By Hawk Fanatic

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Despite growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, Darion Jones became a devoted fan of the Iowa football team at a very young age, following in the footsteps of his father.

Darion will now get to be a part of what he loves as he announced his commitment to Iowa on Friday, making it a memorable July 4^th holiday.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound defensive back/receiver picked Iowa over scholarship offers from Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas State and Iowa State among others. He took official visits to all five of those schools, with Iowa his final visit from June 20-22.

Darion Jones made his announcement at his home in Omaha, and with his family by his side.

“This is every kid’s dream. My whole room is all Iowa and I’ve always just dreamed of playing there,” Darion Jones said. “Watching games, I was like I’ve got to be there one day and just watching the games days, it’s like, gosh, I would love to play here, and now I get the opportunity. I’ll take it.”

Darion Jones had a chance to be reunited with his older brother, Donovan Jones, who plays defensive back for Nebraska. But Darion’s love for the Hawkeyes ultimately won out in a family with divided loyalty between the two border rivals.

Darion also has another older brother named Dallas Jones, who recently graduated from Iowa and has worked part-time for Hawk Fanatic for the past three years.

Dallas Jones is moving to Arizona next week, so he won’t have the opportunity to cover his younger brother for Hawk Fanatic.

But Dallas is thrilled that his younger brother has committed to his college alma mater, which is known for developing star defensive backs.

“I’m just so glad he got to experience this whole process and find his home in Iowa City,” Dallas Jones said of his younger brother. “I have a lot of love for this university and I know he can do great things here.”

Darion Jones could be called a late bloomer by recruiting standards. He started with a few offers from mid-level programs. But after a strong junior season playing both cornerback and receiver, some Power 4 schools started to take notice.

Iowa offered Daron Jones a scholarship this past March.

Jones produced all over the place as a junior. He caught 43 balls for 776 yards and 11 touchdowns, intercepted eight passes with one being a Pick-6, returned two kicks for scores and a pair of punts for TDs.

“He’s an All-American in waiting, a high motor player with great hands on offense and defense,” veteran recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said of Darion Jones. “Like him as a wide receiver also. Exceptional range and instincts. He’s a four-star player.”

Prep Redzone and the On3 Industry Ranking show Jones as the fourth-best 2026 recruit in Nebraska regardless of position. 247 Sports Composite has him second in the state.

In addition to his success and potential as a football player, Darion Jones also carries a 4.0 grade-point average.

 

2026 Iowa football recruits

name, position, height-weight, hometown

Darion Jones, DB, 6-2, 175, Omaha, Nebraska

Billy Weivoda, LB, 6-2, 205, Alpharetta, Georgia

Julian Manson, LB, 6-4, 225, Iowa City

Kasen Thomas, LB, 6-2, 220, Sioux City, Iowa

Ronnie Hill, DB, 6-1, 183, Sterling Heights, Michigan

Carson Nielsen, OL, 6-7, 275, Waterloo, Iowa

Hudson Parliament, OL, 6-4, 285, Brandon, South Dakota

Gene Riordan, OL, 6-5, 275, Hinsdale, Illinois

Colin Whitters, OL, 6-4, 285, Iowa City

Marcello Vitti, ATH, 5-10, 170, Detroit

Owen Linder, OL, 6-5, 250, Chanhassen, Minnesota

Brody Schaffer, WR, 6-0, 190, Winneconne, Wisconsin

Diondre Smith, WR, 5-11, 175, Neptune Beach, Florida

Sawyer Jezierski, DL, 6-4, 275, Minneapolis

Isaiah Oliver, WR, 6-0, 190, Waukee#

Noah Daniel, DB, 6-0, 190, Fort Dodge#

Eli Robbins, ATH, 6-0, 190, Norwalk#

# Committed as a preferred walk-on