Iowa football Signing Day: Who's joining the Hawkeyes in 2026 class?

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National Signing Day is one of the best moments on the sports calendar. After years of training and dedication, dreams get realized on this day.

Of course, it’s also the culmination of yearslong recruitments in many instances. The Iowa football program will add to its tradition and talent pool with the signing of an impressive 2026 class.

After a Tuesday flip from Wisconsin, here’s who is expected to sign with the Hawkeyes today on the first day of the early signing period as part of Iowa’s 18-player class:

Tradon Bessinger

Iowa might have found its signal-caller of the future in Tradon Bessinger. A former Boise State commit, Bessinger committed to the Hawkeyes on Nov. 8 after visiting Iowa City in late October.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound quarterback starred at Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah, where he earned 2025 MaxPreps Utah High School Football Player of the Year honors. Bessinger passed for 4,313 yards and 53 touchdowns on 76% passing with just four interceptions.

Bessinger is ranked as a four-star signee and as the nation’s No. 11 quarterback per 247Sports composite rankings.

Brody Schaffer

The 6-foot-1, 184-pound wide receiver is ranked as a three-star signee, as the nation’s No. 78 wide receiver and as the top player in the state of Wisconsin, per 247Sports.

A standout quarterback at his high school, Brody Schaffer led Winneconne to an unbeaten season and state championship in 2025. Schaffer passed for 1,883 yards and 20 touchdowns and ran for an additional 1,198 yards and 23 scores.

Diondre Smith

A product of Fletcher High School in Florida, Diondre Smith is ranked as a three-star signee and as the nation’s 149th wide receiver per the 247Sports composite rankings.

Smith is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver that chose Iowa over in-state Miami among others.

Xavier Stinson

Originally a UCLA commit, Xavier Stinson wound up in Iowa’s 2026 class after the Bruins fired head coach DeShaun Foster.

A 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver, Stinson is rated as the nation’s 97th-best wide receiver and as a three-star signee per 247Sports‘ composite rankings.

Luke Brewer

A 6-foot-4, 220-pound in-state tight end, Luke Brewer joins Iowa by way of Norwalk High School. Brewer is ranked as the nation’s No. 24 tight end, as the No. 7 player in Iowa and as a four-star signee in the 247Sports composite rankings.

In 2025, Brewer had 39 receptions for 532 yards and six touchdowns.

Carson Nielsen

The 6-foot-7, 275-pound offensive tackle out of Waterloo West was Iowa’s first commit in the 2026 class all the way back on April 22, 2024.

Ranked as a four-star signee, 247Sports‘ composite rankings list Nielsen as the No. 26 offensive tackle nationally and as the No. 2 player in the state of Iowa.

Gene Riordan

A product of Hinsdale Central in Illinois, the 6-foot-4, 275-pound lineman is ranked as a four-star signee, as the No. 23 interior offensive lineman and as the No. 9 player in Illinois per the 247Sports composite rankings.

Gene Riordan chose the Hawkeyes over offers from schools such as Illinois, Iowa State, Penn State and Minnesota.

Colin Whitters

From right in its own backyard, the Hawkeyes landed Iowa City West’s Colin Whitters. A 6-foot-4, 300-pound signee, the 247Sports composite ranking regards Whitters as the nation’s No. 50 interior offensive lineman, as the No. 8 player in Iowa and as a three-star signee.

Hudson Parliament

Viewed by many as a defensive line target, Iowa welcomes Hudson Parliament to its program along the offensive line. The Brandon Valley product is ranked as the top player in South Dakota and as a four-star signee, as the No. 26 interior offensive lineman per the 247Sports composite.

Owen Linder

Out of Chanhassen High School in Minnesota, Owen Linder is regarded as a three-star signee per 247Sports‘ composite rankings. The 247Sports composite ranks Linder as the country’s No. 54 offensive tackle and as the No. 5 player from Minnesota.

Jack Janda

The latest addition to Iowa’s class, Jack Janda flipped from Wisconsin to the Hawkeyes. Originally a tight end commit for Wisconsin, Janda will play along the defensive line at Iowa.

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound prospect registered 46 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 11 sacks as a senior at Detroit Catholic Central. 247Sports‘ composite rankings rate Janda as the No. 16 player in Michigan and as a three-star.

Sawyer Jezierski

A 6-foot-3, 265-pound prospect out of Edina High School in Minnesota, Sawyer Jezierski is ranked as the No. 6 player in Minnesota and as the 103rd defensive lineman nationally per the 247Sports composite.

Kasen Thomas

Another in-state signee from Bishop Heelan Catholic in Sioux City, Kasen Thomas is ranked as a four-star signee, as the No. 18 linebacker and as the No. 3 player in Iowa per the 247Sports composite.

Julian Manson

A standout at Iowa City West and a legacy recruit, Julian Manson is a four-star linebacker, the No. 9 linebacker nationally and the top player in Iowa per 247Sports‘ composite rankings.

Billy Weivoda

A star at Milton High School in Georgia, Billy Weivoda chose the Hawkeyes over offers from Michigan, Ole Miss and Virginia Tech. Per 247Sports‘ composite rankings, Weivoda is a three-star signee, the nation’s No. 39 linebacker and the 51st-ranked player in Georgia.

Darion Jones

A 6-foot-1, 170 pound cornerback out of Omaha North, the Hawkeyes won out over rivals Nebraska and Iowa State among others. Darion Jones is ranked as a four-star signee, as the No. 25 cornerback and as the No. 2 player from Nebraska per the 247Sports composite rankings.

Ronnie Hill

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back hails from Adlai Stevenson High School in Michigan. Ronnie Hill is ranked as the nation’s 98th safety, as the No. 19 player from Michigan and as a three-star signee per the 247Sports composite.

Marcello Vitti

A 6-foot, 195-pound safety from Divine Child in Michigan, Marcello Vitti is a four-star signee, the country’s No. 21 athlete and the No. 7 player from Michigan per 247Sports.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football Signing Day: Who’s joining the Hawkeyes in 2026 class?

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