Cy-Hawk weekend in Iowa City is doing more than filling Kinnick Stadium. For Iowa’s coaching staffs, Saturday night’s showdown has become a recruiting stage, and a big one.
With No. 21 Iowa hosting Iowa State on September 12 at 6:30 PM CT on NBC, the program gets the kind of backdrop coaches dream about: a sold-out crowd, a national audience, and the kind of noise that can sell a prospect on the whole experience in one shot.
The Hawkeyes are expected to have more than 20 recruits in attendance, according to various media outlets such as 247 Sports or On3, and the list stretches well beyond football. Committed players will be on hand too, serving as part of the sell job as Iowa looks to impress a wave of uncommitted targets across multiple sports.
On the football side, several names stand out. Already committed and set to attend are Gavin Stecker, a linebacker from Bettendorf, Iowa, in the class of 2027 and a 4-star recruit; Tommy Riordan, a defensive lineman from Hinsdale, Illinois, also a class of 2027 4-start recruit; Jaxx DeJean, the younger brother of Cooper DeJean, a tight end from Odebolt, Iowa, class of 2027 and a 3-star recruit; and Reilly Newman, an offensive lineman from West Chester, Ohio, class of 2027 and a 3-star recruit.
The uncommitted football targets Iowa is bringing in include Grant Bowen, the son of former Hawkeye and NFL defensive back Matt Bowen. He can play tight end or linebacker and is one of the Midwest’s most coveted targets, a class of 2028 4-star prospect and the No.
102 National Player. Cannon Zubeck, an offensive lineman from Overland Park, Kansas, is a class of 2028 4-star prospect and Rivals No.
17 Overall Target. Jevyn Severson, a tight end from Madrid, Iowa, is also a class of 2028 4-star prospect and a Rivals 100 National Target.
Former Iowa quarterback CJ Beathard will be the Hawkeyes’ honorary captain against Iowa State.
Women’s basketball is bringing its own set of prospects into the mix. Jan Jensen’s group is expected to have Khalia Hartwell in the building, an uncommitted class of 2027 post player from South Carolina who is a consensus 4-to-5-star prospect and a top 3 center nationally.
At 6’5” with exceptional wingspan and length, she is described as a strong shot blocker with offensive versatility. Jada Seubert, a committed class of 2027 combo guard from Bowler, Wisconsin and a 4-star prospect, is also expected.
There could be more coming, too. The expectation is that Jan will also have 10+ additional recruits on hand in the classes of 2028 through 2030. Iowa women’s basketball has an exhibition game on October 29 against Maryville and opens the season November 2 versus Towson.
Ben McCollum’s men’s program will also have eyes on future talent. Keller Daughterty, a committed forward/center from Brookfield, Wisconsin and a 4-star recruit, is set to attend.
So is Cayden Daughtry, a 5-star point guard from Florida who has become one of the most explosive and decorated high school basketball prospects in the country. He plays in Overtime Elite, is widely considered a top 3 overall recruit in the class of 2027, and is the cousin of both Brad Banks and C.J.
Jones, who played football at Iowa.
Another target to watch is Cole Kelly, a class of 2028 premier four-star hybrid forward. The left-handed wing from Naperville, Illinois, is listed at 6’6” or 6’7” and 185 pounds, plays for Neuqua Valley High School and Breakaway Basketball on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, and is widely seen as one of the most complete and versatile young prospects in the Midwest. Iowa men’s basketball opens November 3 against Lipscomb.
The weekend isn’t just about football and basketball, either. Field hockey has Bridget Murphy on the expected visitor list, an uncommitted midfielder/forward from Summit, New Jersey in the class of 2027 and a top-tier East Coast target. Iowa field hockey is ranked No. 2 in the nation and is playing at the Midwest Challenge in Evanston, IL this Friday and Sunday.
Soccer will also have recruits in town, including Parker Evans, a committed defender from Cincinnati, Ohio and a 3-star regional standout, plus Emma Peterson, a committed defender from Heber City, Utah and a high-follow defensive prospect. Iowa soccer opens its Big Ten season this Sunday against Nebraska and plays at home at 1:00 CT.
Rick Heller’s baseball program is expected to have five recruits on hand as well, with four in-state prospects and one from Illinois.
All of it fits a larger pattern in Iowa City. Since Beth Goetz took over as athletic director, the department has put a much bigger emphasis on visibility and direct engagement.
She’s often seen moving around Carver Hawkeye Arena, talking with fans in the concourses and aisles and greeting people after games. That hands-on style stands in contrast to her predecessor, Gary Barta.
Her hires have followed that lead. Jan Jensen and Ben McCollum have both leaned into using Kinnick Stadium as a recruiting and marketing platform.
During TV timeouts, Hawkeye Sports host Laura VandeBerg interviews Jensen or McCollum live on the field with marquee players nearby. McCollum has also been seen walking through the student section before kickoff, thanking fans for coming, and appearing at women’s soccer and baseball games.
The message is clear: Iowa is using game day as more than a game day. It’s a full-campus showcase, and this weekend gives the Hawkeyes a chance to put that approach in front of a packed house and a long list of prospects.
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