Iowa recruiting buzz: Kendrick Raphael commits to Iowa, 2 others pick in-state rival

Iowa again lands 4-star running back from out of state

Jun. 15, 2022 3:06 pm, Updated: Jun. 15, 2022 4:27 pm

Ladell Betts, in two years as Iowa’s running backs coach, has now landed four-star running back recruits from out of state in both years.

Here are the details on Iowa’s latest commitment and other highlights of the last week of Iowa football recruiting activity:

Committed to Iowa

Kendrick Raphael, a four-star running back in the 2023 class from Naples, Fla., committed to the Hawkeyes Monday evening. His decision followed his official visit to Iowa City last weekend.

Raphael is the 22nd-best running back in 247Sports’ composite rankings. He also had offers from North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Louisville, West Virginia and other Power Five programs.

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Committed elsewhere

Class of 2023 tight end Jackson Carver picked Miami (Fla.) over Iowa and other FBS heavyweights Tuesday. Carver, who has a four-star rating from Rivals, committed after an official visit with the Hurricanes last weekend. He was scheduled to take an official visit to Iowa later this month.

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Ankeny 2023 defensive back Jamison Patton will be staying in central Iowa, choosing Iowa State over Iowa on Monday.

The three-star prospect also had an Iowa official visit scheduled for the last weekend in June, but he committed following his official visit in Ames.

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Hartley linebacker Kooper Ebel also chose the Cyclones over the Hawkeyes this week. Ebel, a three-star 2023 recruit, received an offer from the Hawkeyes in April — about three weeks after Iowa State’s offer in March.

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Patton and Ebel’s decisions this week and wide receiver Kai Black’s last week marked three in-state prospects spurning Iowa in favor of its in-state rival in a six-day period. Rivals and 247Sports still rank Iowa’s 2023 class ahead of Iowa State’s class, though.

Other notes

No prospects announced an offer from Iowa in the past week.
Most of Iowa’s official visitors will arrive in Iowa City on the last weekend of June, but 2023 defensive back Zachary Tobe will take his official visit to Iowa June 20-22.