2026 WR Xavier Stinson commits to Iowa
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Port Saint Lucie (Fla.) Vero Beach three-star wide receiver Xavier Stinson has committed to Iowa, he told Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett.
He chose the Hawkeyes after decommitting from UCLA at the end of September.
Stinson is the No. 564 overall prospect and No. 88 wide receiver in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 75 prospect in the Sunshine State.
The 6-foot-2 pass-catcher took an official visit to Iowa at the end of October. Illinois and Wisconsin also got him to campus this fall, but he’s locking in with Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes with National Signing Day just about two weeks out. Stinson decommitted from UCLA following the firing of DeShaun Foster.
“The visit was pretty great,” Stinson told HawkeyeReport.com after his OV. “Just the culture and experience behind the team and the city alone is something that stands out. The city backs the program 100% and they thrive on that.”
Stinson’s commitment brings Iowa up to 17 commitments this cycle. The class ranks No. 23 nationally, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.
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The Hawkeyes continue to add firepower to their 2026 pledge list ahead of NSD. Their big win of the fall came on Nov. 8, as Kaysville (Utah) Davis four-star quarterback Tradon Bessinger committed. The former Boise State pledge has seen his stock soar this fall and is now Rivals’ No. 10 QB this cycle.
Four days later, Iowa landed Norwalk (Iowa) three-star tight end Luke Brewer, a top-30 TE and top-10 in-state recruit. Like many others in the class, Brewer fits the mold of prospects that turn to gold under Ferentz and his staff.
Five of the top seven prospects in Iowa this cycle are locked in with the in-state Big Ten program. Headlining that group is Iowa City West four-star linebacker Julian Manson, the nation’s No. 8 LB. Waterloo West four-star offensive tackle Carson Nielsen is a top-20 tackle this cycle, while Bishop Heelan Catholic LB Kasen Thomas is now the No. 10 LB in the Rivals300.
Nielsen is one of five offensive linemen in the class. Brandon (S.D.) Valley four-star interior OL Hudson Parliament and Hinsdale (Ill.) Central four-star IOL Gene Riordan are also featured in the new Rivals300.
Other top commits in the class include: Omaha (Neb.) North cornerback Darion Jones, Milton (Ga.) LB Billy Weivoda, Iowa City West IOL Colin Whitters, Chanhassen (Minn.) OT Owen Linder and Detroit Divine Child athlete Marcello Vitti.
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