Recruiting has been heating up lately for the Hawkeyes, but I didn't expect it to be so hot that there would be a late commitment for the 2011 class. In retrospect it is not overly surprising as Iowa had a scholarship open up when Rodney Coe failed to qualify academically. That scholarship will be going to Dean Tsopanides who commited to Iowa on Thursday.

Tsopanides is a defensive end from Torrington, CT. The story goes KOK saw Tsopanides participating in a combine held at Milford Academy (you may remember Milford as the prep school Shonn Greene attended before coming to Iowa) and was impressed enough to get his film and eventually offer the scholarship. Tsopanides was orginially planning on attending Milford before comitting to Iowa.

Tsopanides in High School

At Torrington High School, Tsopanides plays on the line on both sides of the ball. He was also the long snapper (which could actually be a need now that Andrew Schulze has graduated). He helped the Red Raiders to a 7-3 record last year.

Stats:
  • 86 tackles, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbled, and 2 blocked field goals

Video:
Tsopanides won a state wrestling title in Connecticut's Class L as a heavy weight and went 26-1 in the regular season.

Initial Thoughts

Iowa sure loves to pick up wrestlers as linemen. At 6'4", 240 Tsopanides probably needs a year in the weight room before seeing the field. Without any film it's hard to evaluate him, but he sounds like a motor-always-running type of guy that has been successful for the Hawkeyes.