Name: Isaiah Bruce
Position: Defensive End
High School: Lena Winslow
Graduation Year: 2020
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 247 pounds
Video Link:
http://www.hudl.com/v/2AMjy
My impressions of Isaiah Bruce: I was able to watch Isaiah Bruce live in 2017 at the IHSA state title games. I also have watched Bruce highlights video and full game tape multiple times over the past two seasons. Bruce, who added his first offer from Iowa after his sophomore season gave the Hawkeyes his very commitment on Nov 1st 2018. Bruce is also a multi-sport athlete for Lena Winslow in wrestling and track.
Evaluation of Isaiah Bruce: Bruce no question is an eye ball passing athlete who has terrific size, speed and physical tools. Bruce, who also plays tight end for Lena was offered and recruited by Iowa as a defensive end. Bruce has very impressive speed and quickness, has an explosive first step and burst while also having very good power and also knows how to use his hands pretty well in traffic. Bruce also looks to have very good overall instincts and reads and reacts well on every down. Bruce also is a quick twitch type of athlete who also looks to have the size/frame to add even more weight and muscle at the next level.
Room for improvement? Bruce has a ton of upside and my only issue4 for the most part is how well can he raise his game from his current level of play? Bruce plays at the 1A level (again to be fair a very good 1A level in the NUIC conference) yet how well will Bruce's game matchup against bigger. stronger and just as quick opposing offensive linemen? Also is Bruce already physically maxed out from a growth and development standpoint?
Projected level: Rivals has Isaiah Bruce ranked as a mid 3 star ranked player.
The Rivals mid 3 star ranking is pretty pedestrian for the most part...yet a ranking at least for now I pretty much agree with for now. Bruce has a ton of physical tools, speed and quickness. Iowa also has done as good of a job on evaluating and offering State of Illinois kids as anyone...and Iowa in particular has also fared pretty well on adding smaller school kids over the years from the Land of Lincoln. I don't expect Bruce to become an instant impact type of guy right away for Iowa...but I can definitely see him developing down the line as a very strong player for the Hawkeyes.
I'm hoping that Bruce will get out and attend some various camps this sp[ring and summer for various reasons...including challenging himself against bigger and higher level competition. Orion 2019 TE Logan Lee took part in various camps after being committed to Iowa and was a small school kid who was able to show his impressive overall game and development and also showed that he deserved to be mentioned with the top talent in Illinois.
I'm sticking with a mid 3 star ranking for Isiah Bruce for now and hoping that I'll get to see more from him this spring and summer.
