Iowa Football made a significant splash in the 2026 recruiting class with their first known verbal commitment. Five-star offensive tackle from Waterloo (IA) West High announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes on Monday night.
Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 290 pounds, He chose Iowa over scholarship offers from several notable programs, including Iowa State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota State, Penn State, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Prep Redzone Iowa recently updated its Class of 2026 rankings, naming Carson Nielsen the top prospect in the cycle.
On3 has ranked Nielsen as a four-star recruit, placing him as the No. 1 player in Iowa for the 2026 class and the ninth-best offensive tackle nationally. Rivals, on the other hand, has given him three stars and ranked him as the No. 29 offensive tackle in the country among upcoming juniors.
Nielsen’s sophomore highlight video showcases his impressive athleticism and solid technique for his age, making him stand out on the field.
For the third consecutive recruiting class, Iowa’s first commitment is an in-state offensive lineman. Following Joey VanWetzinga from Pleasant Valley in the 2025 class and Cody Fox from Winthrop East Buchanan in the 2024 class, Carson Nielsen continues this trend.
Recently, Nielsen visited several programs, including Notre Dame, where he made a campus stop this past weekend. He also toured Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Alabama, and Tennessee over the last month before deciding to commit to the Hawkeyes.
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