Iowa Football Offers Joey VanWetzinga

Hawkeyes First In with '25 Pleasant Valley D-Lineman

Pleasant Valley's Joey VanWetzinga (left) and brother, Rusty VanWetzinga. (Photo - Joey VanWetzinga Instagram)

Joey VanWetzinga will remember Tuesday fondly for the rest of his life. Iowa Football offered the Class of 2025 lineman his first scholarship. 

The Bettendorf (IA) Pleasant Valley standout worked with Hawkeyes coaches during the program's camp. After it, they offered the opportunity. 

"What really makes this offer stand out to me is the devotion they had for me to be the first ones to offer me," VanWetzinga told HN.

Iowa was well aware of him before Tuesday. His older brother, Rusty VanWetzinga, joined the team as a walk-on fullback in the '23 Class. Their dad, Rusty VanWetzinga Sr., has served as Pleasant Valley's head football coach for the last 15 years. 

"Having my brother being a Hawkeye is another huge part that makes this offer stand out because it’s like having a personal coach on and off the field who just wants the best for me," Joey VanWetzinga said.

Joey VanWetzinga (6-2, 255) broke out as a sophomore last fall. He racked up 5.5 sacks and 13.0 tackles for loss. 

Tuesday, he convinced the Hawkeye staff he could perform on the highest level of college football. 

"I loved the competitive, focused aspect of the camp because of how that can help develop me as a player and translate into a real game of football," VanWetzinga said.  

Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and others are showing interest in him. Whomever offers him next could have some catching up to do. 

"As I continue forward, my main focus right now is not being recruited but instead focusing on having a good junior season and improving from last year. But I'm keeping Iowa first in mind as of now as my college career approaches," he said.

VanWetzinga's sophomore Hudl film shows a prospect that projects on both sides of the ball. He's a menace lining up at defensive tackle, combining excellent strength and leverage along with explosiveness. Those traits also make him intriguing as a center.