Iowa football has landed a verbal commitment from James Barnett, a 6‑foot‑5, 300‑pound offensive lineman in the Class of 2028. The pledge comes as the Hawkeyes continue to build on a unit that earned the Joe Moore Award last season and produced Rimington Trophy winner Logan Jones.
Barnett is the son of George Barnett, who serves as Iowa’s offensive line coach, and he follows a familiar path from Iowa City West High School, where he has already drawn attention for his size and technique.
Ranked as a three‑star prospect and the fifth‑best player in Iowa’s 2028 recruiting class, Barnett chose the Hawkeyes over offers from Miami (OH) and South Dakota. He received the Iowa scholarship in June, a moment he described as the culmination of a long‑awaited recruitment.
Beyond the gridiron, Barnett is a multi‑sport athlete. He placed second in the 4A state shot put meet as a sophomore, and he also competes in basketball and baseball, showcasing the explosiveness that his coach says defines his game.
West High coach Garrett Hartwig has labeled Barnett a “four‑star, five‑star talent” because of his quickness, explosiveness, positioning, strength and toughness. Barnett elected to play center, a position he sees as a leadership role, citing Logan Jones as a model for the kind of impact he hopes to make.
A Local Pipeline Strengthens
Barnett is not the only son of a Hawkeyes staff member coming from West High. Mason Woods and Julian Manson are also on the roster, and he previously shared the line with teammates Colin Whitters, Woods and Manson. The continuity reflects a growing pipeline from the school to Iowa’s program.