This past Saturday, Joey VanWetzinga announced his commitment to Iowa, marking the first verbal commitment in the Hawkeyes’ 2025 recruiting class. The two-way lineman from Pleasant Valley High in Bettendorf, Iowa, received his first college football scholarship offer from the Hawkeyes in late June, after impressing coaches at a camp.
In the ten days that followed his offer, VanWetzinga mulled over his decision. His choice suggested his deep dedication to the program, an aptitude for the team culture, and a genuine connection to the Hawkeyes community.
Measuring in at 6-foot-2, 255 pounds, VanWetzinga undeniably brings a strong physicality to the team. However, his commitment to Iowa isn’t just physical; VanWetzinga has stated his intentions to assist in the recruitment process for the 2025 class, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to building the program.
In choosing Iowa, VanWetzinga also embraces the opportunity to play with his older brother again, who is already part of the Hawkeyes as a walk-on member of the 2023 class. Joey intends to seize this unique opportunity to make the dream of playing Division I football alongside a sibling a reality.
VanWetzinga’s game tape reveals a top-notch defensive tackle who permeates with agility, brute strength, and explosive power. These very attributes have held him strong as a sophomore, bagging an impressive 5.5 sacks and a total of 13.0 tackles for loss.
Despite not being ranked by recruiting services like Rivals, On3 and 247, as of publication time, Joey’s commitment to Iowa has unequivocally highlighted his potential on both ends of the field. The Hawkeyes’ 2024 class also boasts a healthy 16 verbal commitments, indicating a positive momentum in recruiting for the Iowa squad.