Iowa football team offering a 9th-grader a verbal scholarship offer -- now that's different

The Iowa football team has offered a verbal scholarship offer to ninth-grader Brian Allen of Hinsdale, Ill.

Like about every other college coaching staff, the Hawkeyes have made some early offers over the years. But I sure can't remember any going to someone who had yet to play a down of varsity high school football.

Iowa has an "in" with Allen, a center/linebacker. The offensive line coach at Hinsdale Central is Mike Jones, a former starting offensive lineman with the Hawkeyes under Coach Kirk Ferentz who was a Hawkeye senior in 2006.

Allen isn't without interest from other schools. Stanford and Michigan State are in the mix. Allen's brother, Jack, was a 2011 signee of the Spartans and was also recruited by Iowa.

Oh yeah, young Allen is also a prolific wrestler. As a freshman, he was 39-8 and third in the state at 215 pounds in Illinois' largest class.

Ferentz, I gather, holds wrestling in very high regard. His sons, Brian and James Ferentz, were successful wrestlers at Iowa City High before playing football at Iowa. Other Hawkeye footballers excelled in the sport as preps.

Offensive tackle Riley Reiff was a three-time state-champion at Parkston (S.D.) High. Former Iowa guard Julian Vandervelde was a state-tourney qualifier at Davenport Central. Incoming freshman Austin Blythe of Williamsburg, an offensive lineman, won three state-titles.