Iowa’s habit of keeping things in the family has another name attached to it: Jaxx DeJean.
The Hawkeyes already landed the younger brother of Iowa legend Cooper DeJean, and the 2027 commit made sure to put his loyalty on display during an official visit to Iowa City over the summer. After committing in December of 2025, he went to X and summed up the weekend with the hashtag “committed.”
Amazing OV weekend in Iowa City #gohawks #committed 🐤🏠⚫️🟡Thank you @Abdul_Hodge @TylerBarnesIOWA @Spauldingiowa @scottchandler84 @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/LL2647gT8V
There was never much suspense around his status, but the message served as a reminder that the next DeJean is headed to Iowa City in due time.
Jaxx DeJean, who plays at Odebolt-Arthur High School in Odebolt, Iowa, is listed as a three-star recruit in the 2027 class. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, he checks in as the No. 6 prospect in Iowa, the No. 33 overall athlete and the No. 488 overall recruit in the class.
Iowa beat out a longer list of suitors than it did with Cooper DeJean. Jaxx had offers from Kansas State, Michigan, UAB and UNLV, but chose the Hawkeyes anyway.
Like his older brother, he brings a true multi-sport background. DeJean plays basketball, where he averages 12.7 points per game, hits in baseball with a .404 average, and also competes in track and field.
On the football field, he’s shown plenty of versatility too. Last season, he caught 36 passes for 461 yards, rushed for 207 yards, threw for 149 yards and picked off three passes on defense.
Where he ends up fitting for Iowa is still to be determined, but DeJean is already bringing production and name value to the 2027 class. He’ll open his senior season on August 28 with a road game at Ridge View High School.
In Other News...
Iowa Camp Praise Put These Overlooked Veterans In The Spotlight
Training camp has given Kirk Ferentz a chance to identify the older players he expects to help steady Iowa as it heads toward the new season. In a roster that is younger than the one that preceded it, the Hawkeyes are leaning on a group of upperclassmen who have spent enough time in the program to understand what Ferentz wants and what the team will need. That list includes offensive linemen Jack Dotzler, Cael Winter, Leighton Jones and Michael Myslinski, along with defensive linemen Will Hubert and Luke Gaffney, linebacker Landyn Van Kekerix and receivers Dayton Howard and Jarriett Buie.
Ferentz pointed to the departures of seniors and transfers as part of the reason these players matter now, with the usual leadership structure no longer as full as it once was. For Iowa, the bigger question is less about whether these veterans have a place in the rotation and more about how much they can grow into it once the season starts. The camp praise has put them on the radar, but the next step is proving they can help fill the void the program is trying to address. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Fitzgerald Had One Powerful Reason To Stay At Iowa
Ryan Fitzgeralds decision to stay at Iowa stood out the moment his father, Pat Fitzgerald, took over at Michigan State. With a new head coach in East Lansing and familiar faces following him there, including a coach and two players from the Iowa program, the quarterback had an obvious alternate path if he wanted one.
Instead, Ryan Fitzgerald chose the place and people he already knew, leaning into his connection to the Hawkeyes rather than the family tie pulling him elsewhere. Pat Fitzgerald, who left Northwestern to take the Michigan State job, has already been on the other side of the field against Iowa, but his sons choice underscored where Ryan felt most at home. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hawkeye Opens New Chapter In A Spot Iowa Fans Know Well
The 2026 college football season gets rolling with Week 0, and one familiar name to Iowa fans will be in a very familiar setting as well. Former Hawkeye running back Terrell Washington Jr. has moved on to New Mexico State, where he is set to make his debut for the Aggies on Saturday against Florida State, a game that gives him an immediate spotlight as the new chapter begins.
Washington spent three seasons at Iowa before making the transfer, finishing his Hawkeye run with 182 rushing yards and 51 receiving yards. For Iowa fans, his first game in an Aggies uniform is a reminder of how often the transfer portal reshapes rosters and careers, and it will be worth watching how he fits into a new offense when the season opens on one of college footballs busiest kickoff weekends. [Read more 🡒]