IOWA CITY — While Iowa football is still recruiting the 2027 high school class, the Hawkeyes have also already been targeting prospects in the 2028 class.
One of those is Dowling Catholic offensive lineman Carter Barrett.
Barrett, listed at 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, is a four-star recruit and ranked 134th nationally in the 2028 high school class, according to the 247Sports Composite.
He was part of a Maroons team that won the 5A state title last season.
Here are highlights from Barrett’s sophomore season:
Although he is just entering his junior season, Barrett has received offers from some premier programs, including Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon, Georgia and Penn State.
Iowa has been involved for a while now. The Hawkeyes offered Barrett in March of 2025.
Barrett provided an update on his recruitment to the Des Moines Register.
Note: Answers have been edited slightly for clarity and grammatical accuracy.
What has stood out about Iowa during the recruiting process?
“The thing that has stood out about Iowa is that they have never changed. They have always treated me the same and also have always believed in me from the start.”
On his relationship with Iowa offensive line coach George Barnett
“I have a very strong relationship with Coach Barnett as Iowa was my first ever visit. He also has made me feel like a priority by being the first freshman he has ever offered. He is also very easy to relate with and does not put any pressure on me as a recruit and just wants me to be myself and be a kid.”
On his skillset, strengths, areas for improvement
“One strength of my game is my overall knowledge, as there are not very many people I have met that know the game as well as I do, and I would also say my work ethic is what separates me. One thing I can improve on is becoming more athletic, as it is very important to move efficiently to play at the level I want to play at.”
On which schools have been most active in his recruitment
“My interactions with schools are limited as there are restrictions on communication until June 15, but I would say some of the schools are Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, Georgia, LSU. These are not my top schools, but just schools I have been active with and could change with June 15 coming soon.”
On the most important factors when making a recruiting decision
“The four most important factors in my recruitment are culture, development, stability and consistency.”
On how he is approaching his decision timeline
“My decision timeline is not very certain as new schools continue to reach out and I have different amounts of interest in them, so there is no specific timeline currently.”
On what he has enjoyed most about the recruiting process so far
“I have enjoyed getting to meet amazing people and deepen my knowledge of the game of football and what it can do for you. I also enjoyed getting to live my dream as a kid, to see all the teams you look up to and want to be like.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at TTachman@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Hawk Central: Dowling Catholic 4-star Carter Barrett talks recruiting, Iowa football
Reporting by Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register / Hawk Central
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
