Iowa Football Beefs Up the Commitment of the Century, Choosing Hawkeyes Over Three Prominent Programs

Four-star offensive lineman Gene Riordan is coming to Iowa.

The Iowa football program secured a major addition to its 2026 recruiting class on Monday with the commitment of four-star offensive lineman Gene Riordan. Widely regarded as one of the top interior linemen in his class, Riordan was a highly sought-after prospect. He held offers from elite programs across the country but ultimately picked the Hawkeyes over Oklahoma, Northwestern, and Penn State.

“BREAKING: Four-star IOL Gene Riordan has committed to Iowa, he tells me for @on3recruits,” Hayes Fawcett shared in a post. “The 6’5”, 280-pound interior lineman from Hinsdale, IL chose the Hawkeyes over Oklahoma, Northwestern, and Penn State. He’s ranked as a Top 5 IOL in the 2026 class (per On3).”

Following his commitment, Riordan had a simple message for Iowa fans:

“Go Hawkeyes!! 🐤🐤🐤,” he said.

According to 247Sports, Riordan is a four-star recruit ranked No. 285 nationally in the 2026 class. He’s listed as the No. 21 interior offensive lineman and the No. 9 overall player in Illinois. Riordan attends Hinsdale Central High School, located just outside of Chicago—giving Northwestern the proximity advantage in his recruitment. Still, Iowa won out in the end.

Riordan had an impressive offer list that included major programs such as Auburn, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisville, Minnesota, NC State, and West Virginia, among others. Ultimately, it was the Hawkeyes who rose to the top.

The 2026 Iowa football recruiting class is shaping up nicely so far. While most commitments typically come during the summer or fall, making it tough to fully evaluate a class this early in the cycle, the Hawkeyes have built a strong foundation.

Gene Riordan becomes the ninth player to commit to Iowa’s 2026 class. The group currently includes four four-star prospects and four three-stars. According to 247Sports, the class ranks No. 27 nationally and No. 7 in the Big Ten.

Riordan is the second-highest-rated recruit in the Hawkeyes’ 2026 class, trailing only four-star offensive tackle Carson Nielsen, who sits at No. 269 overall in the national rankings.

There’s still plenty of time left in the recruiting cycle, but head coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff are off to a promising start. With several key targets still on the board, expect more commitments to come in as summer approaches.