Edwardsville, Ill., three-star cornerback Craig James still has many months to go before his makes his college selection, but one program is starting to emerge as the team to beat.

"It's probably Iowa," James said. "I went on a visit to Iowa and I liked everything I saw. I feel like I could make it there and feel like I will have a great time on the football field and off the football field. I like the coaching staff and they show a lot of interest in me."

James made an unofficial visit to Iowa in June. It was his first chance to really see the campus, and the experience surpassed his expectations.

"When I went to Iowa I was expecting more farm land," James said. "When I got on campus it was nothing like I expected. That was my first time ever being in Iowa and it just shocked me."

Other schools that have offered James include Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Minnesota and Missouri. Iowa has a long time to fend off the other contenders in James' recruitment if they are to finish on National Signing Day with his signature.

"I am going to keep on waiting until probably the end of football season and that's when I'll start narrowing down favorites," James said. "Then, I'll probably make my decision around Signing Day. I'm just trying to take everything slow because I still have one more year left and still have high school football."

James did attend a camp at Ohio State earlier this summer. He is considering a visit to Indiana before the summer is out, but has not scheduled a date for that trip.