Five-star recruits Cyrus Kouandjio and Jameel Poteat are on Scout.com’s 2011 recruiting board for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

It’s not too early for speculation, right?

Even though this could amount to a crap shoot so early in the game, Kirk Ferentz and his recruiting staff appear to have their sights set high for 2011. Notice all the four-star athletes, too!

Kouandjio is 2011′s No. 1 offensive tackle out of DeMatha Catholic High School (Hyattsville, Md.)–the same school of future Hawkeye RB Marcus Coker. He stands at 6-foot-6 and hits 291 pounds on the scales. While that may seem smallish, remember he’s still got his senior season to develop and add some bulk.

Watch Kouandjio’s Scout.com video. The big guy is relentless, pushing defenders back twenty yards plus!

I’ve already forgotten that kid who went to USC.

Jameel Poteat is Scout.com’s No. 5 RB recruit for 2011 out of Bishop McDevitt High School (Harrisburg, Penn.). He is 5-foot-11, 200 pounds. He’s another physically focused back who runs a 4.48 40.

If the Hawkeyes can stay in the running for these recruits down the stretch–and record another solid season–look for Iowa to possibly return to the top 10 in recruiting classes.

Let’s just hope looking for star athletes this time around pays off for Ferentz and his crew. We don’t want a repeat of how the last top 10 class disintegrated.

In support of Iowa’s (probable) new starting quarterback, here’s some footage of James Vandenberg back in his high school days for Keokuk High School.

Let’s hope he can muster up some of these throws against the Buckeyes.

Speaking of OSU, order a “Beat Ohio State” shirt from Yahoo’s store and you’ll get it by Thursday!

Iowa Hawkeye recruit A.J. Derby is a large man, especially for a quarterback, standing at 6-foot-4-inches and weighing in at 218 pounds.

Take a glance and it might be thought the Iowa City High School prep belongs in the tight end position or as a monster linebacker on defense.

Derby’s position of choice, however, is quarterback and it could work for the Hawkeyes. He ranks in at 17th nationally at the quarterback position.

Iowa is lucky to have picked up Derby, who received a score of 80 from ESPN. That grade projects Derby as a three-to-four year starter at a major division one program.

Many schools showed keen interest in Derby including Florida, LSU, Oklahoma and plenty more. Iowa was lucky enough to pick up a verbal commitment. The Hawks should be excited.

Derby is an athlete. Many scouts have speculated that he should play linebacker or tight end. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every said he believes Derby could become an All-American tight end if he chooses to switch positions.

Derby has made it very clear, for the time being, that he wants to remain a quarterback but he’s a little tough to evaluate.

His throwing accuracy is questionable but his power is impeccable.

Derby has the speed, strength and agility to compete anywhere he wants to on the field but his size and overall athleticism make him a Blue Chip prospect according to Rivals.com.

If Iowa allows Derby to remain in his current QB position, which I believe they should (he isn’t 17th in the nation for no reason), he could definitely be an extremely dangerous dual-threat leader.

Brad Banks, anyone?

I don’t want to set the bar too high, nor do I want to be the only judge of Derby’s talents.

Decide for yourself.

Take a look at Derby. He’s in red for those who may not be familiar with Iowa prep football teams.