The Iowa Hawkeyes Football team added a group of 24 players to the roster yesterday on national signing day.  Kirk Ferentz and staff once again brought in a class mostly focused on kids from the midwest, signing five from the states of Iowa and Illinois, four from Michigan, and three from Wisconsin.

The Hawks put an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball and signed five defensive linemen, five linebackers, and four defensive backs.  That group includes Defensive Ends Cedrick Lattimore, a 250-pounder out of Detroit and Illinois product Romeo Knight.

On the offensive side of things the Hawkeyes signed three linemen, three tight ends, two running backs, a wide receiver, and a quarterback.  The first commitment of the class was Quarterback Nathan Stanley from Menomonie, Wisconsin.  Stanley turned down his home-state Badgers to sign with Iowa but his family does have ties to Iowa as both of his parents attended Wartburg College in Waverly.  The Hawkeyes also held on to a commitment from Offensive Alaric Jackson from Detroit despite late overtures from other Big Ten schools including Michigan.

Iowa begins spring practice the last week in March with the annual open practice scheduled for Saturday, April 23rd at Kinnick Stadium.  Iowa also plans to hold an open practice in Des Moines again the weekend of April 8-10.