The countdown to Tampa for Iowa has officially begun. The Hawkeyes will travel south for their New Year’s Eve ReliaQuest Bowl game against the Vanderbilt Commodores in just over 20 days. For a team looking to finish the season strong, this game already feels like a line-in-the-sand moment. Iowa has been equally busy on the recruiting trail while the team continues to focus on bowl preparation, and this past week produced one of the biggest early victories of the 2027 cycle.
SaRod Baker, an explosive Texas running back who has been making waves during DeSoto High School’s run through the Texas state playoffs, received an offer from the Hawkeyes to start things off. In a talent-rich area, Baker’s combination of speed, vision, and playmaking ability has made him one of the more intriguing names, and Iowa’s early pursuit shows genuine interest. It’s never easy to get a Texas skill-position prospect early on, and the Hawkeyes obviously see Baker as a future cornerstone.
However, the strongest energy surge occurred nearer home. When in-state linebacker Gavin Stecker decided to stay home and enroll in the program, Iowa received its first commitment of the 2027 recruiting class. One of the most sought-after defensive players in Iowa’s junior class, the Bettendorf native is rated as a four-star prospect. Stecker’s choice is the kind of recruiting victory that Kirk Ferentz’s team has relied on to maintain Iowa’s top players in black and gold. Securing Stecker at this early stage is just the kind of boost Iowa needed for a class that is just getting started.
Iowa State was losing its lone commitment at the same time the Hawkeyes were celebrating their first. The Cyclones’ only 2027 commitment, four-star offensive lineman Will Slagle of Grinnell, declared he was reopening his recruitment. Because Slagle had initially rejected several offers, including one from Iowa, before selecting Iowa State back in November, his decommitment caused a stir throughout the state.
However, Slagle’s choice wasn’t made overnight. It came after Matt Campbell, the former head coach of the Cyclones, abruptly left to take a position at Penn State shortly after the regular season. Changes in coaching almost always cause disruptions, and Slagle seized the chance to reassess his prospects. According to reports, Slagle’s talks with Jimmy Rogers, the new head coach at Iowa State, went well, and he did not rule out eventually recommitting to the Cyclones. However, he also stated that his recruitment is open once more, which immediately brings Iowa back into the picture.
Furthermore, Slagle is more than just a name on a list. He is ranked by Rivals as the No. 20 interior offensive lineman in the country, the No. 3 overall prospect for Iowa, and the No. 317 overall recruit in the 2027 cycle. For a player who looks to be a future interior anchor, that is a noteworthy talent profile. He is ranked even higher by 247Sports, which ranks him as Iowa’s top prospect, the country’s tenth interior lineman, and the 198th overall recruit.
Every Midwest program would love to prevail when both major services concur that a player is among the top offensive linemen in the nation. And right now? Iowa is given another opportunity. With Stecker committed, Baker making an official offer, and Slagle unexpectedly returning to the market, Iowa’s 2027 class is developing more quickly than anticipated. There is no better time. The Hawkeyes are positioning themselves for a strong finish to 2025 and an even better start to the next recruiting cycle thanks to the bowl buildup, a national spotlight game against Vanderbilt, and early recruiting buzz.
In actuality, Iowa does well in years like these, when early connections, patient scouting, and a stable program culture begin to pay off before most teams have even looked ahead. The Hawkeyes are getting ready for more than just their trip to Tampa. They are already preparing for the future. The future in Iowa City appears to be just as exciting as the present, if their early actions are any guide.
