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UNI football recruiting 2019: Panthers hold off Iowa for Logan Wolf
CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa football cast a wide net in the 2019 recruiting cycle, offering over 50 recruits for a class that's unlikely to exceed 25 commits. UNI's nine early signees (so far) are headlined by St. Louis, Mo., quarterback Nate Martens and Cedar Falls wide receiver Logan Wolf.
Martens, a 3-star QB from De Smet Jesuit High School, held multiple FBS offers before announcing his verbal commitment to the Panthers in early October. It's expected that Martens will compete with current UNI QBs Jacob Keller and Will McElvain to be the 2019 starter.
Wolf chose UNI despite a late offer from Iowa. The Cedar Falls receiver finished second in the state with 71 receptions for 1,221 yards and 22 touchdowns. While he's set to be on a football scholarship, Wolf has also committed to play basketball for Ben Jacobson's Panthers.
UNI replenished its offensive line and linebacker groups in the early signing period. Kobe Rios, a 3-star lineman from Rock Island, Ill., and Cameron Baker, a 3-star linebacker from Council Bluffs, headline the position groups.
O-lineman Jared Penning, younger brother of current UNI offensive lineman Trevor Penning, committed last Tuesday. The second-team all-state selection from Clear Lake chose UNI over North Dakota State and South Dakota.
With Baker, Spencer Cuvelier, Caleb Lomica and Jake McLaughlin, along with Rios, Penning and Tristan Roper, the Panthers addressed two of their biggest roster needs at linebacker and offensive line.
Heading toward February it appears there will be an emphasis on adding to the defensive backfield (eight current offers) while also making at least one more addition at quarterback and running back.
UNI once again chose not to publicize its early signing period commitments.
A year ago, UNI Coach Mark Farley told The Gazette he opted not to publicize his 2018 early signees to better allow the opportunity to recruit top players until February.
Here's an unofficial look at UNI's 2019 early signees.
Nate Martens
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6-3
Weight: 220
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
Verbal commitment date: Oct. 7, 2018
247Sports Composite: 3 stars
Other offers: Cornell, Eastern Michigan, Georgetown, Holy Cross, South Dakota, Syracuse, Temple
Logan Wolf
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-4
Weight: 180
Hometown: Cedar Falls, Iowa
247Sports Composite: 3 stars
Other offers: Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Western Illinois
Maverick Gatrost
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-5
Weight: 235
Hometown: Center Point, Iowa
247Sports Composite: NR
Kobe Rios
Position: Offensive line
Height: 6-5
Weight: 305
Hometown: Rock Island, Ill.
247Sports Composite: 3 stars
Other offers: Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana State, Kent State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Western Illinois
Tristan Roper
Position: Offensive line
Height: 6-5
Weight: 270
Hometown: Blue Springs, Mo.
Other offers: Illinois State, Kent State, Missouri State, North Dakota State, South Dakota, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Western Illinois
Jared Penning
Position: Offensive line
Height: 6-7
Weight: 308
Hometown: Clear Lake, Iowa
Other offers: Eastern Michigan, North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State
Spencer Cuvelier
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-4
Weight: 240
Hometown: Cresco, Iowa
Transfer: Iowa Central CC
Other offers: New Mexico State, South Dakota, Tennessee-Martin
Caleb Lomica
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205
Hometown: Alleman, Iowa
Other offers: Central Michigan, South Dakota
Cameron Baker
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210
Hometown: Council Bluffs, Iowa
247Sports Composite: 3 stars
Other offers: Indiana, Iowa, North Dakota State
Jake McLaughlin
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
Hometown: Harlan, Iowa
247Sports Composite: NR
Other offers: South Dakota State
Edwin Dearman
Position: Defensive back
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
Hometown: Houston, Texas
247Sports Composite: NR
Micah Mayberry
Position: Defensive back
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
Transfer: Butler Community College (El Dorado, Kan.)
247Sports Composite: NR
Cedar Falls receiver Logan Wolf will play football and basketball at Northern Iowa. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
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