4-star RB Kendrick Raphael decommits from Iowa
Naples (Fla.) four-star running back Kendrick Raphael has decommitted from Iowa. He previously announced his pledge to the Hawkeyes on June 13.
Raphael is the No. 400 overall prospect and No. 30 running back in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 74 player in Florida.
“At this moment, I’d like to thank the whole Iowa staff and fanbase for this amazing opportunity to become a Hawkeye,” Raphael wrote in a statement published to social media. “After recent thought and discussions, I’d like to decommit and take a step back, and reopen my recruitment. Iowa will always have a special place in my heart. But you get this opportunity one time, and I hope everyone understands the need for me to ensure my path that God has for me. Thank you so much.”
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Prior to his decision, the 5-foot-11, 180 pound prospect was the second-highest-rated prospect in Iowa’s 2023 recruiting class. The only player ranked ahead of him was Des Moines (Iowa) Southeast Polk five-star offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, the No. 8 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus. Iowa’s group, which does not currently contain a running back, ranks No. 29 in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings and No. 5 in the Big Ten.
Raphael took an official visit to the Hawkeyes on June 10. He also took official visits to NC State on June 3 and BYU on June 24.
The four-star holds 16 offers from programs including BYU, Iowa, Iowa State, Louisville, Minnesota, NC State and Purdue. Other schools that have earned unofficial visits from Raphael include Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, UCF and West Virginia.
Raphael has an On3 NIL Valuation of $24K. The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.