Iowa 2026 Recruiting Class Loses Quarterback Cash Herrera

Cash Herrera, a three-star quarterback from La Jolla, California, has decommitted from the Iowa Hawkeyes' 2026 recruiting class, reopening his recruitment after initially committing in October 2024. Herrera, regarded as a late bloomer with a smooth delivery and strong mobility, had offers from several programs including UCLA, Minnesota, Cal, and Arizona, and was ranked as the 46th-best quarterback nationally in his class. His departure leaves Iowa without a committed quarterback in the 2026 class, which currently ranks around the mid-30s to 50th nationally depending on the source. Despite this setback, Iowa's existing quarterback room includes South Dakota State transfer Mark Gronowski, who will likely start in 2025 but will be ineligible in 2026, alongside younger players like Hank Brown, Jackson Stratton, Jeremy Hecklinski, and Jimmy Sullivan who have eligibility remaining. Iowa is expected to aggressively pursue another quarterback recruit to fill the void left by Herrera. The Hawkeyes have a reputation for developing three-star recruits into NFL prospects, which may help mitigate the impact of Herrera's decommitment on their recruiting outlook.