Pennsylvania safety picks the Hawkeyes

Kirk Ferentz has often said he's happy to raid the best of the best Mid-American Conference recruits. It's that time of year.

Tuesday morning, New Castle (Pa.) safety Geno Stone switched his commitment from Kent State to the Hawkeyes. Stone committed to Kent State on Dec. 18 and remained open to a Power 5 conference offer.

Last week, the Hawkeyes offered. Stone visited last weekend. And then he had a decision to make, stick with Kent State or bet on himself in the Power 5?

'Honestly, I wasn't even going to visit at first, but the coaches kept bugging me and bugging me to visit,' Stone told PittsburghSportsNow.com. 'But the players were probably the biggest factor in me choosing Iowa because when I went there, it felt like they were all just my buddies from home.'

Stone had given up hope on a Power 5 offer. He had several MAC and Ivy League offers (including Harvard and Yale). He also had offers from Army and Navy.

This morning on Twitter, Stone announced his switch. 'I want to thank the staff at Kent State for everything and thankful for the opportunity to play at the school, but after talking with my family and friends I decided it's the best thing for me to decommit from Kent State and pursue my dreams at the University of Iowa.'

Blessings! January 31, 2017

Blessings! pic.twitter.com/wKtPOQATYL

— G (@GenoStone22)

That wasn't where the recruiting ended for the Hawkeyes on Tuesday, the day before the national signing period.

The Iowa staff went into January searching for a punter. Iowa gave three a close look before offering Ryan Gersonde a scholarship during his visit last weekend. Gersonde (6-4, 190) accepted Tuesday night, announcing on Twitter, 'I am proud to announce my commitment to the University of Iowa to continue my academic and athletic career.'

Gersonde also had a scholarship offer from Wyoming. A first-team all-state selection for Marquette University High School (Milwaukee, Wis.), Gersonde averaged 39.8 yards per punt this past season. He grew up in Australia and has practiced many kicking styles.

During a workout for the Iowa staff, Gersonde impressed with punt placement.

'Then I was able to rugby pretty easily just because that's what I'm used to growing up in Australia,' Gersonde told HawkeyeReport.com. 'Then with just my routine, he (an Iowa staffer) was very impressed how when I came out there and had a set routine and had my own warm up. I didn't just come out there and do whatever. I stuck to my routine, which is a key to coaches.'

Stone (6-0, 188), a 2-star rated recruit by Rivals, and Gersonde are Iowa's fourth and fifth commitments in the last 24 hours and 19th and 20th overall.

Stone is the sixth defensive back to commit to Iowa's 2017 class. That might seem like a lot, but Iowa's spring depth chart lists two sophomores, a freshman and a junior at both corner spots. Safety is a senior, two juniors and a sophomore. There will be opportunity. Of the returning starters, sophomore corner Manny Rugamba and junior free safety Brandon Snyder are locked in. After those two, it's opportunity.

And that's what Stone, who run for five touchdowns and intercepted three passes in a game last fall that landed New Castle in the WPIAL championship for the first time in 18 years, sees with the Hawkeyes.

'I just thought that I've always wanted to play against the best, so why not go play against teams in the best conference,' Stone told PittsburghSportsNow. 'It was definitely worth the wait. I've always dreamed of playing in a Power 5 conference, so when this opportunity came I felt like I had to take it.'

Gersonde will be Iowa's only scholarship punter on the roster. Right now, sophomore walk-on Colten Rastetter is the starter.

The national signing period begins at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Stone and Gersonde joined the Hawkeyes' final push with Florida running back Kyshaun Bryan, Iowa City linebacker Nate Wieland and Georgia defensive back Trey Creamer. Some of Iowa's final targets are defensive end Daviyon Nixon (6-4, 285, Kenosha, Wis.) and wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette (6-2, 175, Newark, N.J.).

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com