Ranking of Iowa's Top 10 Freshmen for 2024

The Iowa high school football season is almost here, and with it the Des Moines Register’s ranking of the state’s 10 freshmen to watch for the 2024 IHSAA football season.

While none of these players have ever played a snap of high school football, some of the freshmen have already made a name for themselves. Whether it’s their performance in 7-on-7 tournaments and high school seasons or simply their sheer size, some athletes have already started to stand out.

Here are 10 freshmen to keep an eye on during the 2024 high school football season.

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1. Carter Barrett

Dowling

It’s hard to say how Barrett will compete in high school, but he’s certainly built to succeed at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds. The two-way rising star has attended a number of college prospect camps and appeared to be a recruit on the rise based on his performance at Football University’s Freshman All-American Bowl.

2. James Barnett

Iowa City West

If the last name rings a bell, that’s because Barnett is the son of Iowa offensive line coach George Barnett. It appears the 6-2, 250-pound youngster Barnett could follow in his father’s footsteps in the game.

Fans have yet to see what he can really do on the football field, but he is an impressive shot putter, winning the U.S. Middle School National Championship with a throw of 62 feet, 3 inches. Tristan Wirfs, another famous lineman, held a high school record of 67 feet.

3. Jevyn Severson

Madrid

This is a football list, but Severson is also a name to remember in basketball. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound tight end looked solid at college camps this summer, bringing good athleticism to the field for his size. With a little fine-tuning, Severson could be something special.

4. Taylen Alford

Kuemper Catholic

When the Register saw Alford compete in a 7-on-7 tournament in April, the 5-10, 140-pound quarterback wasn’t playing like an eighth-grader. He brings a strong, accurate arm to the high school game, and with room to grow, he should be a name to watch in the coming seasons.

5. Evan Mitchell

Dowling

Based on the highlights of this 6-4, 235-pound lineman’s eighth-grade season, Mitchell doesn’t seem like the type of lineman opposing defenses want to go up against. And at 6-4 as a rising freshman? Need we say more?

6. Ryan Lucas

Kuemper Catholic

Lucas — at 5-11, 190 pounds — is a growing threat who plays above his years on both sides of the ball. He’s a fighter on defense and a reliable receiver on offense.

7. Cannon Davis

Durant

This upcoming freshman who plays both football and baseball clearly has an arm. He has already participated in several camp circuits and it will be interesting to see what happens when he reaches high school. Davis is 6’3” and weighs 150 pounds.

8. Jayden Stumpff

Cedar Rapids Prairie

Stumpff has solid strength and a strong arm – thanks to playing baseball – and speed that makes other eighth graders look slow – thanks to track. Stumpff is already over 6 feet tall and has the potential to be a solid high school player.

9. Rhyker Wright

Okobōji

Wright seemed to do well at the college camps he attended this summer, and his measurables, which stand at 5-10, were impressive for an athlete who has yet to play a single round of high school football. He seems to be playing a little bit of everything, which should only benefit his development.

10. Jayden Stephens

Waverly Shell Rock

When the Register watched Stephens play in a 7-on-7 tournament this spring, a few things stood out: his motor, his defensive skills, his hands and his size. All of those things should help him adjust to the high school level.

Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at [email protected] or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.

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