Minnesota defensive back picks the Hawkeyes

The Iowa football program this weekend will host a 'Hawkeye Tailgater” for invited prospects. Minnesota defensive back Amani Hooker already planned to attend. Now, he'll attend as Iowa's No. 9 commitment for the 2016 class.

Hooker, a 6-1, 195-pounder from Park Center (Minn.) High School, announced on his Twitter account Tuesday that he picked the Hawkeyes over New Mexico, Northern Iowa and South Dakota.

After picking up a scholarship offer from Iowa this spring, Hooker, rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, had a chance to visit Iowa City for the first time in May.

'I just wanted to get it done early,” said Hooker. 'I knew it was going to be Iowa, so I wanted to do it now instead of waiting.”

Iowa recruiting coordinator Seth Wallace, who also coaches Iowa's cornerbacks, led the recruiting of Hooker, who'll come to Iowa as a safety prospect. At Park Center, Hooker, whose brother Quinton plays basketball at North Dakota, also returned punts and kicks.

Rivals has Hooker rated as the No. 9 prospect in Minnesota.

'Ever since I visited, it felt like the right place for me,” Hooker said. 'It felt like home when I was there. I like the facilities, the coaching staff, the history, the academics, and the environment. Just everything about it.”

Home-state Minnesota didn't offer Hooker. The Gophers have at least two defensive backs committed for the 2016 class and five in the 2015 class. So, the secondary wasn't a position of need for Minnesota, which did give Hooker some scouting attention.

Hooker is Iowa's ninth commitment for the 2016 class, which could reach as high as 25. Eight of those nine commitments come from midwestern states. That number could potentially rise this weekend. The Hawkeye Tailgater event, something the Iowa staff started a few years ago, will have a couple of prospect from Illinois who hold Iowa in high regard. Linebacker Nick Niemann (Sycamore High School), brother of Iowa sophomore linebacker Ben Niemann, is supposed to attend, along with defensive end Romeo McKnight (Crystal Lake Central).

Texas running back Tyler Tutt and Maryland wide receiver Devonte Young also will be in Iowa City, according to HawkeyeReport.com.

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