Four-star RB Eno Benjamin commits to Iowa

For weeks, Eno Benjamin has made no illusions that the Iowa Hawkeyes have been the leader in his recruitment and the four-star Wylie, Texas, running back rewarded the staff’s persistence by committing to Iowa on Monday evening.

“Over the course of a few months they’ve shown that they have been committed to me,” he said. “They have shown me that I have been a top priority to them and when I went up there and took a visit I was very impressed.”

Benjamin figures to get involved immediately with a Top 50 rushing offense from last season and add a little more juice to an attack that already averaged nearly 4.5 yards per attempt. The added bonus is what he’ll also bring as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, something that Iowa coaches have already told him will be part of his impact going forward.

“They think that I can be the guy,” he said. “They’ve hashtagged me the Program Changer and I would be the new face of the program on the offensive side; something similar to Desmond King and what he’s doing there.”

The commitment of Benjamin on offense and fellow four-star commit A.J. Epenesa on defense has already started a changing the complexion of Iowa’s recruiting. He said that the two have been talking and are excited about what they feel the continued resurgence of the program will mean on the field as well as the recruiting landscape.

On the heels of the program’s best season since sharing conference championships in 2002 and 2004, Benjamin likes his chances of continuing the momentum and is already doing his part to add more pieces to this year’s class.

“I’ve already been working on others a little bit ... I’ve got some players on board willing to make things happen, from Texas as well,” he said. “I feel like as a Texas player and being willing to go up north speaks a lot to the program and what they’re about to other people.”

Benjamin chose the Hawkeyes over strong pitches from Michigan, Baylor and Oklahoma State, but said that Iowa always managed to stay at the front of the pack.

“I wasn’t not concerned about the competition at (Michigan) having three other running backs committed because they also told me that I could be the difference-maker that they’re looking for,” he said. “Especially with being able to be versatile, getting out into the open as a slot receiver and lined up in the backfield running between the tackles.

“Baylor has a spread, high-powered offense that I guess is the best offense in the nation at this point,” he added. “I could’ve done things there, but like I said Iowa was just out front and beat everyone out.”

Benjamin said that he is still considering taking official visits, but a potential change in commitment figures to be all the more unlikely with his intentions to graduate in December and enroll early.

“I think I may still get out and take official visits just to get out there and see what there is,” he said. “But I am going to say that there is nothing that any other school can do to outrun Iowa at this point.”