Watch: Mega recruit Xavier Nwankpa picks Iowa soccer over Ohio State
Southeast Polk senior soccer star Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa’s prime recruit this 12 months, had narrowed his selections right down to Iowa, Ohio State and Notre Dame.
Des Moines Register
Signing day is without doubt one of the most fun days of the 12 months for Iowa highschool soccer gamers.
The state has had no scarcity of gifted gamers be part of Division I applications over time, and several other of these gamers have gone on to profitable careers within the Nationwide Soccer League.
As we stay up for Nationwide Signing Day on Wednesday, we compiled an inventory of Iowa highschool soccer stars from the final decade and a half and took a glance again at how they turned out.
From Grant Brix to Tristan Wirfs, this record contains present faculty gamers, the top-rated in-state recruits from the final 5 seasons and several other present NFL stars.
Names are listed in alphabetical order. Recruiting data is in accordance with 247Sports Composite.
Grant Brix
Highschool: Logan-Magnolia
Recruiting class 12 months: 2024
Rating: 4-star, No. 83 total nationwide
The 6-foot-6 offensive sort out burst onto the scene due to his dimension, and he noticed a burst of recruiting curiosity earlier than he finally dedicated to Nebraska. He noticed motion in a single recreation this season – the season opener towards UTEP – earlier than utilizing his redshirt 12 months.
Jack Campbell
Highschool: Cedar Falls
Recruiting class 12 months: 2019
Rating: 3-star, No. 662 total nationwide
The previous Iowa linebacker capped his senior season with loads of {hardware}, notably profitable the Butkus Award, given to the highest linebacker in faculty soccer. The Detroit Lions drafted him within the first spherical (18th total) of the 2023 NFL Draft. He began 12 of 17 video games as a rookie, totaling 83 whole tackles, together with two sacks.
This season, he’s as much as 80 whole tackles, with 1.5 sacks and three passes defended.
Jake Campos
Highschool: West Des Moines Valley
Recruiting class 12 months: 2013
Rating: 4-star, No. 320 total nationwide
Campos began 36 video games on the offensive line throughout his Iowa State profession and earned second-team All-Massive 12 honors as a senior. Throughout that senior season he helped the Cyclones break the college file for passing yardage in a season (272.9), rating thirtieth nationally. Iowa State ranked tenth nationally in fewest tackles for loss (4.23) and twenty sixth nationally in fewest sacks (1.5). The Cyclones averaged 29.2 ppg, the third-best season common in class historical past at the moment. Campos signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent however didn’t see recreation motion. He performed in two video games within the XFL.
Cooper DeJean
Highschool: OABCIG
Recruiting class 12 months: 2021
Rating: 4-star, No. 359 total nationwide
The previous Iowa cornerback earned unanimous All-America honors in his junior season, regardless of lacking time with an harm. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles within the second spherical (fortieth total) of the 2024 NFL Draft.
DeJean has performed in all 12 of Philadelphia’s video games this season, beginning seven. He recorded 35 whole tackles and defended six passes. Most not too long ago, he went viral this previous Sunday for leveling Baltimore Ravens operating again Derrick Henry on a sort out.
Max Duggan
Highschool: Lewis Central
Recruiting class 12 months: 2019
Rating: 4-star, No. 211 total nationwide
Duggan performed 4 years of faculty soccer at TCU, main the Horned Frogs to the 2023 nationwide championship recreation, the place his workforce misplaced to Georgia. He was chosen by the Los Angeles Chargers within the seventh spherical (239th total) within the 2023 NFL Draft. He was launched by the Chargers in August 2024.
Thomas Fidone
Highschool: Lewis Central
Recruiting class 12 months: 2021
Rating: 4-star, No. 93 total nationwide
Fidone is in his fourth 12 months at Nebraska, and his second with enjoying time. The 6-foot-6 tight finish performed in each recreation this season and began 9. He grabbed 31 receptions – the fourth-most on the workforce – and totaled 323 receiving yards.
T.J. Hockenson
Highschool: Chariton
Recruiting class 12 months: 2016
Rating: 3-star, No. 1,464 total nationwide
Hockenson capped a profitable profession at Iowa by profitable the John Mackey Award in 2018, which acknowledges the most effective tight finish in faculty soccer. He turned the primary sophomore to win the award. He declared for the draft and was picked within the first spherical (eighth total) by the Detroit Lions within the 2019 NFL Draft.
He spent three-and-a-half seasons with the Lions and earned two Professional Bowl choices in 2020 and 2022. Detroit traded Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings in November 2022. Hockenson missed the primary eight weeks of the season because of harm, however within the final 5 weeks has totaled 254 yards on 23 receptions.
Logan Jones
Highschool: Lewis Central
Recruiting class 12 months: 2020
Rating: 4-star, No. 242 total nationwide
Jones is in his senior season with the Hawkeyes and has been Iowa’s beginning heart since 2022. He helped his workforce rush for greater than 200 yards in eight video games this season, essentially the most since 2015. He helped the Hawkeyes common 213.5 dashing yards per recreation, which leads the Massive Ten and ranks thirteenth nationally.
Joel Lanning
Highschool: Ankeny
Recruiting class 12 months: 2013
Rating: 3-star, No. 1,525 total nationwide
Lanning was a uncommon expertise, enjoying quarterback and linebacker for Iowa State. He was the beginning quarterback in 2015 and 2016 and had spot QB responsibility in 2017. Lanning switched to linebacker throughout spring 2017 and have become a first-team All-Massive 12 choice. He was named All-American by the Soccer Writers Affiliation of America, Phil Steele and Sports activities Illustrated. The Dallas Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent however he did not play in any NFL video games.
Allen Lazard
Highschool: Urbandale
Recruiting class 12 months: 2014
Rating: 4-star, No. 78 total nationwide
The previous Iowa State extensive receiver was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2018 however spent the season on the apply squad. Inexperienced Bay picked him up in December 2018 and he spent 4 seasons with the Packers. Lazard adopted former Inexperienced Bay teammate Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, the place he’s been since 2023.
In seven video games this season, Lazard has caught 30 passes for 412 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Tyler Linderbaum
Highschool: Solon
Recruiting class 12 months: 2018
Rating: 3-star, No. 409 total nationwide
The previous Iowa offensive lineman was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens within the first spherical (twenty fifth total) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He began all 17 regular-season video games and one playoff recreation for the Ravens as a rookie and in 2023 he earned his first Professional Bowl choice. This 12 months, he’s been an integral a part of a dominant Baltimore offense that has totaled 3,291 passing yards and a couple of,328 dashing yards to this point.
Riley Moss
Highschool: Ankeny Centennial
Recruiting class 12 months: 2018
Rating: 2-star, No. 2,732 total nationwide
Moss appeared in 54 video games over 5 seasons with the Hawkeyes earlier than being drafted within the third spherical (83rd total) by the Denver Broncos within the 2023 NFL Draft. He performed 14 video games at cornerback in his rookie season and began 12 this season however was injured within the Broncos’ Nov. 24 recreation towards the Las Vegas Raiders.
He has totaled 71 tackles and one interception and fumble restoration to this point this season.
Xavier Nwankpa
Highschool: Southeast Polk
Recruiting class 12 months: 2022
Rating: 4-star, No. 53 total nationwide
Nwankpa is in his third season with the Hawkeyes, and he has performed in virtually each recreation since arriving in Iowa Metropolis. He appeared in 12 as a real freshman; began 12 and performed in 14 as a sophomore; and has began 9 and performed in 11 this season. To date, he’s totaled 91 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, 5 passes defended and two interceptions over three years.
Kadyn Proctor
Highschool: Southeast Polk
Recruiting class 12 months: 2023
Rating: 5-star, No. 9 total nationwide
The 6-foot-7 offensive lineman is in his second season at Alabama. As a real freshman, he began all 14 video games at left sort out and earned a variety to All-SEC Freshman workforce. He missed the primary two video games this season because of harm however has began each recreation since. Proctor helped Alabama cross for two,881 yards and rush for two,192 extra.
Brandon Scherff
Highschool: Denison-Schleswig
Recruiting class 12 months: 2010
Rating: 3-star, No. 558 total nationwide
The 6-foot-5 guard earned unanimous All-America honors throughout his time enjoying faculty soccer at Iowa. Washington drafted him within the first spherical (fifth total) within the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent seven seasons with Washington and earned 5 Professional Bowl choices in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
He signed a three-year contract with Jacksonville in March 2022. He has began all 13 video games to this point this season, serving to the Jaguars rack up 2,557 passing yards and 1,215 dashing yards.
O’Rien Vance
Highschool: Cedar Rapids Washington
Recruiting class 12 months: 2017
Rating: 3-star, No. 502 total nationwide
Vance began 44 video games for Iowa State and completed with 255 profession tackles. He ranked ninth in class historical past with 32 tackles for loss when he graduated. Vance was an honorable point out All-Massive 12 choice in 2022 and was named to the CSC Educational All-District workforce. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants however didn’t play in any NFL video games.
Andrew Van Ginkel
Highschool: Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley
Recruiting class 12 months: 2014
Rating: unranked
The one unranked participant on this record proves that recruiting stars – or lack thereof – do not imply every part. Van Ginkel performed one season at South Dakota, transferred to Iowa Western for a 12 months, and completed his faculty profession at Wisconsin.
He was drafted within the fifth spherical (151st total) by Miami within the 2019 NFL Draft and spent 5 seasons with the Dolphins. He signed with Minnesota in March 2024. The Vikings linebacker has recorded 31 havoc performs in 2024 – 15 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 4 passes defended, two interceptions (each returned for touchdowns) and one pressured fumble.
Tristan Wirfs
Highschool: Mount Vernon
Recruiting class 12 months: 2017
Rating: 4-star, No. 322 total nationwide
The 6-foot-5 offensive sort out performed faculty soccer at Iowa earlier than being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the first spherical (thirteenth total) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was a three-time Professional Bowl choice in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and received Tremendous Bowl LV as a rookie.
In August 2024, he signed a five-year, $140 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in league historical past. He’s began all however one recreation this season, serving to the Buccaneers acquire 3,039 passing yards and 1,646 dashing yards.
Alyssa Hertel is the faculty sports activities recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at [email protected] or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
