It’s fair to say Bennett Konkey is one of the region’s biggest risers along the recruiting trail. The Geneva (IL) High receiver has announced nine scholarship offers this month, including one from national champion Indiana.
Iowa jumped into the mix with the 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior-to-be on Thursday. The offer was well received.
“(Hawkeye wide receiver) coach (Jon) Budmayr is a great coach,” Konkey said. “I am starting to build a strong relationship with him. I think coach Budmayr can help me develop and help me achieve my dreams of the NFL.”
While he’ll weigh numerous factors when making a final decision, the position coach is a key consideration for Konkey.
“An important thing that I look for in a coach is focusing on development. I want a coach that is willing to put time and effort into each of their players to help them achieve their own goals,” he said.
With the belief that Iowa has what he’s seeking in Budmayr, the next step is getting to Iowa City.
“I hope to visit Iowa on June 5th, but I am still working on my OV (official visit) schedule. I am excited to see all of the facilities and learn more about all of the coaches and how they plan to use me in their offense,” Konkey said.
Northwestern, Syracuse, Illinois, Iowa State, James Madison, Wisconsin and Air Force joined Iowa and Indiana in offering scholarships since the calendar flipped to May. The flurry followed a steady flow of offers from smaller programs throughout the spring. The surge had a lot to do with his exploits on the track.
Konkey ran the 100 meters in 10.25 seconds and the 200 in 21.15 this season. Both marks were tops in Illinois and Top 20 nationally.
Illinois, Iowa State and Illinois have conducted in-home visits with Konkey this month. He has scheduled official visits with the Illini and Cyclones.
In nine games last season, Konkey caught 41 passes for 739 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 29 catches for 548 yards and six scores as a sophomore.
Prep Redzone ranks Konkey as the No. 5 receiver in Illinois for the 2027 Class. The service sees him as the state’s No. 80 player overall.
Konkey plans on studying Business in college.
