Hawkeyes recruiting has hit a bit of a snag

IOWA CITY — We need to take a second to look at Iowa football recruiting. Yes, it's Nebraska week. There's a rivalry trophy on the line along with an eighth victory that would push the Hawkeyes' 2016 season into 'satisfactory' grade.

Recruiting is the future and the No. 16 Huskers (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) are the now, as in Friday at 2:30 p.m. on ABC. Iowa (7-4, 5-3) has had a good chunk of its future decommit in recent weeks, so, whether you agree or not, it demands a look.

Texas wide receiver Gavin Holmes decommitted from Iowa on Tuesday afternoon. In a note he posted to Twitter, Holmes, a 3-star from Justin, Texas, wrote all of the niceties that recruits write when they essentially say 'it's not you, it's me.' He also said Iowa's prostyle offense wasn't for him.

He didn't stop there, however, and this became more of an 'it's you.'

Holmes is the fourth decommit, all of whom are from Texas, who cited Iowa's policy of no recruiting visits once you pledge to the Hawkeyes. Earlier this season, Iowa parted ways with Wylie, Texas, running back Eno Benjamin after he visited Missouri and Arizona State.

After Benjamin and Iowa split, the Iowa staff offered Tennessee running back Antwuan Branch, who was committed to Purdue at the time, and New Jersey running back Jon Lovett, who was committed to Rutgers.

That was where Holmes' note took a turn.

'The whole situation that happened with my brother Eno (Benjamin), and Iowa's policy (of no visits upon committing) and how they went out and offered a committed prospect and tried getting him to visit, when their recruits were not allowed to take visits at all just didn't sit very well with me,' Holmes wrote, 'and I think it was handled completely wrong.'

God has a plan. . .November 22, 2016

God has a plan. . .pic.twitter.com/M7qiuWfuWB

— G3 (@Gavin_Holmes23)

I have decided to officially open up my recruitment! Thank you to those who understand.

Now, NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from commenting on unsigned recruits, so this is Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz trying to win a butt-kicking contest while on crutches. The 'asking commits not to visit' policy and then soliciting committed players is the tipping point.

Ferentz was asked Tuesday if this policy is hypocritical.

'You've got to have good recruits to be successful, I get that,' Ferentz said. 'What's really important is identifying and finding players that are going to fit here in our program and thrive in our environment. And it's not for everybody.

'Ultimately, that's what we have to do. I encourage all recruits to do the same thing. If you're not sure, look around, because we try to be straight up front about who we are and what we are, and how we do things. One thing, you can't promise too much, other than opportunity.'

Iowa sent written offers to prospects on Aug. 1. The offer included congratulations and, for the prospects who had already given an oral commitment to the Hawkeyes, it also gets down the business of what the commitment means as far as Ferentz and Iowa are concerned.

The document states that the offer is pending upon completion of the usual expectations — excel in the classroom and be eligible for entrance into the UI and maintain NCAA standards, continue to excel as a student-athlete at your high school and act responsibly.

No. 1 on the list? Above all of that?

'You must not visit another institution.' The next paragraph begins, 'At this time, you should contact any other schools recruiting you to notify them of your decision to become a HAWKEYE.'

This has been a long-standing policy for Iowa. It's cost the Hawkeyes less than a handful of recruits over the years. There always has been some leeway as long as the prospects have been upfront about taking visits.

'I think it's like discipline, every case, in your kids at home, same way, every case is unique and different,' Ferentz said.

He became somewhat exasperated with the topic. There is, you know, a game on Friday that involves players who've invested in the program and vice versa, so know that's where this comes from.

'I've got 100-plus players I'm responsible for,' Ferentz said. 'So, if one walks into my office with an issue, and two hours later another guy ... one guy may have lot of credit in the bank, the other guy may not have much credit. Those kind of things. Those all weigh in. It's all human stuff.

'It's not like Russia from 1960 or something like that. It's a benevolent dictatorship.'

Everybody likes to talk recruiting when it's fun. Iowa recruiting was a blast in July. When Texas cornerback Chevin Calloway committed, Rivals.com ranked the Hawkeyes' class No. 15 in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten.

With Benjamin, Calloway, wide receiver Beau Corrales and Holmes now out (Wisconsin defensive tackle Juan Harris is the fifth decommitment), Iowa's class of 13 commits is ranked 51st nationally and 10th in the Big Ten.

Ferentz had a thought on that.

'Recruiting has gotten so heightened, you know?' he said. 'At the end of the day, those recruiting rankings, really don't mean crap. I mean, with all due respect.'

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