Hawkeyes Land Gavin Hoffman

KC-Area Tight End Commits to Iowa Football Following Weekend Official

Home-state Missouri pushed hard for Gavin Hoffman's commitment. So, too, did other strong college football programs. They all ended up finishing behind Iowa. 

The Overland Park (KS) Blue Valley Northwest senior tight end announced on Tuesday that he was pledging to the Hawkeyes. He officially visited them this past weekend. 

"The legacy they have with my position is really intriguing, and I connected with some of the current tight ends," Hoffman told HN of the key factors in his decision. 

Iowa offered Hoffman in early June after his eye-popping performance at the Lindenwood camp. He also reported offers from Missouri, Arizona State, Auburn, Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, Purdue, Tennessee and others. 

He visited the Hawkeyes during spring practice in April. This weekend's official took the relationship to another level. 

"The coaching staff made me feel at home, all of them have been there for awhile and many are former players, which says a lot about the program," Hoffman said. 

Junior defensive back Cooper DeJean played host to Hoffman during his official visit. 

"He made me feel at home. It was a great visit," Hoffman said

Hoffman (6-5, 220) saw more of Iowa's campus and Iowa City this past weekend. He felt welcomed. 

"The city is awesome and reminds me kind of like my hometown. All the people I met were all positive and friendly and said nothing but good things about Iowa," he said. 

As a junior, Hoffman caught 39 passes for 713 yards and 11 touchdowns. He showed on his highlight film an ability to play in-line or from the slot with good speed and athleticism. At the Missouri camp this month, he recorded a 40.5-inch vertical leap and a 4.56-second, 40-yard dash.

Rivals, On3 and 247Sports rank Hoffman as a three-star recruit. On3 and 247 see him as the No. 5 player overall in Kansas for '24. They both rate him among the Top 40 tight ends nationally in the cycle. 

Hoffman become Iowa's 16th known verbal commitment in the '24 Class. 

'24 Iowa Football Verbal Commitments

Cody Fox, OL, Winthrop (IA) East Buchanan

Derek Weisskopf, LB, Williamsburg (IA)

Cam Buffington, LB, Winfield-Mount Union (IA)

Preston Ries, LB, Monticello (IA)

James Resar, QB, Jacksonville (FL) Bishop Kenny

Josh Janowski, OL, Tinley Park (IL) Lincoln-Way East

Drew Campbell, DL, Cedar Falls (IA)

Xavier Williams, RB, St. John (IN) Lake Central

Brevin Doll, RB, Adel (IA) A-D-M

Body McCaslin, OL, Saint Charles (IL) East

William Nolan, OL, Arlington Heights (IL) Hersey

Michael Burt, TE, Omaha (NE) Creighton Prep

Devan Kennedy, DE, Phoenix Brothy College Prep

Graham Eben, S, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

Reece Vander Zee, WR, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

Gavin Hoffman, TE, Overland Park (KS) Blue Valley Northwest