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QB Vandenberg gives oral commitment to Hawkeyes
By the Daily Gate City
Keokuk quarterback James Vandenberg gave a verbal commitment on Thursday night to play football for the University of Iowa.
Vandenberg made the pledge to Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and offensive line coach Reese Morgan, who coordinates recruiting in the state of Iowa for the Hawkeyes.
The two coaches watched basketball practice at Keokuk High School on Thursday evening and then had dinner at the Vandenberg house.
Vandenberg said his comfort with the coaches and the program was the tipping point in his decision.
“It was about comfortability with the coaches because I am going to spend every minute of my life for the next five years with them,” he said Friday morning.
Other factors in his decision were his ability to eventually compete for the starting job and the young talent that the Hawkeyes have landed in this recruiting class.
“Overall, it just fits better than any other place,” Vandenberg said.
Vandenberg will sign a formal letter of intent on Feb. 6, the official signing day.
The Hawkeyes have a summer program for their players, which includes some summer school and conditioning sessions. But Vandenberg said those are not mandatory for incoming freshmen.
After quarterbacking his team to the class 3A championship, Vandenberg was named to several all-state teams. He was named to the Des Moines Register's elite, all-class team, and he was named captain of the Iowa Newspaper Association's 3A team.
The 6-3, 180-pounder set state records for most yards passing in a season (3,729), most touchdown passes in a season (49), most passing yards in a career (7,677) and most TD passes in a career (93), among others.
Vandenberg made the pledge to Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and offensive line coach Reese Morgan, who coordinates recruiting in the state of Iowa for the Hawkeyes.
The two coaches watched basketball practice at Keokuk High School on Thursday evening and then had dinner at the Vandenberg house.
Vandenberg said his comfort with the coaches and the program was the tipping point in his decision.
“It was about comfortability with the coaches because I am going to spend every minute of my life for the next five years with them,” he said Friday morning.
Other factors in his decision were his ability to eventually compete for the starting job and the young talent that the Hawkeyes have landed in this recruiting class.
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Vandenberg will sign a formal letter of intent on Feb. 6, the official signing day.
The Hawkeyes have a summer program for their players, which includes some summer school and conditioning sessions. But Vandenberg said those are not mandatory for incoming freshmen.
After quarterbacking his team to the class 3A championship, Vandenberg was named to several all-state teams. He was named to the Des Moines Register's elite, all-class team, and he was named captain of the Iowa Newspaper Association's 3A team.
The 6-3, 180-pounder set state records for most yards passing in a season (3,729), most touchdown passes in a season (49), most passing yards in a career (7,677) and most TD passes in a career (93), among others.
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