UNI football signs 25 players, 18 from Iowa

CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa hit the state hard for its 2017 football recruiting class. Real, real hard.

The Panthers announced the signing of 25 prospects Wednesday afternoon, 18 of whom are from Iowa. As UNI's website proclaimed, it's a 'Panther State.'

The recruiting class is heavy on heavy. Seven offensive linemen were signed, the smallest of whom weighs 270 pounds.

The largest is Jake Crozier, who played 8-Player football for Twin Cedars High School He's 6-foot-6 and 345 pounds.

Other guys breaking the 300-pound barrier are Erik Sorensen of Waukee (6-6, 304), Mason Neisen of Denver (6-4, 315) and Jacob Leonard of Peoria, Ariz., and Glendale (Ariz.) Community College (6-3, 300). Leonard is one of two junior-college products in the class.

Area players signed are Iowa City Regina defensive lineman Jared Brinkman and LaPorte City Union linebacker Brock Hadachek. Other well-known recruits include Muscatine running back Alphonso Soko and Clinton quarterback Johnny Sullivan.

Below is the entire class:

Jared Brinkman, DL, 6-1 275, Iowa City (Regina)

Jaylen Campbell, LB/DB, 6-1 192, Milwaukee, Wis. (Catholic Memorial)

Terrell Carey, WR, 6-2 195, Madison, Wis. (Madison West)

Tayshaun Cooper, WR, 5-11 180, Waterloo (West)

Jake Crozier, OL, 6-6 345, Harvey (Twin Cedars)

Bryce Flater, LB, 6-1 215, Grundy Center (Grundy Center)

Brock Hadachek, LB, 6-4 210, Dysart (Union)

Jacob Keller, QB, 6-4, 195, Aurora, Ill. (Fenwick)

Chris Kolarevic, LB, 6-1 220, Traverse City, Mich. (Saint Francis HS)

Suni Lane, WR, 6-4 195, Bettendorf (Bettendorf)

Jacob Leonard, OL, 6-3, 300, Peoria, Ariz. (Sunrise Mountain)

Nate Murphy, PK, 6-2 160, West Des Moines (Valley)

Bedale Naba, FB, 6-0, 265, West Des Moines (Valley)

Mason Neisen, OL, 6-4 315, Denver (Denver)

Trevor Penning, OL, 6-6 270, Clear Lake (Newman Catholic)

Justin Peine, OL, 6-6 290, Parker, Kan. (Prairie View)

Nick Simpson, LS, 5-11 228, Des Moines (Dowling)

Alphonso Soko, RB, 5-10 185, Muscatine (Muscatine)

Erik Sorenson, OL, 6-6 304, Waukee (Waukee)

Johnny Sullivan, 6-1, 180, Clinton (Clinton)

Kendrick Suntken, LB, 6-2 240, Hampton (Hampton-Dumont)

Isaiah Trousil, RB, 5-11 180, Burlington (West Burlington)

Riley Van Wyhe, LB, 6-2 210, Rock Rapids (Central Lyon)

Matthew Vanderslice, TE, 6-8 240, Olathe, Kan. (Northwest)

John Yount, OL, 6-3 280, Ankeny (Ankeny Centennial)

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com