On3 Top-100 LB Julian Manson commits to in-state Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa City West Senior four-star linebacker Julian Manson has committed to Iowa, he announced on Tuesday evening.

He chose the Hawkeyes over Kansas State, Minnesota and others. Manson is the son of Iowa director of player development and former Hawkeye Jason Manson.

Manson is the No. 242 overall prospect and No. 15 LB in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 3 player in Iowa.

On3 ranks him higher than other recruiting services. He checks in as the No. 80 recruit, No. 6 LB and No. 1 player in the Hawkeye State, per the 2026 On300.

Coming off an official visit to the in-state program, Manson is the latest in-state prospect to pledge to head coach Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa staff. He’s the second highest-ranked commit for Iowa this cycle, per the On300. His latest stop by campus helped seal the deal.

“This experience was unique for me because not only am I a legacy recruit, but because my dad is still working in the building,” Manson told HawkeyeReport.com after his OV. “I feel like I still learned a lot about the program and what being a Hawk could offer me.”

Hawkeyes add another blue-chipper to 2026 class

To no surprise, Iowa’s 2026 class is loaded with talent throughout the Midwest. Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin are among the states represented to date.

Four of the nine ranked prospects in Iowa this cycle are now committed to the Hawkeyes. Manson and Waterloo West four-star offensive tackle Carson Nielsen are the two highest-ranked commits in the class. Nielsen is the No. 17 OT in the nation and one of five O-linemen in the mix.

Brandon (S.D.) Valley four-star interior offensive lineman Hudson Parliament committed in January, while Hinsdale (Ill.) Central four-star IOL Gene Riordan joined the class in April. Riordan is another major On300 outlier, ranking as the No. 66 prospect and No. 5 IOL this cycle.

On Monday, Sioux City (Iowa) Bishop Heelan Catholic On300 linebacker Kasen Thomas committed. He’s On3’s No. 13 LB.

Other commits in the class include: Detroit Divine Child three-star athlete Marcello Vitti, Chanhassen (Minn.) three-star IOL Owen Linder, Iowa City West Senior three-star IOL Colin Whitters, Winneconne (Wisc.) three-star wide receiver Brody Schaffer and Neptune Beach (Fla.) Duncan U. Fletcher three-star WR Diondre Smith.