Here are 42 Iowa high school football recruits competing at the Drake Relays

Alyssa Hertel, Des Moines Register

The 2024 Drake Relays take place this week and, in the coming days, some of Iowa’s top high school athletes will compete in the same space as the best of the best in college and professional track and field.

But did you know that some of those athletes are also top-notch performers on the football field?

Sure, some of the players on this list have emerged as some of Iowa’s best track and field athletes. But most are known and recruited for their abilities on the gridiron. And this list only scratches the surface, as far more football players will be competing at the Drake Relays this weekend.

Ankeny Centennial's Elijah Porter breaks through tackles from Waukee Northwest defense during the first round of playoff football on October 27, 2023. Porter is one of the elite high school football prospects competing at the Drake Relays this week.
Ankeny Centennial's Elijah Porter breaks through tackles from Waukee Northwest defense during the first round of playoff football on October 27, 2023. Porter is one of the elite high school football prospects competing at the Drake Relays this week.

Here are over 40 of the top Iowa high school football recruits competing at the Blue Oval.

Names are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Evan Adams, Sr., Kuemper Catholic

Event: discus

The South Dakota football commit is bringing strength on the gridiron to the discus ring. He holds the fourth-longest throw in the state this season – with a chuck of 184 feet, 11 inches heading into Drake Relays.

Devon Akers, Sr., Ankeny

Event: 4x100, 4x200-meter relay

Akers will play football at Northern Illinois, but first, he’s focused on running with the two fastest relay teams in the state. Ankeny’s time of 41.76 seconds in the 4x100 leads the state and set a school record. More impressive, though, their time of 1:26.12 in the 4x200 set an all-time state record.

More: Ankeny boys 4x200 relay team sets Iowa record, is hungry for more at Drake Relays

Brock Carpenter, Sr., Western Dubuque

Events: 100-meter dash, 4x100, 4x200-meter relay

Before heading off to Northern Iowa, Western Dubuque’s two-way football star will attempt to run his way to a couple wins on the Blue Oval. His individual time of 10.63 seconds in the 100-meter dash is second-fastest in Iowa.

Brevin Doll, Sr., ADM

Events: 100, 4x100, 4x200-meter relay

Doll, a future Hawkeye running back, lost most of his senior football season due to an injury. Now, he has something to prove on the track and he’s well on his way to achieving personal and team-oriented goals in the sprint events.

Aiden Flora, Sr., ADM

Events: 100, 4x100, 4x200-meter relay

The Tigers’ one-two punch on the football field continues its success on the track, as Flora – an Iowa State walk-on commit – competes with or against teammate Doll on a regular basis. Flora is a large part of why ADM holds some of the fastest relay times in the state this season.

More: Football, friendship and faith: A look at Brevin Doll and Aiden Flora's drive to succeed

Beau Goodwin, Sr., Kingsley-Pierson

Event: 110-meter hurdles

Goodwin is projected to be a linebacker at Iowa State but, at the Relays, he’ll compete in an event loaded with talent – including a few other football players. His time of 14.99 seconds is top-25 in the state.

Angelo Jackson, Sr., Assumption

Events: 100, 400-meter dash

Jackson did a bit of everything for Assumption’s football team, which earned him a spot as a walk-on at Iowa State. At the Relays, he’ll focus on two events. He has a top-10 time of 10.81 seconds in the 100 and the 11th-best time of 49.61 seconds in the 400.

Elijah Porter, Sr., Ankeny Centennial

Events: 100, 4x100, 4x200-meter relay

Based on Porter’s performance in football, it makes sense that he would be among the top times statewide in the sprint events. The Northern Illinois signee’s speed stood out on the football field, and he’ll need it to compete with the fastest runners in Iowa.

Jonah Reiling, Sr., Lisbon

Event: shot put

It’s no surprise that football players excel in the shot put. The North Dakota commit holds the 21st-best throw in Iowa, with a chuck of 53 feet, 2.25 inches.

Preston Ries, Sr., Monticello

Event: shot put

On the football field, the Iowa signee does a bit of everything – and he does it all at a high level. But at Drake Relays, Ries will focus on one event, the shot put. He’ll be up against some tough competition, even with the 15th-best throw in the state this season.

Cade Sears, Sr., Harlan

Harlan Community wide receiver Cade Sears has been one of the best sprinters in the 100 throughout all of Iowa this season.
Harlan Community wide receiver Cade Sears has been one of the best sprinters in the 100 throughout all of Iowa this season.

Events: 100, 4x100, 4x200-meter relay

Sears is headed to South Dakota State to play football but not before one final season on the track. His 10.73 seconds in the 100 is a top-five time in Iowa, and he’s helped Harlan’s sprint relay teams to top-10 times statewide in both the 4x100 and 4x200.

Mitchell Smith, Sr., West Hancock

Events: 110-meter hurdles, 4x110-meter hurdles relay

The future Northern Iowa Panther holds the 20th-best time (14.95) in the 110-meter hurdles. As the anchor, he helped West Hancock’s relay team to the 25th-best time in the state this season (1:01.55).

Reece Vander Zee, Sr., Central Lyon

Event: 110-meter hurdles

Vander Zee – a future Iowa Hawkeye – is one of the fastest football players competing in the event. His time of 14.76 seconds is tied for the 14th-fastest in Iowa this season.

Derek Weisskopf, Sr., Williamsburg

Events: high jump, discus, shot put

As the Register’s No. 3 prospect in the 2024 rankings released at the end of last season, the Iowa signee is the highest-rated football recruit on this list. And based on his on-field performances, it’s no surprise that Weisskopf excels in multiple track and field events.

Connor Welsch, Sr., Ankeny Centennial

Events: 100, 4x100-meter relay

Welsch was a standout in football and basketball, and he’ll take his talents to Iowa State as a walk-on with the football team. He’s a standout on the track, too, with a top-25 time of 10.92 seconds in the 100-meter dash this season.

Other top Iowa high school football recruits competing at Drake Relays:

  • Brennen Blegen (Benton Community)

  • Hank Brown (Dowling)

  • Jayden Brown (Valley)

  • Cyrus Courtney (Cedar Rapids Kennedy)

  • Cam Cribari (Valley)

  • Torian Doss (Waterloo West)

  • Dawson Dougherty (Cedar Rapids Kennedy)

  • Emmanuel Gaye (Southeast Polk)

  • Louden Grimsley (Sioux City East)

  • Caden Henkes (Ankeny)

  • Drew Hickey (ADM)

  • Braeden Jackson (Ankeny Centennial)

  • Sam Johnson (Waukee Northwest)

  • Jarrett Kies (Cedar Falls)

  • Mason Knipp (Columbus Catholic)

  • Brady McDonald (Independence)

  • Hayden Overgaard (Bishop Heelan)

  • Miles Parlet (Iowa City High)

  • T.Y. Pour (Prairie)

  • Mitchell Schnepf (MMCRU)

  • Matthew Sorfonden (Harlan)

  • David Souvongsavath (Waukee)

  • Haydn Stockdale (Prairie)

  • Sam Watts (Linn-Mar)

  • Cole White (Clarke)

  • Alex Wilson (Sergeant Bluff-Luton)

  • Mason Woods (Iowa City West)

Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Top 42 Iowa high school football recruits competing at Drake Relays

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