Notes from HawkeyeReport.com

Recruiting season began like two years ago for the 2015 football recruiting class, so it will be hard to say if the new recruiting structure that Iowa installed this summer will have any effect on this class.

Most of Iowa's commits were in place before assistant coach Seth Wallace was hired in June as recruiting coordinator and Scott Southmayd was named director of player personnel in August.

In April, Iowa was the only school in the Big Ten without a director of player personnel. That changed this summer. It likely will take another recruiting class to see how it works.

Here's a refresher on the roles:

- Scott Southmayd, who's served as quality control director on Ferentz' staff for the past nine years, was named director of player personnel. Southmayd, a Readlyn native, will work with recruiting coordinator Seth Wallace, who was hired in June, and Ferentz 'regarding all aspects of prospect identification, roster management and on-campus recruiting,” according to a release.

- Kelvin Bell, a former Iowa defensive lineman and a graduate assistant at Iowa the last three years, was promoted to named director of on-campus recruiting. He will 'assist in all aspects of prospect identification, assist the coaching staff in off-campus recruiting efforts and coordinate all aspects regarding on-campus recruiting activities.”

- Max Allen, who had been an administrative assistant at Iowa since July 2013, was been hired as director of football new media. Allen will work with the Iowa staff regarding design and production of print and electronic recruiting materials, management of football specific social media and work with athletics marketing regarding football specific activities.

Here was Wallace speaking when he was hired:

'At the end of the day, we've got to get individuals on campus. They've got to be able to see it. They've got to be able to recognize what this place is and what we stand for. Whether that be in the southeast or the northeast, getting individuals to Iowa City and the University of Iowa, that's a big deal.”

'Things are constantly changing,” Wallace said. 'It's a world where you're trying to attract someone who's between the ages of 18 and 17 and sometimes 16 and all the way down to 15 in some cases. You're constantly trying to find the edge. Going back to the two positions we're advertising for, that's just helping us stay there.”

This is a rather long preamble to a recruiting piece from HawkeyeReport.com's Tom Kakert (I really appreciate this, BTW, because I'm way behind on recruiting):

There's no time to rest for the Iowa Football coaches

Once the regular season ended on Friday, the Hawkeye coaches had little time to recharge the batteries because the recruiting trail was calling. On Monday, the Iowa assistant coaches hit the road to try and wrap up their 2015 class and also get a look at several targets in the 2016 and 2017 class.

From Wyoming to Florida to Texas to Wisconsin, the Iowa coaches are out in full force calling upon not only the prospects already committed to Iowa, but perhaps finding a few players who might be willing to listen to their sales pitch as they round out the 2015 class. That also includes gauging the interest of prospects who might be committed to other schools or were committed to a school where the head coach was just relived of his duties.

Two prospects that fit into that category would certainly provide help to a position of need for the Hawkeyes, the defensive line. Iowa assistant coach Jim Reid was in this week to visit with Wisconsin commit Nate Howard

. The 6-foot-5 and 220 pound end from St. Louis has been committed to the Badgers since June and made his official visit to Madison this past weekend. But, he wants to continue to weigh his options and it appears that Iowa will be one of them. Howard has official visits set to Illinois and Indiana in December and he says he will not make his final decision until close to signing day in February.

The Hawkeyes are also trying to get involved with Nebraska commit Ruben Jones. The Florida native recently committed to the Huskers in November. Now with Coach Bo Pelini getting relieved of his duties, Jones is still committed to Nebraska, but it appears that he will probably be weighing his options. Jones says his staying with the Huskers might depend on the future of Nebraska assistant (and former Iowa assistant) Rick Kaczenski

, who is more than likely gone from Lincoln. Jones chose Nebraska over Michigan State in November and has taken official visits to East Lansing, and Central Florida, along with Lincoln. Iowa has put an offer on the table and is trying to get involved in his recruitment.

OFFICIAL VISITS THIS PAST WEEKEND

This past weekend, the Hawkeyes also hosted a trio of official visitors, including a two who are planning to enroll early in January.

The uncommitted prospect on campus was 2015 athlete Tevis Bartlett

from Wyoming. The 6-foot-4 and 215 pound athlete is being recruited as a linebacker by the Hawkeyes, but could play at variety of different positions at the college level. He has taken official visits to Colorado, Oregon, and Utah and will wrap up his official visits this weekend with a trip to Washington. Iowa recruiting coordinator Seth Wallace has been leading the charge for the Hawkeyes. Barlett says he will be making his decision in the next couple of weeks and certainly before Christmas.

The other two official visitors this past weekend were center James Daniels and offensive lineman Brett Waechter, who both plan on graduating early and enrolling when classes at Iowa resume in January. Daniels, who recently earned a fourth star from Rivals.com, is the younger brother of current Hawkeye LeShun Daniels

. Waechter, a 6-foot-6 and 255 pound prospect from Hartley, IA, is recovering from a shoulder injury, probably won't practice this spring due to the injury and could end up having surgery.

2014 Iowa signee Markel Smith

is another potential addition in January. The running back was at Milford Academy this fall trying to get his test scores and academics in order. At this point, it's still unclear if he will be with the Hawkeyes in January.

PROBABLY 3 or 4 SPOTS LEFT IN 2015

The Hawkeyes currently have 16 verbal commitments in the Class of 2015, so space is at a premium right now. Iowa is probably looking at adding three or four more prospects to this class and then close out near the 20 number that most classes under Kirk Ferentz have come in at.

The focus is certainly on the defensive side of the football. Here are some of the targets to watch as the 2015 class moves towards completion. This is in addition to the two names mentioned earlier.

Christopher Hart – DE prospect from Florida – 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds

– Has made official visits to Iowa, Utah, Michigan State, and North Carolina. Might be leaning towards the Spartans.

Raequan Williams – DE prospect from Illinois – 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds

. Has made official visits to Iowa and Michigan State. Arizona also being considered. Seems to be leaning towards the Spartans.

Anree Saint Amour – DE prospect from Georgia – 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds.

Has made official visits to Iowa, Michigan State, and Minnesota. Stanford recently offered and they might be leading.

Jonathon Crawford – DB from Florida – 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds.

Has made official visits to Iowa and Indiana. Will visit Syracuse this weekend, followed by future trips to North Carolina and South Florida. His high school coach is former Hawk Marcus Paschal.

John Kelly – DB from Michigan – 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds

. He has an official visit set to Michigan State in January. Iowa recently offered and Kelly is close friends with current Iowa player Desmond King.

NEW COMMITMENTS

While the Hawkeyes are still working to wrap up the 2015 class, they already have an early start on the next two classes. Iowa recently received a verbal commitment from 2016 quarterback Nathan Stanley

from Wisconsin. He chose Iowa over Pittsburgh. The 6-foot-4 and 190 pound signal caller is the first known verbal commitment in the class of 2016.

This past week, Iowa picked up their first verbal commitment in the Class of 2017 when defensive tackle Juan Harris

said he wanted to be a Hawkeye. Harris, who comes in at 6-foot-3 and 350 pounds, played only two games this season at North Fayette High School in Iowa after transferring in this fall. He also had reported offers from Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin