Iowa football is already making noise on the 2027 recruiting trail - and they’re doing it with homegrown talent. With three early commitments, all from within the state, the Hawkeyes are laying the foundation for a class that fits their identity: tough, instinctual, and versatile. Let’s break down the trio that’s on board so far, and why they fit the Iowa mold so well.
Gavin Stecker - Linebacker, Bettendorf (4-star, No. 36 LB nationally)
The first name in the 2027 class, Gavin Stecker is a player who feels like he was built in the Iowa linebacker lab. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, he brings the kind of frame and athletic profile that jumps off the tape. But what really sets him apart is his football IQ and relentless motor - traits that have been the backbone of Iowa’s linebacker tradition for years.
Stecker chose the Hawkeyes over offers from Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, and Minnesota, with programs like Michigan and Nebraska also showing real interest. His junior season at Bettendorf was a showcase of sideline-to-sideline production: 77 tackles, 7 for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He’s a player who doesn’t just find the football - he hunts it down.
There’s also a bit of history here. Bettendorf has been good to Iowa linebackers in the past - just ask Pat Angerer.
And with linebackers coach Seth Wallace making Stecker a priority early in the cycle, it’s clear Iowa sees him as a foundational piece. Stecker fits the Hawkeyes' defensive identity: physical, instinctual, and unafraid to mix it up in the trenches or drop into coverage.
“They’re an elite linebacker program,” Stecker said. “Coach Wallace gets paid a lot to do what he does, and he’s pretty good at it.”
No argument there.
Scouting Snapshot: Stecker’s game is built on instincts and effort. He finished seventh in Iowa’s 5A classification in tackles - and that’s without the benefit of a playoff run.
Whether he’s blitzing, spying the quarterback, or dropping into coverage, he plays with a physical edge and a nose for the ball. His ability to fight through blocks and pursue plays from the backside is exactly what you want in a Big Ten linebacker.
Braylon Bingham - Linebacker, Pleasantville (3-star, No. 50 LB nationally)
If you’re looking for versatility, look no further than Braylon Bingham. He’s the kind of multi-sport, multi-position athlete Iowa has made a habit of developing into high-level contributors. Bingham was the second commitment in the 2027 class and brings a rare blend of football instincts and all-around athleticism.
On the football field, he was Pleasantville’s leading tackler with 60.5 stops and 2.5 tackles for loss. But that’s just the beginning.
He also played quarterback, throwing for nearly 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing for over 900 yards and seven more scores. Oh, and he returned punts too - taking one to the house.
His offer sheet may not be loaded - Iowa and Iowa State were the only two to officially pull the trigger - but he drew strong interest from Northwestern, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. And when you look at his baseball résumé, it’s easy to see why schools are intrigued.
Bingham led Pleasantville to a state title on the diamond, batting .459 with pop and posting a 0.56 ERA as a pitcher. That kind of competitive edge translates.
Scouting Snapshot: Bingham’s a classic Iowa defensive project - and that’s a compliment. He’s a quarterback now, but his physicality and instincts scream future linebacker or hybrid safety.
He’s a competitor in every sense of the word, and his ability to read the game from under center gives him a unique advantage on defense. He’s the type of athlete Iowa has turned into difference-makers before, and his upside is legit.
Jaxx DeJean - Tight End, OABCIG (3-star, No. 43 Athlete nationally)
The latest addition to the class, Jaxx DeJean brings a familiar name and a whole lot of athletic upside to Iowa City. The younger brother of former Hawkeye star Cooper DeJean, Jaxx is carving out his own path - and doing it all over the field.
At OABCIG, DeJean lined up at tight end, wide receiver, quarterback, and defensive back. His junior season was a stat-stuffer: 36 catches for 461 yards and six touchdowns, 207 yards and three scores on the ground, 149 passing yards and two more touchdowns through the air.
On defense, he added 18.5 tackles and three interceptions. He even handled punting duties, averaging nearly 38 yards per boot.
DeJean chose Iowa over offers from Michigan, Kansas State, and others. Like his brother, he’s a multi-sport standout - a force on the basketball court and baseball field as well. His frame and athleticism suggest he could grow into a true H-back or even a defensive back, depending on how his body develops.
Scouting Snapshot: DeJean is what scouts call a "jumbo athlete" - big, fluid, and positionally flexible. He’s shown flashes of playmaking ability across the board, but his long-term fit may be on defense, where his ball skills and instincts pop.
That said, if he can fine-tune his route running and add some explosiveness, he could be a matchup problem at tight end or H-back. He’s a developmental player with a high ceiling, and the bloodlines speak for themselves.
Final Takeaway
Iowa’s 2027 class is off to a strong, in-state start - and it's easy to see why. Stecker brings Big Ten-ready instincts and physicality at linebacker.
Bingham is a do-it-all athlete with the kind of versatility Iowa thrives on. And DeJean offers intriguing upside with the potential to contribute on either side of the ball.
This group may not be the flashiest on paper, but it checks every box Iowa looks for: smart, tough, athletic, and coachable. And if history tells us anything, these are exactly the types of players who turn into Saturday staples in Iowa City.