For the second time in a week, Iowa has landed another key piece to its 2027 recruiting class - and this one’s staying close to home. Braylon Bingham, a standout athlete from Pleasantville, Iowa, announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes on Sunday. Recruited by linebackers coach Seth Wallace, Bingham is expected to suit up at linebacker when he arrives in Iowa City, joining fellow in-state commit Gavin Stecker at the position.
Bingham’s name has been on Iowa’s radar for a while, and for good reason. The versatile Trojan has been a do-it-all player at the high school level - a hybrid quarterback and safety with the kind of athleticism that jumps off the tape.
But when Wallace extended the offer back in November, it felt like the writing was on the wall. Bingham grew up in a Hawkeye household, and the opportunity to wear black and gold was more than just a dream - it was a goal he’d been working toward since the first time he picked up a football.
“This is something I’ve been working for and dreaming of since I picked up a football,” Bingham said at the time. “To secure an offer like that is pretty awesome. Considering my whole family are Hawkeye fans, it’s pretty dang cool.”
While Bingham’s future is at linebacker, he’s no stranger to the position. Though he primarily lined up under center and in the secondary for Pleasantville, he’s had reps in the box - including during a visit from Wallace, who watched him drop down and play some backer in a few defensive sets.
“We have a couple defensive alignments where I drop down and play backer,” Bingham explained. “We ran it a couple times when Coach Wallace came to watch me a couple weeks ago. I wouldn’t say I’m unfamiliar with it, and I could definitely play it - I think I do a good job of it.”
What Wallace saw that day clearly left an impression. The longtime Iowa assistant, known for his ability to identify and develop linebacker talent, saw something in Bingham that went beyond the stat sheet.
“He said that he liked the way I compete,” Bingham said. “He thought that was something that not a lot of guys have.
He said it’s something he couldn’t teach, but everything else that would make me into a really good football player, he could. He really likes how I flow to the ball, keep my feet going, my agility and being able to make plays that others can’t.”
Bingham’s visit for the Oregon game - where Wallace extended the offer - was his second trip to Kinnick this season. He also made the two-hour drive to Iowa City for the Hawkeyes’ 25-24 win over Penn State in October.
That trip wasn’t just about football, either. Bingham took time to visit with Iowa baseball coach Rick Heller, and there’s a real possibility he could pull double duty as a two-sport athlete in college.
“I’ve had lots of conversations about that, and it’s something that I’d definitely love to do,” Bingham said. “I’d have to figure out how to work it out between both staffs, but we’ve talked about it on the baseball side of things.
Haven’t quite talked about it with football yet. I think here in the next couple months we’ll talk and see how that goes.”
If he does end up playing both sports, he won’t be doing it just for the novelty - Bingham’s numbers on the diamond are as eye-popping as his football stats. As a right-handed pitcher and outfielder, he hit .459 over 109 at-bats this past season, racking up nine doubles, four triples and seven home runs. On the mound, he was nearly untouchable: a 9-0 record in 10 appearances, 72 strikeouts in 50 innings, and a minuscule 0.56 ERA.
Back on the football field, Bingham led Pleasantville in tackles with 60.5, including 2.5 for loss. As a quarterback, he completed 87 of 152 passes (57.2%) for 1,492 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.
He also ran for 909 yards and seven scores on 119 carries. And just for good measure, he returned five punts for 180 yards and a touchdown.
There’s still a long way to go before Bingham officially suits up for the Hawkeyes, but the foundation is there. He’s a high-level athlete with a motor that doesn’t quit and the kind of competitive edge that coaches love to build around. Whether he’s flying to the ball on defense, firing strikes on the mound, or breaking tackles in the open field, Bingham plays with a confidence and energy that’s tough to teach.
And now, he gets to do it for the team he’s always dreamed of playing for.