Recruiting class filling up quickly

Here are some Iowa football recruiting notes from HawkeyeReport.com publisher Tom Kakert. We'll try to do this as the needle moves with Hawkeye recruiting.

Big thanks to Tom! I hope you enjoy.

Recruiting class fills up quickly

Kirk Ferentz

probably yearns for the old days when football recruiting really didn't start to heat up until the football season ended.

Back in those days, you didn't have many commitments before the end of your season and you could actually evaluate prospects off their film from their senior season.

Those days are long gone and they aren't coming back. In the world of college football in 2014, if you don't have more than half of your recruiting class committed before you start the season, you are probably feeling like you are behind the eight ball.

While Ferentz might not like the direction, he's understanding that today's game is different, especially when it comes to recruiting. Prospect are visiting college campuses earlier in the recruiting process and committing even earlier. What you hear most often from high school prospects is they would like to decide their college future before their senior season.

With all that in mind, Iowa's recruiting class for 2015 has filled up rather quickly with 14 verbal commitments. Kirk Ferentz has indicated that the 2015 recruiting class will have anywhere from the high teens to twenty members and based on previous experience, it's usually on the higher end of that estimation.

Where has Iowa likely filled all of their needs in the Class of 2015?

They certainly have their fill of quarterbacks with three prospects set to sign. Jack Beneventi from the Chicago area and in-state standouts Drew Cook and Ryan Boyle

have given their verbal commitments.

They are probably done at tight end with the verbal commitment from Illinois prospect Nate Vejvoda

, who was originally committed to Miami (OH) before flipping to the Hawkeyes.

Iowa is likely done at wide receiver. The Hawkeyes loaded up on the position two years ago and they have told both commitments that they would only be taking two this year. On board with the Hawkeyes are Florida native Adrian Falconer and Texas speed burner Emmanuel Ogwo

.

The Hawkeyes have probably filled up their needs on the offensive line in 2015 after borrowing scholarships for other positions in the past two classes. Iowa has verbal commitments from the Paulsen (Levi and Landen) twins from Moville, IA. At 6-foot-6 and pushing nearly 290 pounds, they project to the tackle positions down the road. Iowa also ventured into western Iowa to nab Brett Waechter out of Hartley. He could project to tackle or guard down the road. The final piece to the puzzle was the commitment of James Daniels, brother of Iowa running back LeShun Daniels

. He projects to the center position.

That leaves Iowa needing at least one running back, probably one or two more defensive lineman, another linebacker, and probably three defensive backs.

The top targets at running back include: Karan Higdon from Florida, Marquise Doherty out of the Kansas City area, and Chris Warren, a four star back out of Texas who recently listed Iowa as one of his final six schools. Another name that Iowa expects to add is Markel Smith

, who signed with Iowa in 2014, but did not qualify and is currently attending prep school Milford Academy. The plan is for Smith to join the Iowa program in January.

On the defensive line, Iowa has two verbal commitments in this class: Brady Reiff, the younger brother of former Hawkeye Riley Reiff, and Jake Newborg from Inwood, IA. Newborg could project to the offensive line, but it looks like he will play defensive line initially. Iowa still is involved with Michael Slater out of the St. Louis area and Raequan Williams

from the Chicago area.

At linebacker the Hawkeyes have two verbal commitments in Justin Jinning from Texas and Jack Hockaday from Illinois. It appears that Iowa would like to land one more linebacker in this class the two names that seem to be the most wanted are Rashod Berry from Ohio and Tevis Bartlett

from Wyoming, who was offered by Iowa this week.

The biggest mystery position in recruiting is probably in the defensive backfield. Iowa still hasn't landed a player at the position, but look for them to put two or three on the board by February. Jonathon Crawford, who plays for former Hawkeye Marcus Paschal in Florida, will make an official visit to Iowa sometime in the future. He projects to the safety position at the college level. Another name to watch is Bryce Balous

out of Texas.

With new recruiting coordinator Seth Wallace

having the ability to get out on the road and evaluate players more often during the season, look for a few new names to emerge this fall and become targets.