You’d have to be blind not to see where the focus of Iowa’s recruiting efforts lies this time around.

Before Huxley Ballard quarterback Austin Vier agreed to sign with the Hawkeyes last weekend, all five of their previous commitments came from players projected to play either linebacker or the defensive line.

There’s an obvious push to bolster the defensive front seven since all but one of the projected starters for next season is a junior or senior. Two of the three starting linebackers will use up their eligibility next season and almost all of the other linebackers who will see much action are juniors.

But reinforcements already are on the way. The Hawks have had a good spring, luring several three-star recruits away from Big Ten rivals.

Defensive tackle Anthony Ferguson of Gilman Prep in Baltimore chose the Hawkeyes over Penn State. Defensive end Louis Trinca-Pasat of Chicago Lane Tech chose them over Wisconsin and Michigan State, and he also had offers from Illinois, Indiana, Stanford and Colorado.

Austin Gray of Warren, Mich., is rated the seventh best linebacker prospect in the country. The other two linebacker recruits aren’t rated as highly but they have promise. James Morris of Solon, who committed a year-and-a-half ago, could be the best all-around player in Iowa next fall. And Jim Poggi of Baltimore Gilman was a key recruit since his commitment probably paved the way for the Hawkeyes to get his high school teammate, Ferguson.

And the Hawks may not be done bringing in front seven players. They also reportedly have made offers to at least four others who are ranked among the top 30 in the country at their positions: Defensive ends Matt Hoch of Harlan, Iowa, and Mike Hardy of Appleton, Wis.; 300-pound tackle Beau Allen of Minnetonka, Minn.; and outside linebacker Ishmael Thomas of Detroit.