Iowa recruiting buzz: Hawkeyes still at 17 commitments for 2023 following July dead period

It’s been an important last few days for Iowa football recruiting, both symbolically and practically.

Monday was the first day Iowa could provide written scholarship offers to 2023 prospects. Of course, dozens of 2023 prospects already have been considering scholarships from the Hawkeyes and other FBS programs, but now it’s more official.

On a more practical level, Iowa had several prospects from the 2024 and 2025 classes on campus over the weekend for unofficial visits.

Key recruits included 2024 athlete Caleb Benning, 2025 wide receiver Talyn Taylor, 2024 defensive lineman Ted Hammond and 2025 defensive lineman Ka’Mori Moore.

As for commitments, Iowa still has 17 in the class of 2023 and four in 2024, although some targets picked other schools.

Here are the decisions by prospects with offers from Iowa since July 14. Many of the latest commitments to other programs were not surprising because of where the prospects took (and didn’t take) official visits.

Committed elsewhere

Joshua Manning, a four-star 2023 wide receiver from Lees Summit, Mo., committed to Missouri on July 21. Iowa was one of the first schools to offer him a scholarship, but he did not take an official visit there.

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Class of 2023 cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson, a four-star prospect according to 247Sports’ composite ratings, committed to Florida on July 28. The Kissimmee, Fla., prospect received an offer from the Hawkeyes in May.

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Four-star 2023 linebacker Lewis Carter, who earned an offer from the Hawkeyes in December 2021, chose Oklahoma last month. The Tampa, Fla., prep did not take an official visit to Iowa City.

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Hunter Osborne, a 2023 defensive end, committed to Alabama on Aug. 1. It’s not much of a surprise considering the four-star prospect’s hometown of Trussville, Ala., is about 75 miles away from the Crimson Tide’s campus.

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Class of 2023 wide receiver Malik Elzy committed to Cincinnati last month. The wide receiver from Chicago had a four-star rating from Rivals. His Iowa offer came about a week after the Big Ten championship game.

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National recruiting class rankings

2023 (Rivals): 19th (Fourth in Big Ten), down from 15th on July 14

2023 (247Sports): 23rd (Fourth in Big Ten), down from 19th on July 14

2024 (Rivals): Seventh (First in Big Ten), down from sixth on July 14

2024 (247Sports): Fifth (First in Big Ten), down from third on July 14

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