Each week during the football season I’ll bring you a ranking of ten recruits, high school or junior college, that will best fill a need for the Iowa State football program. Every week, I’ll factor in movement on the trail, like commitments, players eliminating schools and official visits.
Until the first game on Sept. 3, I’ll post a "hot board" every other week, starting with this one right here.
This list has been fluid over the last couple days and is quite a bit different from the one I discussed during "On the Trail," the weekly recruiting podcast I record with Adam Gray.
With that said, here it is.
1. Caleb Chandler – Offensive tackle – Jefferson, GA
It isn’t any secret that Iowa State is looking to reload in the trenches and Chandler could go a long way in that process. He’s got a big-frame and good size despite just finishing his junior season, plus he blocks kids all over the field at will in the high school ranks.
The 6-foot-5-inch, 285 pound, three-star recruit, according to 247, will visit later this month. He also has offers from Louisville, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech and a bunch of other schools.
2. Bobby Roundtree – Defensive end – Largo, FL
The offense isn’t the only side of the ball trying to replenish along the line. Roundtree is a three-star recruit and has the frame of a Big 12 defensive end.
The 6-foot-5-inch, 215 pound, prospect will need to put on some weight but that shouldn’t be an issue once he gets into a college program. He’s got good speed off the edge and a nose for the ball in the trenches.
He has 16 offers including Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Kansas State.
3. Kam White – Safety – Clinton, MS
White is a name that popped up on Cyclone fans’ radar after he took in the Cyclones’ spring game in April. Since then, Iowa State’s chances for the three-star, 6-foot-2-inch, 203 pound prospect have improved.
The need at safety isn’t quite as big as other positions but Iowa State landing a big-fish like White would open some eyes across the recruiting world. He could be the kind of player that gets other top prospects to look at Iowa State and think to themselves, “Maybe there is something going on there.”
He’ll be back in Ames on June 24 for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest recruiting weekends of the summer. His nine offers include Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Alabama and Arkansas.
4. Ray Lima – Defensive tackle – Torrance, CA
Adding a JUCO defensive lineman will be one of the top priorities with the impending departures of seniors Demond Tucker and Bobby Leath.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 310 pound, prospect from El Camino College has the potential to come in and add some immediate depth in the trenches.
He’s got offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Oregon and a few others.
5. Octavious Morgan – Cornerback – El Dorado, KS
It would be nice for the Cyclones to find an immediate contributor in the defensive backfield with Nigel Tribune, Jomal Wiltz and Jay Jones all entering their senior seasons. The 6-foot, 200 pound, JUCO player from Butler County with offers from Baylor, Arkansas and West Virginia will be a priority.
6. Marquis Hayes – Offensive tackle – Maryland Heights, MO
This 6-foot-6-inch, 320 pound, prospect’s recruiting really heated up after he was named the O-Line MVP at the Rivals camp in Kansas City last month.
He’s got nine offers including Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Miami (OH) but that number is sure to go up before signing day. He’s already been to Ames once and a return trip is expected this summer.
7. Trey Coleman – Running back – West Monroe, LA
Running back isn’t exactly an immediate need with Mike Warren entering just his redshirt sophomore season, but it is nice to get at least one in every class. Coleman is a man among boys at the high school ranks and has an impressive highlight tape to show for it.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 203 pound, three-star has 11 offers, including Arkansas and Tennessee, so pulling him out of SEC-country might be a tall task.
8. Keontae Jones – Safety – Cincinnati, OH
I said on our first podcast that Jones was the guy I liked the most of every player I’d watched since I started covering recruiting. I’ve backed off from that a little, but he’s still a hard-hitting safety that plays downhill and has really good speed.
His brother is DeShaunte Jones, but that doesn’t mean landing his commitment will be an automatic. He’s got offers from 16 other schools, including Louisville, Iowa and Illinois.
9. LeShaun Minor – Defensive Tackle – Indianapolis, IN
Another high school defensive lineman with a good frame. The 6-foot-3-inch, 255 pound, three-star prospect has offers from Indiana, Minnesota and Illinois.
He’s very explosive at the snap and looks like a guy that could see his recruitment heat up after his senior season.
10. Quran Hafiz – Cornerback – Jacksonville, FL
This highly-coveted defensive back will visit Ames on June 18. The 6-foot, 170 pound, three-star also holds offers from Duke, Indiana, Minnesota and a host of other programs.
He’s shown great ability to cover downfield and has been rising up recruiting boards quickly over the last few months. It will be interesting to see where things stand with him after his visit to Iowa State next week.
