Show summary Hide summary
A high-profile Iowa lineman has chosen his college destination: Will Clausen, a 6-foot-5, 280-pound prospect from Cedar Rapids Prairie, announced his commitment to the Minnesota Golden Gophers this week. The decision reshapes early recruiting maps in the Midwest and gives Minnesota an immediate in-state connection to a promising member of the Class of 2027.
How the commitment unfolded
Clausen revealed his decision on X on April 19, then confirmed it to local contacts after a recent unofficial visit to the Twin Cities. He thanked the staff and used familiar team slogans in his post as he closed the recruiting chapter and prepared to focus on his senior year.
Oklahoma County sheriff and district attorney clash over jail oversight: meeting turns heated
Google locks in power for Oklahoma data centers: OG&E signs supply deal
Minnesota had extended a formal offer in February following a game-day visit earlier this year, a sequence that helped accelerate the relationship between the program and the Cedar Rapids prospect.
- Official offer timeline: Game-day visit → February offer → April commitment
- Social announcement: Posted on X (April 19, 2026)
Where Clausen stood on the recruiting board
Clausen entered the cycle with a wide range of interest from Power Five and mid-major programs. His list of offers reflects attention from across several conferences and includes academic-oriented programs as well as traditional football powers.
- Baylor
- Kansas
- Oklahoma State
- South Florida
- Army
- Miami (Ohio)
- Northern Illinois
- Toledo
- Connecticut
- Colgate
- Harvard
- Lindenwood
- North Dakota
- North Dakota State
- Princeton
- South Dakota
High school production and multi-sport background
At Cedar Rapids Prairie, Clausen played a major role on an offense that finished 6-4. The Hawks averaged six yards per rush as a unit and combined for more than 2,000 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. On film and in team stats, Clausen stood out as a physical presence on the line; coaches credited him with numerous dominant blocks across the season.
Beyond football, he competes for Prairie in wrestling and in track and field, where he throws both shot put and discus. This spring he recorded a top shot put of 47-9.5 and a discus mark of 125-0, numbers that underline his explosive strength and versatility.
- Height/Weight: 6’5″, 280 lbs
- High school team: Cedar Rapids Prairie (Class 5A)
- 2025 season: Hawks went 6-4; offense totaled ~1,700 passing yards and 2,046 rushing yards
- Track & field: Shot put 47-9.5; Discus 125-0
Recruiting context for Minnesota and Iowa
Clausen becomes Minnesota’s first commitment from Iowa in the Class of 2027, adding geographic balance to a group that already includes prospects from neighboring Plains states and as far away as California and Mississippi. For the Golden Gophers, securing a high-ceiling interior lineman from a loaded Iowa high school landscape helps on both depth and local recruiting momentum.
This news also comes during a busy stretch for Iowa high school offensive-line prospects: another top Class of 2027 lineman, Will Slagle of Grinnell, announced his commitment to Iowa State the day before. The back-to-back picks highlight a deep crop of front-seven talent in the state this cycle.
Clausen will return to Cedar Rapids Prairie for his senior campaign before enrolling at Minnesota; scouts will be watching how he refines technique, adds mass and performs against Class 5A competition through the fall.
