Andy Hamilton

ahamilton@dmreg.com

Mark Kallenberger’s national profile and offer list began to swell in recent weeks as Power Five programs around the Midwest increased their pursuit of the Bettendorf offensive lineman.

In the past two months, Kansas State and Missouri joined the list of suitors for the 6-foot-6, 250-pound tackle prospect, and Kallenberger also recently visited Nebraska.

But Kirk Ferentz and his staff are protecting their home turf and Iowa locked up another key in-state recruit Thursday when Kallenberger announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes on Twitter.

“The stability at Iowa and knowing the coaches are not going to leave was huge for me,” Kallenberger told HawkeyeReport.com. “Also, coach (Chris) Doyle and his strength program is the best thing for me to develop me into a great offensive linemen.”

Kallenberger picked the Hawkeyes over offers from seven other Division I schools, including Nebraska and Iowa State. He’s ranked by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect and the 59th-best offensive tackle nationally in the 2017 class.

“I think he’s got a chance to be pretty special before it’s all over,” Bettendorf coach Aaron Wiley said last fall. “A lot of times, your great big guys like that don’t move, but he’s got the athleticism to go with it, and he’s got a toughness that is kind of that extra intangible.

“I think he’s got a great upside with his frame. He’s got the rangy, long body type. He’ll get somewhere in college and put on (weight), and he’ll be a guy who weighs 300 pounds.”

Kallenberger is the seventh known commitment for Iowa’s 2017 class. Seven in-state prospects have reported scholarship offers from the Hawkeyes and five — Kallenberger, North Fayette Valley defensive lineman Juan Harris, Mount Vernon offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs, Solon tight end Jacob Coons and Madrid defensive end Coy Kirkpatrick — have announced commitments to Iowa.

The Hawkeyes have also extended offers to Valley quarterback Rocky Lombardi and Spirit Lake lineman Zach Dykstra.

Iowa’s class, headlined by blue-chip defensive end A.J. Epenesa, is ranked among the top 15 nationally by Rivals.com.