Landen Akers is only months removed from being one of the final cuts of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams. However, the former Cedar Rapids Washington all-stater and Iowa State receiver is looking at his present, being on the roster of the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas, and to hopefully one day returning to the NFL.
Northern Iowa finalized its 2023 football recruiting class Wednesday, unofficially announcing 28 signees. Among the Panthers’ 28 newcomers are more than six Division-I transfers, one junior college transfer and 20 high school prospects.
Iowa coaches would be required to receive training once every five years instead annually on how to identifying and respond to a student-athlete with a suspected concussion under House bill.
Prep football: The Iowa Department of Education passes the amendment for socioeconomics to be a factor in football classification.
Cedar Rapids Xavier beat Max Duggan’s Lewis Central team in a 2018 Iowa high school state football playoff semifinal. Now they’re rooting for the TCU quarterback vs. Georgia.
Ankeny’s J.J. Kohl and Jamison Patton connected for six touchdowns this season. Both will soon bring high-end talent to their respective Iowa State football rooms.
Prep football: Iowa member schools overwhelmingly pass measure dealing with enrollment and classification based on free and reduced lunch. Next up: Iowa Department of Education.
Southeast Polk star running back is part of Coach Matt Campbell’s plan to get the best from central Iowa.
One day after flipping his commitment from Iowa to Alabama, five-star offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor believes the “better opportunity” for him is at Alabama.
Prep football: How free and reduced lunch would have altered classification in 2021 and 2022.
Prep football: IHSAA approves socioeconomic factor to be instituted for football classification. First developed in Minnesota, the factor is free and reduced lunches. If member schools and Iowa Board of Education pass the amendment, it will go into effect next fall.
Iowa City High’s Ben Kueter has been named the 2022 Gazette area prep football player of the year. He’s an Iowa commit, for both football and wrestling. The Gazette’s coach of the year is Mount Vernon’s Lance Pedersen, who led his Mustangs to the Class 3A state championship game.
Meet The Gazette’s 2022 all-area football team. Williamsburg’s Derek Weisskopf is the defensive player of the year. Iowa City Liberty quarterback Graham Beckman’s breakout season garners Gazette offensive player of the year honors.
Longtime West Branch teacher and coach Butch Pedersen was recently diagnosed with blood cancer myelodysplastic syndrome. The West Branch Lions Club is conducting a bone marrow donor drive December 7 at the high school in the hopes of finding a match for Pedersen and others as part of their treatment.
A Hawkeye at the collegiate level and a Little Hawk at the high school level are finalists for the award that goes to the top linebacker in the country.
Here are the 2022 Iowa Print Sports Writers Association all-state high school football teams, as voted upon Sunday and released Tuesday.
Top-ranked Harlan scored three touchdowns in the final 12:16, including a 48-yard pass from Teagon Kasperbauer to Cade Sears with 1:24 remaining, to top No. 2 Mount Vernon, 30-23, in the Class 3A state football championship Friday.
The Gazette’s Iowa high school football contributors answer high school football questions you need to know. See how much Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Scott Unash can gain in 4 Downs:
High school volleyball: Examining a few of the big area winners of the season’s first week.
As college football programs from across the country covet the Chicago area, a variety of factors have helped the Hawkeyes maintain it as a recruiting pipeline.
© 2025 The Gazette | All Rights Reserved.
Daily Newsletters