Trending 2024 Iowa target sets July commitment date
Central Catholic athlete Jaylen Watson has officially set his commitment date. The three-star, 2024 recruit out of Toledo, Ohio, tweeted out on Thursday that he would make his final decision on July 8.
The announcement from Watson, nicknamed “Big Play Jay,” comes just days after he received an offer from Iowa football while at the school’s camp. The offer quickly shot Iowa up Watson’s projected recruiting board. Waston himself proclaimed it.
“Iowa is at the top of the list for sure,” Watson told 247Sports reporter Allen Trieu.
Not surprisingly, Iowa has jumped out as the favorite to earn Jaylen Watson’s signature according to the recruiting experts. Allen Trieu and fellow 247Sports colleague Sean Bock of Hawkeye Insider each submitted 247Sports crystal ball predictions for Iowa to land Watson’s commitment.
I will be announcing my commitment on July 8th! #BPJ https://t.co/b1X5mrsqm1
— Jaylen “Big Play Jay” Watson (@JaylenWatson11) June 8, 2023
Between those media predictions and what Watson has said himself, Iowa should be viewed as the favorite heading into the July 8 commitment date. Iowa faces competition from 14 other programs, including fellow Big Ten rivals Minnesota and Maryland who have also offered per Rivals.
Watson also has offers from Power 5 programs such as Cincinnati, Louisville, and West Virginia. The rest of his reported offers feature Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Liberty, Marshall, Miami (Ohio), Toledo, and Western Michigan.
According to 247Sports‘ rankings, Watson is the nation’s No. 105 athlete and the No. 32 player from Ohio. Rivals, ESPN, and On3 rank Watson as the No. 17, No. 25 and No. 71 player in the state of Ohio, respectively.
While projected as a wide receiver at the next level by ESPN, On3, and Rivals, it is reported that Phil Parker and the Hawkeyes see Watson as a defensive back in Iowa City.
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