Impressive walk-on class joining the Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes are not only adding a great group of scholarship recruits this year, but also an impressive class of preferred walk-ons. In this update, we take a closer look at each of the walk-ons heading to Iowa in 2024 and much more.
Graham Eben
With the ability to play safety or linebacker in college, Graham Eben is quite an intriguing prospect. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Rock Rapids native turned down scholarship offers from Eastern Michigan, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, and Northern Iowa for the chance to play in the Big Ten as a preferred walk-on for the Hawkeyes.
“Even though I have to pay to go there, it isn’t about the money,” said Eben. “I look at it like I’m investing in myself and I believe that I can do it. It’s a decision that I’m happy with and my family was very supportive. They’re on my side no matter what.”
At Iowa, Eben will be joining high school teammates Zach Lutmer and Reece Vander Zee next year and hopes to inspire future generations in Northwest Iowa to dream big and reach for their goals.
“My goal isn’t to go down there and just run out of the tunnel,” Eben said. “That isn’t what intrigues me. It’s going down there and making an impact or bigger picture impacting my hometown. If I take this opportunity and use it the right way, I can show kids, like my little brothers, that anybody can do it. That’s my goal and my dream is to go down there and do it at that level.”
As a senior, Eben had 1,411 yards rushing, 271 yards receiving, 77 yards passing and 36 touchdowns on offense and 49 tackles and three interceptions on defense for Central Lyon/George-Little Rock as they finished the season with a 12-1 record.
Devan Van Ness
At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Devan Van Ness may be somewhere in between a linebacker and a defensive end, but there is no arguing with his production at the high school level. This past season, Van Ness finished with 78 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks, which led the state of Illinois in 2023.
Now, Van Ness will be taking his talents to Iowa City as a preferred walk-on with the Hawkeyes. Van Ness, whose older brother Lukas Van Ness played at Iowa from 2020-2022 before going to the NFL, is excited to make his own mark in college.
“I’m honored to announce my commitment to play football at the University of Iowa,” Van Ness said. “I want to thank my family, friends, and teammates for their support throughout this journey.
“I want to give a special thanks to Coach Sanchez, and the entire Barrington football staff for their dedication and help to better me on and off the field. Also, a special thanks to Kerry Neal and Mike Buchanan for refining my technique.
“Lastly, Coach Wallace and the Iowa football staff for believing in me and giving me an amazing opportunity,” said Van Ness. “Excited to get to work.”
The first-team All-State performer chose Iowa over a preferred walk-on opportunity from Illinois.
Trent Cakerice
After leading Grundy Center to back to back state titles, it is off to Iowa City for defensive lineman Trent Cakerice. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Cakerice decided early on that if an opportunity to be a Hawkeye came along, he was not about to pass it up.
“Honestly, Iowa was the end goal,” said Cakerice. “Once I got the preferred walk-on opportunity, I knew I was going there. Some other schools were in contact and I’m thankful for their time and effort, but the Hawks seemed like the perfect scenario.”
Also a standout wrestler, Cakerice finished his senior season on the football field with 57.5 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks for Grundy Center, who went undefeated on the year.
DJ Vonnahme
Versatile Carroll Kuemper athlete DJ Vonnahme earned scholarship offers from Colorado State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, and South Dakota State during the recruiting process, but it was a preferred walk-on opportunity from Iowa that quickly got his attention.
“I chose it over my scholarships because it has always been a dream of mine to play at Iowa,” said the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Vonnahme. “So to get that opportunity, it was a hard one to pass on.”
A multi-sport athlete, Vonnahme qualified for state track in the 100 and 200 meter dash last spring in his first year of running high school track. He ended up finishing 8th in Class 2A in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.28 seconds. Vonnahme will now be putting that speed to use at tight end in college after playing mostly quarterback prior to his senior year.
“They are called TE-U for a reason and to turn that down would be a big mistake, in my opinion,” said Vonnahme.
As a senior, Vonnahme had 196 yards passing, 93 yards rushing, 567 yards receiving, and 16 touchdowns on offense and 18 tackles, one tackle for loss, and five interceptions on defense for Kuemper Catholic.
Cole Marsh
Waverly native Cole Marsh was also a high school quarterback prior to his senior year, but a standout camp performance at tight end led to a preferred walk-on opportunity from the Hawkeyes and the rest was history. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Marsh, who is also a standout basketball player, chose Iowa over scholarship offers from Northern Iowa, Sioux Falls, Northern State, Upper Iowa, and Grand View.
“I have been a Hawkeye fan my whole life,” Marsh told HawkeyeReport.com. “I chose a preferred walk-on opportunity to Iowa over scholarship offers to other schools because this opportunity is once in a lifetime, and I can’t pass up on it.”
As a senior, Marsh finished the season with 19 catches for 320 yards and eight touchdowns for Waverly-Shell Rock this year.
Drew Larson
Iowa City native Drew Larson had a tough senior year as he battled through injuries, but all is well that ends well as the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder was still able to earn a preferred walk-on opportunity from the Hawkeyes.
“It’s always been my dream,” said Larson. “I’ve grown up a Hawkeye fan and always wanted to play at Kinnick Stadium.”
As a junior, Larson put up good numbers as a quarterback, finishing the 2022 season with 1,841 yards passing with 19 touchdowns through the air as well as 303 yards rushing and five touchdowns on the ground. He also added 14.5 tackles and three interceptions on defense for City High.
As a senior, he was limited due to a broken thumb, but still had 326 yards passing, 62 yards rushing, 76 yards receiving and five touchdowns on offense and 9.5 tackles, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery on defense.
Grant Glausser
After a record-setting 263-yard performance in the Class 4A state championship game, Western Dubuque running back Grant Glausser is headed to Iowa as a preferred walk-on for the Hawkeyes.
“I chose Iowa because they have a great program and I would like to prove that I can compete at the highest level,” said the 5-foot-11, 202-pound Glausser. “I believe I can achieve that at Iowa while getting a great education.”
A first-team all-state selection, Glausser put up ridiculous numbers for Western Dubuque this year, finishing the season with 334 carries for 2,909 yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground. The 263-yard performance in the state championship game actually broke a 31-year old record previously held by former Hawkeye Tavian Banks.
Kyler Gerardy
North Scott defensive back Kyler Gerardy was originally committed to North Dakota State, but a preferred walk-on opportunity from Iowa eventually changed his mind.
“It definitely wasn’t an easy decision turning down a scholarship from NDSU,” said the 6-foot-0, 183-pound Gerardy. “But my family have always been Iowa fans. It’s been a dream of mine ever since I was little to get the chance to play for the Hawkeyes so when I got the opportunity, it was a dream come true.”
A dual-threat quarterback in high school, Gerardy finished the 2023 season with 1,380 yards passing and 14 touchdowns through the air along with 843 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Defensively, he had 15.5 tackles and one interception for North Scott this year.
Coming in at safety, Gerardy is very familiar with the success that Iowa has had with walk-ons at the position from current starter Quinn Schulte to Jake Gervase and Brett Greenwood and several others as well.
“There have been multiple preferred walk-ons at safety who have had success at Iowa, but I also know the work they had to put in to get in that position,” said Gerardy. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Tripp Woody
The Hawkeyes have had success with kickers from the Carolinas before and will be adding another in the Class of 2024 in preferred walk-on Tripp Woody from Charlotte.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Woody trains with kicking coach Dan Orner, who also worked with Drew Stevens and Keith Duncan, so there was a natural connection to the Hawkeyes.
“I’m close friends with Drew Stevens and Keith Duncan, which was nice to ask about the school and everything,” said Woody.
“Ever since I went to Iowa last April, I never wanted to leave,” Woody said.
As a senior, Woody made 10 of 14 field goals with a long of 50 yards and sent 51 of his 61 kickoffs into the end zone for a touchback. Also a high school punter, he averaged 39.6 yards per punt with a long of 56 yards on the season for Charlotte Christian.
Woody, who chose the Hawkeyes over Rutgers and Syracuse, among others, will be an early enrollee at Iowa, starting classes next semester.
“I’m coming in January and can’t wait to get started,” said Woody.
Ethan Ahakhan
A 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive lineman with a high motor, Ethan Aghakhan is joining the Hawkeyes as a preferred walk-on.
“It has been an incredible journey, and I would like to thank all my coaches and teammates that made Stevenson High School so special to me these past three years!” Aghakhan said. “Thank you to my family for all the love and support over the years from basketball, track and field, and football and everything in between. Special thank you to Coach Wallace, and the entire Iowa football staff for believing in me and offering me this once in a lifetime opportunity! Go Hawks!”
Aghakhan, who has a 6-foot-7 wingspan, finished his senior season with 75 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and seven sacks for Stevenson.
Along with the preferred walk-on opportunity at Iowa, Aghakhan earned scholarship offers from Western Illinois, South Dakota, Fordham, Indiana State, Lindenwood, and Holy Cross during the recruiting process.
Apollo Payne
A 6-foot-3, 195-pound wide receiver Apollo Payne is going to follow in his father’s footsteps and play for the Hawkeyes.
The son of O.J. Payne, who played defensive line at Iowa from 2002-2003, Apollo chose Iowa over a preferred walk-on opportunity from Iowa State, as well as Division II scholarship offers from Sioux Falls, St. Thomas, and Minnesota State.
“It was the home feeling I got when I was on campus,” Payne told HawkeyeReport.com. “The love shown from the coaches and even the players when I was there, having them approach me and talk was great. Also, my dad played for them, so keeping the family line at Iowa is a great feeling.”
As a senior, Payne put up big numbers for Prairie High School, finishing the season with 46 catches for 838 yards and eight touchdowns on offense along with 49.5 tackles on defense in 2023.
More preferred walk-on targets for Iowa
Iowa has also extended other preferred walk-on opportunities to prospects that remain undecided at the moment. Those include offensive lineman Mason Knipp and wide receiver Julius Ellens, among others.
Iowa’s Class of 2024 walk-ons
Graham Eben – 6-foot-1, 190-pound S/LB from Rock Rapids, IA
Devan Van Ness – 6-foot-1, 220-pound LB from Barrington, IL
Trent Cakerice – 6-foot-5, 235-pound DL from Grundy Center, IA
DJ Vonnahme – 6-foot-4, 205-pound TE from Carroll, IA
Cole Marsh – 6-foot-6, 215-pound TE/ATH from Waverly, IA
Drew Larson – 6-foot-1, 185-pound ATH from Iowa City, IA
Grant Glausser – 5-foot-11, 202-pound RB from Epworth, IA
Kyler Gerardy – 6-foot-0, 183-pound DB from Eldridge, IA
Tripp Woody – 5-foot-11, 170-pound K from Charlotte, NC
Ethan Aghakhan – 6-foot-2, 250-pound DL from Lincolnshire, IL
Apollo Payne – 6-foot-3, 195-pound WR from Cedar Rapids, IA
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