4-Star RB Justin Thurman Talks Iowa Offer

'25 Florida Standout Picks Up Hawkeye Opportunity

Iowa Football has built a good relationship with the program at Tampa (FL) Jesuit. The Hawkeyes developed alum Dane Belton into an NFL draft pick last year and Jarriett Buie signed with them in the 2023 recruiting Class. 

Running back coach Ladell Betts, who coached in the state, swung by the high school again last Friday. Iowa offered '25 running back Justin Thurman a scholarship. 

"I got an opportunity to meet him during practice," Thurman told HN. "I had a brief conversation with him. He gave me an overview of his background. 

"Coach Betts said he liked what he saw in me and wanted to offer me a scholarship. I thanked him for the opportunity, and he congratulated me and told me that I had earned it and they were looking forward to building a relationship with me. I am sure we will discuss in more detail how I will fit into the program as the relationship progresses."

Only a prep sophomore, Thurman (6-0, 183) reports scholarship offers from Kansas, Tennessee, Rutgers, Florida, Toledo, Florida A&M, Kansas State, Coastal Carolina and Vanderbilt. Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, Wisconsin and others have invited him to camp on campus this summer. 

The Hawkeyes got in early and have made a good impression. 

"Iowa is consistently a top football program, and I have some knowledge about the university from my old track coach, Brendan Thompson, from DeSmet Jesuit (St. Louis, MO)," Thurman said. 

"However, I look forward to learning more about Iowa and the Hawkeye football program. Coach Betts’ connection as a former football player at Iowa is excellent because you don’t get a lot of coaches that get to coach at the same college they played at. He can offer a unique perspective because of this." 

Thurman has visited or camped at Miami (FL), Kansas, Kansas State, Louisville, Kentucky, LSU, Central Florida, Florida, Rutgers and Tennessee, 

"I have a visit to Kansas scheduled for the end of the month. Camps are planned at Tennessee, FSU, Alabama, Auburn and Notre Dame; planning to add a visit to K-State, FAMU and others, if possible," he said.

The Hawkeyes are on the list. 

"I want to schedule a visit to Iowa. I am working on my schedule for the upcoming months and hope to get up there sometime this summer," he said.

247Sports ranks Thurman as a four-star recruit and the No. 22 running back nationally in '25. On3 sees him as a three-star and the 29th best player at the position for the cycle.  

You catch watch Thurman's sophomore highlights HERE. 

James Thurman, Justin's father, played receiver at Florida A&M in the early '90s.