Hawkeyes Sign Top Two In-State Players
After Xavier Nwankpa’s commitment to Iowa last week, the Hawkeyes have now locked up the top two football players in the state. Last summer, defensive lineman Aaron Graves out of Gowrie, Iowa committed to the Hawkeyes as well. In the early signing period, both Nwankpa and Graves made it official and signed their letters of intent to play football for the Hawkeyes. Graves is a four-star with a 0.9585 rating according to 247 Sports. The defensive end is ranked second in the state behind Nwankpa, and 16th at his position nationally. He will add to the talented group of incoming freshmen for 2022.
Aaron Graves
As a senior at Southeast Valley High School, Graves stood out on the defensive side of the ball. He finished the 2021 season with 7.5 sacks and a team-high 14 tackles for loss. He also recorded 63 total tackles and recovered two fumbles. Graves’ athleticism is elite, and he has the ability to play on both sides of the ball. In addition to his play at defensive end, Graves also lined up at guard and punter.
At 6’-5.5” and 270 pounds, he is built to play at the Big Ten level already. The senior comes into Iowa City with great size and quick hands, which are a must for a defensive lineman. Graves is listed as the 15th highest rated recruit all-time for Iowa. He will help lead a talented upcoming defense under Phil Parker. With the recent addition of Nwankpa to the defense, Iowa now has the top two players in the state. Keeping local talent at home has been a big push for the recruitment staff at Iowa, and this season they are doing just that. The Hawkeyes officially sign the top two in-state players and have the 40th ranked recruiting class in 2022.
Main Image courtesy The Spun
