Iowa Pulls 3-Star WR Commitment Emmanuel Rugamba out of Illinois

Written by Ryan Wright

A long recruiting flirtation between wide receiver Emmanuel Rugamba and colleges in Iowa ended on Saturday with the Naperville Central talent siding with the Hawkeyes.

Iowa State was thought to be a frontrunner for Rugamba with friend and Cyclones’ Class of 2015 linebacker signee Bobby McMillen on campus but in the end the Hawkeyes landed their third wide receiver commitment for the 2016 class over their in-state rival.

The 6’1”, 175 pound, talent helped Naperville Central High School to a 9-3 record in 2014. College recruiters from the surrounding area took notice piling up a reported 14 offers on Rugamba’s door step. Schools like Indiana, Pitt, UConn, Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green, Western Michigan, and Toledo all offered including in-state program Illinois.

Iowa Hawkeyes 2016 Verbal Commitment List
QB Nathan Stanley, 6’4”, 183 lbs, Menomonie HS, Menomonie, WI
WR Frank Darby, 6’1”, 180 lbs, Lincoln HS, Jersey City, NJ
WR Emmanuel Rugamba, 6’1”, 175 lbs, Naperville Central HS, Naperville, IL
WR Devonte Young, 6’0”, 191 lbs, North Point HS, Waldorf, MD
RB Toks Akinribade, 6’0”, 205 lbs, Brownsburg HS, Brownsburg, IN
RB/LB Barrington Wade, 6’1”, 207 lbs, Niles North HS, Skokie, IL
RB Toren Young, 5’11”, 206 lbs, Monona Grove HS, Monoa Grove, WI
OL Cole Banwart, 6’4”, 275 lbs, Algona HS, Algona, IA
OL Spencer Williams, 6’3”, 275 lbs, Cedar Falls HS, Cedar Falls, IA
TE T.J. Hockenson, 6’5”, 230 lbs, Chariton HS, Chariton, IA
DE Chauncey Golston, 6’5”, 235 lbs, East English Village, Detroit, MI
DE Cedrick Lattimore, 6’4”, 251 lbs, East English Village, Detroit, MI
DE Romeo McKnight, 6’5”, 230 lbs, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake, IL
DE Austin Schulte, 6’4”, 240 lbs, Pella HS, Pella, IA
DE Brandon Simon, 6’2”, 240 lbs, Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, NJ
LB Amani Jones, 6’0”, 215 lbs, Phillips HS, Chicago, IL
LB Nick Niemann, 6’3”, 205 lbs, Sycamore HS, Sycamore, IL
LB Kyle Taylor, 6’2”, 220 lbs, Gonzaga HS, Washington D.C.
CB Cedric Boswell, 5’11”, 175 lbs, Wylie E. Groves HS, Franklin, MI
FS Lance Billings, 5’11”, 161 lbs, Clearview HS, Lorain, OH
SS Amani Hooker, 6’1”, 195 lbs, Park Center HS, Brooklyn Park, MN
ATH Kristian Welch, 6’3”, 220 lbs, Iola-Scandinavia HS, Iola, WI

Photo credit: chicagotribune.com; No. 4 Emmanuel Rugamba