After impressing the Iowa coaching staff at their camp this summer, in-state offensive lineman Mason Neisen continues to pick up more interest from the Hawkeyes. All of it could very well be leading to a scholarship offer soon for the 6-foot-5, 325-pound Neisen, who was back in Iowa City for the Hawkeye Tailgater this past weekend.

“Brian Ferentz said that a scholarship was coming,” said Neisen. “They just have to figure out where from. He said just to be patient and let him to his job. Reese Morgan also told me that him, Brian Ferentz, Kirk Ferentz, and Chris Doyle all really love me and want me on the team.”

The trip to Iowa City was Neisen’s second in the past few weeks as he continues to build on his relationship with the Iowa coaching staff. This time, it was a two-day stay with the Hawkeyes, which gave him an even deeper look at the university and the football program.

“The visit was awesome,” Neisen said. “We got tours of everything and an amazing academic presentation by Liz (Tovar). She is really a phenomenal person. Then we got to sit down with professors from our intended major and talk with them and ask questions and we got a tour of the new dorm building, which was way nice.”

“My personal favorite part was when Coach Doyle gave a presentation in the weight room,” he continued. “Whenever that man talks, I get chills. He just has such an amazing presence.”

As a junior, Neisen helped lead Denver to the Class A state semifinals for the second year in a row last season. His film shows a physical, dominating blocker, which is something he backed up at Iowa’s camp when he went head to head with other Division I prospects.

“The biggest worry about people like me is I come from a small town, so they want to see how I do against better competition,” said Neisen. “At camp, they said I did absolutely amazing. Not only in run blocking, but pass blocking too.”

Currently, Neisen holds a scholarship offer from UNI and has interest from Iowa State in addition to Iowa. While he is keeping an open mind about everything, the Class of 2017 prospect says an opportunity to play for the Hawkeyes would be a special one.

“I've been a Hawkeye fan since I was born,” Neisen said. “It's been a dream of mine forever.”

With the calendar turning to August, Neisen’s focus now turns to his senior season as he looks to lead Denver deep into the playoffs again, which is sure to help things on the recruiting front.

“Now I just worry about my senior season” Neisen said. “If I do that, the future will all work out.”

“I've put in a ton of off-season work and I think it will show on film.”