One of the Hawkeyes’ top in-state commits has now disclosed the precise date he will sign a contract, bringing Iowa’s 2026 recruiting class one step closer to becoming official. On December 1, Iowa City West High School standout Colin Whitters, a three-star offensive lineman, declared that he would sign his National Letter of Intent on the first day of the early signing period. High school seniors have three days to formally commit to college football during the early signing window, which runs from December 3 to December 5. Whitters posted the specifics of his signing ceremony on X without delay, revealing his plans to the public.
“I will be signing to play at the University of Iowa on December 3rd at 4:30 PM in the Iowa City West High Cafeteria — all are welcome!” Whitters wrote in his announcement. A photo featuring the message accompanied the post.
Whitters views the occasion as the realization of a childhood fantasy. After a junior day visit, he committed to Iowa on January 27, 2025, having grown up just minutes from Kinnick Stadium. He had always imagined himself in black and gold, so his recruitment never seemed difficult. Whitters remarked prior to his 2024 commitment, “I grew up as a Hawkeye, so that’s really surreal to me.” “They want to help their players grow so they can play in the NFL.” They have faith in me, and Coach Barnett is a wonderful man. James Barnett, his child, is a great guy, and we work out together.
”Anchor” is the word that best sums up Whitters’ time in high school. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound lineman helped lead Iowa City West to consecutive winning seasons as a stabilizing force for the Trojans. He was named to the Class 5A All-State team in 2025, when West finished 8-3 and advanced to the state quarterfinals before losing 35-0 to top-seeded Dowling Catholic. The Trojans were anything but slow offensively. With Whitters controlling the interior at right guard, they amassed over 1,800 passing yards and over 1,100 rushing yards in their first nine games. He even included a rare lineman highlight on his resume: an 8-yard touchdown run on a deftly planned trick play in which he took a handoff while lining up at his usual guard spot.
Whitters’ stellar junior campaign served as the foundation for his outstanding senior year. He was named first team all-district, all-Mississippi Valley Conference, and Class 5A All-State in 2024. He led the Trojans to a 6-5 record that season, making it to the state quarterfinals and earning the program’s first victory since 2020. He didn’t follow a completely conventional route to the offensive line. Whitters moved inside as a junior after starting his high school career as a tight end. He became a versatile interior lineman—one who can play several positions along the offensive front—as a result of that experience. According to the 247Sports Composite, he ranks as the No. 50 interior offensive lineman in the 2026 class and the No. 8 overall prospect in Iowa.
Finding a homegrown lineman with that level of adaptability is advantageous for Iowa in a number of ways. For a long time, the Hawkeyes have taken great pride in producing offensive linemen who come with untapped potential and go on to have NFL careers. Whitters meets many of Iowa’s requirements, including size, toughness, adaptability, and a local connection to the program that frequently increases a player’s commitment. His signing is just one aspect of Iowa’s larger recruiting strategy for 2026. According to 247Sports, the Hawkeyes’ class is currently ranked No. 8 in the Big Ten and No. 27 nationally as they begin the early signing period. As of December 3, seventeen scholarship players have committed, and several more are expected to sign as soon as the window opens.
These include four-star offensive tackle Carson Nielsen and wide receiver commit Brody Schaffer, who, like Whitters, will formally pledge on December 3. There are usually a lot of announcements, ceremonies, pictures, and school-sponsored celebrations during this time, and Iowa seems to be building momentum as prospective Hawkeyes make their choices. Whitters’ announcement gives the class an additional sense of community pride. A child who grew up in the shadow of Kinnick Stadium doesn’t get the chance to play there very often. For Whitters, the opportunity to play on the offensive line for a team that has established its reputation in the trenches while representing his hometown makes the occasion even more memorable.
Whitters has already given Iowa City plenty to anticipate, and fans will soon receive the official confirmation. His signing signifies a continuation of Iowa’s in-state recruiting success as well as an additional investment in the program’s core: strong, disciplined, homegrown linemen prepared to reach their full potential.
