Once O.J. Tucker’s flight home from his official visit to Iowa State landed in Florida, he knew where he wanted to play college football. The former Georgia Tech commit grabbed his phone and made a call to Matt Campbell.
During that call, the three-star prospect who is rated as the No. 61 cornerback in the class by 247, committed to Iowa State. He was the Cyclones’ 22nd commit in the 2017 class and third cornerback.
“He was very excited he told me he wants me to be a leader,” Tucker told Cyclone Fanatic on Monday about his conversation with Campbell. “Almost every coach I met this weekend texted me and told me they’re fired up.”
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back picked the Cyclones over offers from Maryland, Nebraska, Florida Atlantic and close to 20 others. He said he still plans to visit Florida Atlantic later this month.
Campbell, defensive backs coach D.K. McDonald and wide receivers coach Bryan Gasser will visit Tucker at school and home on Thursday. It was the relationships with those coaches that made Tucker want to commit to the Cyclones.
“It’s not everyday you find a whole staff that’s been together for seven years,” Tucker said. “I know they’re a family. Talking to the players they had only good things to say about the coaches and their loyalty.”
Tucker joined Michigan graduate transfer offensive lineman David Dawson as players that visited over the weekend and making a commitment to Campbell’s program. He’s another key cog in a class that will end up in the range of 24 commits.
It is likely the Cyclones will try to take at least one more defensive back in this class. Cincinnati safety Keonte Jones and California athlete/current Cal commit, Michael Onyemaobi, are the top targets left in the secondary.
For now, the staff will be able to enjoy the addition of another long, rangy cornerback in Tucker.
“They made me feel like when I get there I will still feel at home,” Tucker said. “The academics there are great. I know I’ll be successful in Ames.”
