked by Rivals or 247Sports, but ESPN has already tabbed him as a three-star prospect - a solid early indicator of his potential. And while stars and rankings are always a bit fluid this far out, the fact that Power Five programs are lining up for Gerald says plenty.
For Iowa, this offer fits a broader pattern. The Hawkeyes are targeting physical, versatile backs who can thrive in their pro-style system - guys who can run between the tackles, catch out of the backfield, and hold up in pass protection.
Gerald checks a lot of those boxes. He’s got a sturdy frame, good burst, and the kind of balance that makes him tough to bring down.
He’s also shown flashes of being a three-down back, which is exactly what Iowa tends to value in its ground-and-pound identity.
Of course, there’s still a long way to go before the 2027 class signs on the dotted line. But make no mistake - Iowa is laying the groundwork now. With a veteran-heavy roster likely turning over after this season, Ferentz and his staff are clearly planning ahead, targeting key positions with purpose and precision.
And if Kelsey Gerald’s trajectory continues on its current path, don’t be surprised if his name is one Hawkeye fans get to know a lot better in the years to come.