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For West Branch junior Jeff Bowie, the recruiting process ended just like it started with the Iowa Hawkeyes as his preferred choice.

The 2021 two-way lineman announced his commitment to Iowa on Twitter Saturday morning.

Bowie picked Iowa over scholarship offers from Nebraska, Iowa State, Minnesota, Kansas State, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt.

“I felt like Iowa has always been a good home for me and this gives coaches more time and resources to build a better class around kids like myself,” Bowie said.

Bowie starts as an offensive tackle and as a defensive end for the Bears, helping West Branch to a 10-1 record and a spot in the Class 1A quarterfinals last fall.

As a junior Bowie ranked third on the team with 44.5 tackles and led West Branch with 22 tackles for loss ad 6.5 sacks while earning first-team all-state honors.

The 6-foot-5, 242-pounder is listed as a strong-side defensive end by Rivals, but Bowie also could project as an offensive lineman in college due to his large frame.

And while Bowie lives in a town rich in Hawkeye tradition, his reasons for picking Iowa go beyond just instate loyalty.

“I really was trying to focus more on the things that would improve my ability to play and I just didn’t think any other school had a more solid foundation set down where I could really grow as a player,” Bowie said.

Bowie is ranked as a three-star recruit by Rivals, and as the seventh best in-state player from his class.

He is the seventh player to commit to Iowa’s 2021 class, and the fifth from instate.

Bowie’s decision to be a Hawkeye will make it easy for his family and friends to attend his home games with West Branch only about 15 miles from the Iowa campus.

“My family would do anything to see my play,” Bowie said. “They just wanted to make sure I went where was best for me.”

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