With Signing Day 2013 in the books, the focus immediately turns to next year and the Class of 2014. Of course, college coaches across the country have already been hard at work on the juniors in the 2014 class for some time now, including the Hawkeyes. In this update, we take a look at some of the top prospects on Iowa's radar early on and where they might be signing one year from now.

The Hawkeyes have already reeled in two early commitments for 2014 in offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher and quarterback/wideout Jay Scheel. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Pierschbacher is a four-star prospect ranked among the top 250 players in the nation by Rivals.com. A Cedar Falls native who grew up a Hawkeye fan, he was Iowa's first commit for 2014, choosing Iowa over scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa State, and Boise State.

Scheel, a versatile 6-foot-1, 170-pound athlete, did not make the cut for the first Rivals250, but do not be surprised if he ends up ranked as a four-star prospect as well. Timed at 4.47 in the forty at Iowa State's camp last summer, he could be a dual-threat quarterback in college like he is in high school or move out to wide receiver. As a junior, he earned first team all-state honors for La Porte City Union after finishing with 1,593 yards passing and 1,291 yards rushing, accounting for 42 touchdowns in all. Scheel chose Iowa over scholarship offers from Nebraska and Iowa State.

In-state, Iowa's other top prospect still on the board is Indianola offensive lineman Keegan Render. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Render earned a scholarship offer at the Hawkeyes' camp last summer and added one from Iowa State this off-season as well. He also currently has interest from Notre Dame, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, among others, and is planning to take the recruiting process slow, perhaps not deciding until his senior year.


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