Jake's Iowa Recruiting Class of 2023 Film Impressions-Defense

Class of 2023 S/LB Recruit Aidan Hall

In preparation of the upcoming college football season, I want to make sure I get some predictions in writing. In the past, I've relentlessly preemptively sung the praises of players that turned into both Iowa legends (Jack Campbell) and...not Iowa legends (Tyrone Tracy).

In these next couple posts, I'll be breaking down the available high school film from Iowa's incoming recruiting class (this year's true freshmen) with my unfiltered opinions written as I watched the film as well as putting together some predictions for what I think their careers at Iowa might project to be.

There's no fun in being right (or hilariously wrong) without having receipts to prove it, right?

Disclaimer: These predictions were written before this season's fall camp began, so my opinions are based solely off of their high school film and not at all affected by their performance since these players arrived at Iowa.

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Chase Brackney

-Designated as a DE, but is huge for that position (6’4”, 285 lbs.) as a high-schooler

-Good movement skills for his size, especially at his age

-Very strong at the point of attack as a run defender. Not flashy, but extremely effective. The offensive line stops moving when Brackney is in their way

-Flashes DE/DT versatility in the tape. Clearly has the frame to slide inside full-time or just on passing downs (like Van Ness, for example)

-Bull rush from the EDGE is impressive on passing downs

-Always looking for work despite being at a position that doesn’t get a ton of action statistically

Main Takeaway: Straight out of central casting for an Iowa defensive lineman. Strong, smart, and always working hard for his team. He’s huge for a high-school DE, but he moves very well. I would definitely group in with more of a run-stuffing DE/DT prototype, but his bull-rush is going to allow him to get to the QB. Played at the highest levels in Colorado and was unspectacularly dominant. I’m curious if Iowa has him really bulk up and slides him inside to DT permanently, or if they keep him a bit leaner and follow the Van Ness route. He has a lot of physical and stylistic similarities to LVN, Epenesa, and Anthony Nelson from prior years, just with less of a pass-rushing arsenal. I personally think he’ll slot in as an excellent DT, but he’s got the movement skills to play on the edge if Iowa likes him there the most. He’s a really nice get for Iowa’s recruiting class, and I could see him rotating as part of a DEEP D-line room as soon as Year 2.

Maddux Borcherding-Johnson

-Big, big-appearing boy at DE/DT (6’3, 277 lbs.)

-Has some slick moves at his size, you can definitely see the wrestling background

-Stuffs the run, but not as definitively as you’d expect someone like him to do at his level

-Seems a bit less powerful than you’d expect given his size and the level of competition (middle-level Iowa high school football)

Main Takeaway: Pretty simple here. Has the build for a future DT that has some athleticism to work with given his wrestling background. Not close to being a regular contributor from a play-strength/technique standpoint, but he’ll be a worthwhile project. He’s actually a bit smaller than Brackney, and his body looks like it’s carrying more bad weight that needs to be reformed over time. He’s on the Yahya Black track, but might be a year behind where Yahya was. He might be in the mix in year 3-4 on campus.

Kade Pieper

-Good pursuit and speed from DE position

-Length stands out relative to competition

-Overall athleticism with his frame is appealing

Main Takeaway: Also simple here. Upside, weight-room project for a player with an appealing frame (6’4”) that is clearly undersized for what Iowa is going to try to get out of him. If he puts on 40+ pounds, he can be a contributor. Also wouldn’t be surprised to see him flip to OL if he gets crowded out by what is already a super-deep room. Probably won’t see the field until Year 4 at the earliest, if he’s still at Iowa by then. I see him as an impact FCS player if he seeks earlier playing time.

Kenneth Merrieweather

-Minimal film

-Long, lean, and athletic on the EDGE (6’3, 235)

Main Takeaway: Merrieweather is a prototype for the modern NFL pass rusher, and his limited film shows a rangy DE who utilizes his wingspan very well in run defense. I imagine he will be used as a situational pass-rusher or potentially as an off-ball LB given his frame and how Iowa’s defense is generally constructed. However, this is a guy that I also believe will look much different after a couple seasons in the weight room. He has big-time physical measurables, so I think the patience required for him to see the field (2-3 years, in my opinion) will pay off with a player that the NFL ultimately takes a pretty strong interest in despite minimal fanfare in the short-term.

Ben Kueter

-Outstanding awareness and instincts at the LB position

-Incredible strength at the point of attack, both against ball carriers and taking on larger blockers

-Elite twitch off the snap when lined up on the line/over center. Lower level of competition than other parts of the country, but that quickness and explosiveness translates anywhere

-Plays HARD even when not in the main action of a play; found multiple opportunities across the field away from his first location that he capitalized on

-Has upside to line up at EDGE due to flexibility and explosiveness from a two-point and three-point stance

-Has an uncanny sense for how to leverage blockers out of the way while still occupying space in the run game

Main Takeaway: Jack Campbell had the most impressive film I’ve ever watched from a defensive recruit for Iowa (and maybe any team, for that matter). Kueter’s is a CLOSE second. Playing in the highest level of Iowa high school football isn’t the stiffest competition, but he looks like an NFL linebacker dropped in a high school game. He has unbelievable strength and power with somewhat of a flair for the dramatic as he discards blockers and slams ball-carriers into the ground. He’s clearly a student of the game, as his film is littered with plays that show incredible anticipation and instincts that have him in the backfield seemingly before the play even starts. Even when he guesses incorrectly, his speed and quickness combined with elite spatial awareness allows him to quickly correct his course and slam the door shut. He is an elite linebacker prospect, but he has the tools to slide down and be a game-wrecker as an EDGE. Long story short: The only thing preventing Kueter from being an All-American LB in Iowa’s defense is the fact that he’s the best wrestler Iowa’s had on campus in over a decade not named Spencer Lee. He’s that dude. I do not say this lightly, but Iowa has their Jack Campbell 2.0.

Kahlil Tate

-Flashes some good ball skills, but clearly was not targeted much and therefore difficult to evaluate

-Very strong run defender, especially for a DB. Hits hard and able to make plays in difficult spaces

-Very fluid movement and excellent change of direction when required

-Does not have many reps in tight man-to-man, though he won’t be asked to do that much in Iowa’s defense

Main Takeaway: Tough, active player even in the run game from the cornerback position on his team. I anticipate he will be a CB at Iowa as well. Clearly the best athlete on the field, which I what you want to see, and he played at the highest levels in Illinois. Wish I could have seen more from him in strict pass coverage, but his fluidity on the other reps suggests his athleticism and coverage skills should be more than adequate to be a legit playmaker in Iowa’s defense. I could see him getting regular action as soon as Year 2 on campus. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why, but I just really like Tate’s upside, and I think the staff seems to agree. He’ll be a good one.

John Nestor

-Hits like a freight train from the Safety position

-Spent time at CB and was extremely comfortable in tight man AND zone coverage

-Terrific anticipation in both run and pass defense

-Closing speed stands out. He closes 20-yard gaps in no time

Main Takeaway: He’s going to be a stud safety for the Hawks. Smart, tackles well, and excels in zone coverage (with the ability to play man as well). He’s an athletic upgrade over some of the safeties they’ve had in the past (Gervase, Koerner, Schulte) that had tremendous success. Don’t overthink this one. Phil Parker just stocks the pipeline with dudes.

Zach Lutmer

-Dominant athlete at lower level in Iowa (DeJean-esque)

-Strong upside at Safety, and his experience on offense will make him a versatile piece due to diversity in athletic demands

-Hits hard and pursues well

Main Takeaway: Iowa is aiming to strike oil again with the super-dominant athlete from small-town Iowa at a defensive back position. He’s not the level of prospect that Cooper DeJean was, but he bears a lot of resemblance in terms of skillset and diverse athletic profile (multi-sport star). He’ll need some time to add muscle to fill the FS position, and he’s likely going to be slotted behind Nestor in terms of the playing time pecking order, but he’s a worthwhile add to a team that gives Iowa supreme confidence that they will get at least one stud Safety from this class, and more likely (in my mind) two. I think Lutmer can fill the FS spot, with Nestor sliding into the CASH position. Whatever Phil “Rizz Lord” Parker decides, though.

Aidan Hall

-Recruited as a safety/linebacker prospect

-Versatile athlete. Plays RB, FB, and WR at the 3A level in Iowa. Also dynamic in the return game

-Good instincts in zone coverage. Makes smart reads and doesn't waste much movement when reading the QB's eyes

-His spatial intelligence stands out on film in all three phases

-Does not have apparent D1 skill-position speed in my estimation, so would bet he settles into a LB role at Iowa

-Has a slight frame for a Big Ten LB, but has room to fill out

-Strong hands at the point of attack. Assuming he sticks as a LB, he would be an asset in pass coverage

Main Takeaway: Strong, very productive player in a higher level (though not the highest) level of Iowa high school football. Flashes strong instincts and intangible skills that will help him overcome being a bit of a tweener athletically. His change of direction is noticeable and his strength at the point of attack as a tackler will suit him well in what I assume will be a linebacker role. I'd slot him into the role that the Niemann brothers filled at Iowa as the LEO or coverage-oriented linebacker that is still obviously able to stay strong in run defense. He needs a year or two in the weight room to fill out enough to stay in that role regularly, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him finding the field in a limited capacity in his first year on campus (primarily in special teams). He's a bit of a projection, but I can see him being another middle or late-round pick at LB after his fourth year at Iowa with All-B1G upside. If he adds 20+ pounds of muscle at Iowa, though, watch out.