[JonDMiller]

The Iowa football program is putting together a strong finish to this year's recruiting class.

In using Scout.com's commitment data going back to 2002, here is how Iowa finished each recruiting class in the last week before signing day:

2002: Marcus Paschal, David Vickers, Steve Burch, Jovon Johnson, Clinton Solomon and Mike Elgin. Elgin was the last man in and wound up having a great Iowa career. Johnson did the same, leaving the school near the top of the career interception list. Of the five, Burch and Vickers were the highest rated with three stars; neither finished their career at Iowa.

2003: Richard Kittrell, Brock Ita and Mike Jones. Jones is probably the highest rated last week commit of the Ferentz era, as he was a five-star prospect. Kittrell was one of the early internet legends, thanks to his nickname: 'The Big Human'. He would later transfer. Khalik Price would sign in early March.

2004: Rashard Dunn, Damien Sims and Brandon Myers. Myers was ticketed to Northern Iowa before the Hawkeyes came in and offered him an 11th hour scholarship. It worked out well, as he is still a member of the Oakland Raiders. Kicker Griffin Karr would sign in May of 2004, but never played.

2005: Julian Smith was the lone last week commit, and he was on campus for a few days before a clearinghouse issue ended his Iowa career before it began.

2006: Brett Morse and Jeremiha Hunter were last week commits and both of them had solid careers for Iowa. Hunter was a four-star prospect and had his pick of schools. DJK would sign with Iowa in April of 2006, and Kirk Herbstreit would call him the best player in his class from the state of Ohio, a class that included overall national #1 Beanie Wells.

2007: Mike Daniels, Bruce Davis, Jevon Pugh, Allen Reisner and Cedric Everson. Everson was a signing day surprise, a four-star corner from Michigan. Things didn't work out so well with him. Daniels was headed to Villanova before Iowa came in and he had a fantastic career. Reisner was another 11th hour get for Iowa, and he was also headed to UNI before the Hawkeyes came calling with an offer.

2008: Casey McMillan, Willie Lowe, Steve Bigach, Greg Castillo and Jake Reisen. Each of these players earned a two-star rating from Scout.com.

2009: Matt Murphy, Dakota Getz, Connor Boffeli, Micah Hyde, Nolan MacMillan and Stephane Ngoumou. MacMillan was a three-star player with the rest earning two-stars. Boffeli turned from Iowa State to Iowa late in the game after Gene Chizik left ISU.

2010: Tanner Miller and Anthony Hitchens were the only two Iowa players to commit to this class after December, and they came in the last week.

2011: Jordan Lomax, Damon Bullock, Johnny Lowdermilk, Marcus Collins, Jordan Canzeri and Darian Cooper. To date, this is the best 'closing' class. Lomax and Canzeri were three-star's and Cooper a four-star.

2012 so far: Alex Kozan, CJ Beathard and Nate Meier. Kozan earns three-stars from Scout but four from ESPN and Rivals. He had offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Auburn, LSU, Oregon and a host of other suitors. Beathard was an Ole Miss verbal until they changed coaching staffs and fills a need for a prep quarterback who can redshirt. Meier is one of the classic late in state offers, a great athlete who set records in the eight-man class. Iowa is at 22 players for this class and I think they have room for a few more.

[goods10]

Very interesting. Some of our cornerstone players came in the last week. Crazy.

[SPGroth]

One that we missed on in 2010. Linn Mar's David Parry--Iowa offered him a preferred walk on, but he had that same offer from Stanford. He choose Stanford and last September he earned a scholarship. He played on a number of special teams and saw some action on their D-line. Could have used him in our depleted defensive line.

[alexzelada]

Originally Posted by JonDMiller

The Iowa football program is putting together a strong finish to this year's recruiting class.

In using Scout.com's commitment data going back to 2002, here is how Iowa finished each recruiting class in the last week before signing day:

2002: Marcus Paschal, David Vickers, Steve Burch, Jovon Johnson, Clinton Solomon and Mike Elgin. Elgin was the last man in and wound up having a great Iowa career. Johnson did the same, leaving the school near the top of the career interception list. Of the five, Burch and Vickers were the highest rated with three stars; neither finished their career at Iowa.

2003: Richard Kittrell, Brock Ita and Mike Jones. Jones is probably the highest rated last week commit of the Ferentz era, as he was a five-star prospect. Kittrell was one of the early internet legends, thanks to his nickname: 'The Big Human'. He would later transfer. Khalik Price would sign in early March.

2004: Rashard Dunn, Damien Sims and Brandon Myers. Myers was ticketed to Northern Iowa before the Hawkeyes came in and offered him an 11th hour scholarship. It worked out well, as he is still a member of the Oakland Raiders. Kicker Griffin Karr would sign in May of 2004, but never played.

2005: Julian Smith was the lone last week commit, and he was on campus for a few days before a clearinghouse issue ended his Iowa career before it began.

2006: Brett Morse and Jeremiha Hunter were last week commits and both of them had solid careers for Iowa. Hunter was a four-star prospect and had his pick of schools. DJK would sign with Iowa in April of 2006, and Kirk Herbstreit would call him the best player in his class from the state of Ohio, a class that included overall national #1 Beanie Wells.

2007: Mike Daniels, Bruce Davis, Jevon Pugh, Allen Reisner and Cedric Everson. Everson was a signing day surprise, a four-star corner from Michigan. Things didn't work out so well with him. Daniels was headed to Villanova before Iowa came in and he had a fantastic career. Reisner was another 11th hour get for Iowa, and he was also headed to UNI before the Hawkeyes came calling with an offer.

2008: Casey McMillan, Willie Lowe, Steve Bigach, Greg Castillo and Jake Reisen. Each of these players earned a two-star rating from Scout.com.

2009: Matt Murphy, Dakota Getz, Connor Boffeli, Micah Hyde, Nolan MacMillan and Stephane Ngoumou. MacMillan was a three-star player with the rest earning two-stars. Boffeli turned from Iowa State to Iowa late in the game after Gene Chizik left ISU.

2010: Tanner Miller and Anthony Hitchens were the only two Iowa players to commit to this class after December, and they came in the last week.

2011: Jordan Lomax, Damon Bullock, Johnny Lowdermilk, Marcus Collins, Jordan Canzeri and Darian Cooper. To date, this is the best 'closing' class. Lomax and Canzeri were three-star's and Cooper a four-star.

2012 so far: Alex Kozan, CJ Beathard and Nate Meier. Kozan earns three-stars from Scout but four from ESPN and Rivals. He had offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Auburn, LSU, Oregon and a host of other suitors. Beathard was an Ole Miss verbal until they changed coaching staffs and fills a need for a prep quarterback who can redshirt. Meier is one of the classic late in state offers, a great athlete who set records in the eight-man class. Iowa is at 22 players for this class and I think they have room for a few more.

My man crush for JM deepens

[HawkeyeMcNutt]

Originally Posted by alexzelada

My man crush for JM deepens

Gotta respect the man and the great work he's done with this site!

[KMGHawk]

2008 OUCH!!

[DesMoinesHawki]

Love signing day and love the fact there is always the possibility of pulling in a last-minute recruit that maybe nobody is familiar with. The fact we landed the O-lineman and beat out some of the big boys makes me feel good about the program. While we won't always compete for the elite athletes we do manage to notch a few here and there. On paper, this class is shaping up pretty nicely ... Again, that is on paper ... What's most important is how many of the recruits actually make it to campus and make it to the field. Let's keep our fingers crossed the "turnover" is kept to a minimum

[simpsonllp]

Super Strong Finish... We've gone from 40th in Rivals to 43rd in Rivals in just under 4 days! Woo Hoo!

[Hawkfnntn]

Originally Posted by simpsonllp

Super Strong Finish... We've gone from 40th in Rivals to 43rd in Rivals in just under 4 days! Woo Hoo!

I don't think there are many things in life that are less important then the recruiting rating. Thats been proven over and over. See Texas, Georgia, Clemson. FSU. They all pretty much always have top ten classes every yr and how have they been finishing their seasons?

[hawkfarmer]

Originally Posted by Hawkfnntn

I don't think there are many things in life that are less important then the recruiting rating. Thats been proven over and over. See Texas, Georgia, Clemson. FSU. They all pretty much always have top ten classes every yr and how have they been finishing their seasons?

Clemson just went to a BCS bowl. i will give you Texas.

Now, the key is to be great all the time you always have to have top 10 classes, not just 1 every decade like most teams you mentioned.

[JHHawk]

On the ESPNU Signing Day Preview show I just watched they had the Big Ten recruiting classes ranked as follows:

1. OSU
2. Mich
3. Iowa
4. Wisky
5. Neb
6. MSU
7. PSU
8. NW
9. PU
10. Minny
11. IU
12. Ill.

Relative to the league,Iowa is doing just fine.

[JonDMiller]

Originally Posted by simpsonllp

Super Strong Finish... We've gone from 40th in Rivals to 43rd in Rivals in just under 4 days! Woo Hoo!

Iowa will rarely every rate highly in any service, as they take several players early in the process that other 'big schools' don't offer. Iowa's track record of player development is among the best in college football.

[Clark]

Originally Posted by hawkfarmer

Clemson just went to a BCS bowl. i will give you Texas.

Now, the key is to be great all the time you always have to have top 10 classes, not just 1 every decade like most teams you mentioned.

Georgia and FSU are almost always in the top 10.

Clemson was in BCS bowl game because they played in a terrible conference. They underachieved yet again and were exposed as frauds by West Virginia.

It's a tough call on who the most underachieving program is. Between ND, A&M, and Clemson you have three very good candidates.

[JonDMiller]

Cumulative Overrated/Underrated Teams

Underrated programs nearest top...underachievers nearest bottom

[Ihawk209]

Originally Posted by JonDMiller

Cumulative Overrated/Underrated Teams

Underrated programs nearest top...underachievers nearest bottom

Now this can't be accurate.....Notre Dame listed as the most overrated program??????