Notes from HawkeyeReport.com . . .

This is the weekly recruiting update from HawkeyeReport.com's Tom Kakert.

Lots of O-line prospects still out there for the Hawkeyes. It might be the deepest position for Iowa, but when a position group eats up five spots in the starting lineup, the recruiting effort spills all over the position.

The backbone of any Kirk Ferentz coached team begins and end with one position, offensive line. Ferentz is a former offensive line coach, but it's more than a man with a soft spot in his heart for his old stomping grounds.

His belief is that on the offensive side, football games are won and lost by the five players up front.

You can count on offensive line being a focus each and every year on the recruiting trail. Last year, the Hawkeyes signed a pair of four-star prospects in Austin Blythe and Jordan Walsh. This year, the Hawkeyes have landed another four-star in Ryan Ward from New Lenox, Ill.

Ward's older brother starts at OT for Northwestern. Ward chose Iowa over the Wildcats this summer. The Hawkeyes also have a verbal commitment from Mitch Keppy, the first commitment in the class of 2012. Keppy, who's from Riverdale, Ill., is the son of former Hawkeye Myron Keppy. Ward and Keppy could project to offensive tackle at Iowa.

Iowa isn't finished with O-line. It could sign at least two more prospects in February. Last week, the Hawkeyes hosted Kyle Fuller, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound prospect from Wylie, Texas. Fuller has a verbal offer from Iowa and actually wanted to commit on his visit, but the Iowa coaches wanted to wait and look at some of their other options before taking the commitment.

This weekend, the Hawkeyes will host Alex Kozan, a 6-foot-4, 295-pound offensive tackle from Colorado. This will be Kozan's first official visit. He has indicated he would like to take more visits this fall before making a decision. Arkansas and LSU appear to be Iowa's biggest competition.

The Hawkeyes also have an offer out to Mike Schoff from Cambridge, Neb. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound tackle seems to be waiting to see if Nebraska will offer before making his final decision. Right now, Iowa is his best offer.

The crown jewel for the Iowa O-line class for 2012 could be Chicago's

Jordan Diamond. Rivals.com rates the 6-6, 289-pounder as a four-star. Diamond has visited Iowa and plans to make an official visit in the future. The offensive tackle also would like to visit Michigan and Arkansas. He could make his decision at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl on Jan. 3.