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Iowa high school football 2024: The Gazette’s Fab 5 area Class 5A players to watch
City High’s Bobby Bacon, Kennedy’s Vinny Gianforte, Liberty’s Dallas Miller, Jefferson’s L.J. Nyenow Jr. and West’s Mason Woods are on our preseason watch list
Aug. 29, 2024 7:00 pm
The Gazette’s “Fab 5” area Class 5A players to watch during the 2024 Iowa high school football season.
Bobby Bacon
School: Iowa City High
Grade: Senior
Positions: QB
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 175 pounds
About the player: Bacon made an instant impact as an all-district player. He led Class 5A with a 155.6 QB rating. He ranked sixth with 2,193 yards and seventh with 18 touchdowns. Bacon completed 67.5 percent of passes and averaged 15.6 yards per completion. He is a Pittsburg State commit.
Vinny Gianforte
School: Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Grade: Senior
Positions: QB
Height/weight: 6-foot, 190
About the player: Gianforte was an all-district and all-Metro quarterback. He finished third in 5A in passing yards (2,367), passing TDs (25) and QB rating (143.7) and fourth in completion percentage (66.0) and total TDs (26). With a strong arm and good targets, the Drake commit is poised for another big year.
Dallas Miller
School: Iowa City Liberty
Grade: Senior
Positions: WR/DB
Height/weight: 5-11, 170
About the player: Miller emerged as one of the top-producing wide receivers last season. He was an all-district wideout, leading 5A with 12 TD receptions. His 60 catches ranked third, while his 804 yards was eighth. He averaged 13.4 yards per catch and will be a key part of Liberty’s pass attack with a new QB.
L.J. Nyenow Jr.
School: Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Grade: Junior
Positions: WR/S
Height/weight: 6-2, 190
About the player: Nyenow was a first-team all-district and second-team all-Metro performer who broke out as a top-20 receiver in 5A. He had 517 yards on 34 receptions, averaging 15.2 yards per catch with three TDs. He averaged 20.4 yards per kick return. Nyenow has climbed recruiting ranks and has received NCAA Division I looks.
Mason Woods
School: Iowa City West
Grade: Senior
Positions: WR/DL
Height/weight: 6-2, 220
About the player: Woods earned all-district honors after tying for 16th in 5A with 35 catches, producing 535 yards. Woods averaged 15.3 yards per catch with three TDs. He contributes on defense, with 17.5 tackles (15 solo), a sack and three tackles for loss. He has committed to play for Iowa.
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