Indiana RB on board with the Hawkeyes

So, it looks like a satellite camp worked out pretty well for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Brownsburg, Ind., running back Toks Akinribade already had Iowa high on his list of 13 scholarship offers, which included Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Boston College.

Last Friday, the Iowa coaching staff was featured at a UIndy football prospect camp in Avon, Ind., which, coincidentally, had former Hawkeye kicker Trent Mossbrucker listed as a contact (Mossbrucker was assistant linebackers coach last season at University of Indianapolis).

Akinribade, a 6-0, 205-pounder, told Rivals.com on Thursday that he had the Hawkeyes and Indiana in mind. He attended the camp at Avon and that pushed Iowa over the top.

'I've been thinking about Iowa and some other schools for about a month now,” Akinribade told Rivals.com. 'About a week ago I was thinking between IU and Iowa and Iowa set up a camp at Avon. I went there and it was great with the coaches. They showed love and I really felt at home with them. Then I went to the IU camp on Monday and I felt the same thing with them.

'Over the last couple days I talked with my parents about it and my coaches about it. I decided I wanted to go to Iowa yesterday night and just committed today.”

Akinribade wrote on his Twitter account Thursday, 'Officially committed to the University of Iowa.” He also retweeted a few Michigan recruiting accounts who retweeted his commitment tweet that said 'Held Michigan offer.”

'I called coach (Kirk) Ferentz and he was excited because I was their No. 1 recruit and they got me,” Akinribade told Rivals.com. 'They didn't think they were going to get me and were surprised that they did.”

Akinribade made his first visit to Iowa City at the beginning of May.

'Just their tradition and how everybody is family to them - they care for one another,” Akinribade said. 'Their weight lifting program is real good and they don't just take the best athletes, they take the average and turn them into the best athletes.”

Akinribade is the third running back for Iowa's 2106 class. He joins Wisconsin's Toren Young and Illinois' Barrington Wade. Wade is coming in as an 'athlete,” with linebacker being a possible position destination.

Akinribade has the size and athleticism to play linebacker, but he's going to play running back for the Hawkeyes.

'Iowa definitely wants me as a running back,” Akinribade said. 'They said they don't guarantee anything, but they see me as a guy who can change their program around because they need a (running back) who can hit home runs and beat people down the field.”

As a junior, Akinribade rushed 220 times for 1,579 yards and 15 touchdowns. Rivals has him ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the state of Indiana's 2016 class.

In April, Akinribade run a 4.36 40-yard dash at the Best of the Midwest Combine. Here's a snippet from a Rivals scouting report after that run: 'At 6-foot and 205 pounds, Akinribade is a big back with between-the-tackles running ability, but it was not recognized early in his evaluation that he also possessed that home-run hitting speed. Making Akinribade even more valuable is that he is a legitimate linebacker prospect at the Division I level as well. His highest upside at this stage appears to be on offense, but some teams are definitely looking at him for defense as well.”

Akinribade, rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals, is Iowa's 10th commitment for the 2016 class. Iowa's class is now ranked 11th in the Big Ten by Rivals and 9th by 247Sports.

This weekend, Iowa is playing host to a 'Hawkeye Tailgate” event, which is an invitational sort of get-together for prospects, some of whom have committed and some haven't.

Sycamore, Ill., linebacker Nick Niemann (brother of Iowa starting outside linebacker Ben Niemann) will visit and could very well commit. The 6-3, 205-pounder has offers from Wisconsin, Illinois and Northwestern. Brandywine, Md., wide receiver Devonte Young (6-1, 185) also is visiting Iowa City this weekend. Iowa sits well with him, according to 247Sports, with Pittsburgh and Rutgers also in the mix.

Also from 247Sports, Pella defensive end Austin Schulte (6-4, 240) is looking to commit early next week. Iowa offered a few weeks ago and likely is the favorite. His other offers are Northern Iowa, North Dakota State, South Dakota and South Dakota State.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com