Cedar Falls' Hill flips to the Hawkeyes

Cedar Falls running back Barkley Hill committed to play football at Iowa State last April. Monday, that changed.

The 6-0, 190-pounder visited Iowa last weekend and committed to the Hawkeyes on Monday, according to KCNZ 1650 AM in Cedar Falls and HawkeyeReport.com. Both outlets sourced Cedar Falls head coach Pat Mitchell.

Hill, the Gazette's Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 2,493 yards and 40 touchdowns in leading the Tigers to an 11-2 record and a spot in the Class 4A state semifinals.

“He helped carry us for the past three years,” Mitchell told The Gazette last fall. “He's an extremely durable back, an excellent citizen and a model athlete.

“He combines speed and power. He's extremely strong, and I've never had anyone work harder.”

Mitchell said Hill's ability is defined by his vision.

In a 4A quarterfinal against Cedar Rapids Washington, Hill rushed for 230 yards and five TDs in a 35-32 victory.

"He's an all-stater, a great player," said Washington lineman Sean Bredl, one of few Warriors not in tears postgame. "He bounces off people, a powerful runner. He's going to have a good college career."

Hill's style might be a fit with Iowa's zone running scheme.

“We start to run a sweep, and a hole opens up behind the guard and he runs through the thing,” Mitchell said. “He has the ability to see things that most running backs don't see.”

Hill is Iowa's 19th recruit and is the second running back, joining Erie, Pa., back Greg Garmon. Hill is the first prep from the state of Iowa to commit to the Hawkeyes' 2012 class.

Mitch Keppy, OL, 6-5, 287, Riverdale High School (Port Byron, Ill.)

Cameron Wilson, WR, 6-2, 193, Jerome High School (Dublin, Ohio)

Drew Ott, DE, 6-4, 235, Giltner (Neb.) High School

Maurice Fleming Jr., CB, 6-1, 185, Curie High School (Chicago)

Connor Kornbrath, K/P, 6-7, 210, Bridgeport (W.V.) High School

Jaleel Johnson, DT, 6-4, 290, Montini High School (Westchester, Ill.)

Ryan Ward, OL, 6-6, 270, Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.)

Laron Taylor, LB, 6-0, 205, Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.)

Ruben Lile, S, 6-3, 200 Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.)

Greg Mabin, WR, 6-2, 190 Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Daumantas Venckus, DE, 6-4, 220 Cypress Bay (Weston, Fla.)

Faith Ekakitie, DL, 6-3, 285 Lake Forest (Ill.) Academy

Kevin Buford, CB, 5-10, 165 Canton (Mich.) High School

Anthony Morgan, S, 6-1, 185 Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)

Tevaun Smith, WR, 6-2, 186 Kent (Conn.) School/Chaminade College High School (Toronto)

Cody Sokol, QB, 6-2, 210 Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College

Greg Garmon, RB, 6-2, 200 McDowell High School (Erie, Pa.)

Eric Simmons, OL, 6-3, 300 Iowa Western Community College/Madrid

Barkley Hill, RB, 6-0, 190 Cedar Falls High School