RECRUITING: What does Re-al Mitchell’s commitment mean for ISU?

Iowa State checked off one of its biggest needs for the 2018 class on Monday when Bellflower, Calif. quarterback Re-al Mitchell announced his pledge to Matt Campbell’s program on Monday. 

The 5-foot-11.5, 190-pound three-star prospect is regarded as one of the best playmakers on the west coast and likely would have had twice as many college suitors if he was three inches taller.

Mitchell, who is rated as the No. 24 dual-threat quarterback in the class, led St. John Bosco High School to a No. 2 national ranking, according to MaxPreps, during his junior season and accounted for more than 4,000 yards of total offense and 47 touchdowns. He’s a true dual-threat that brings elite speed (his Hudl page lists a 4.45 40-yard dash) and a big-time arm that help him complete close to 70 percent of his passes last season.

He was doing all that while playing one of the most difficult high school schedules in the country.

What does it mean for Iowa State? Well, outside of checking off one of the program’s three biggest needs, Mitchell’s commitment gives the Cyclones the leader of the class. He’s already on the record saying he plans to start recruiting for Iowa State and trying to help bring more big-time talent to Ames.

I saw some people on the forums yesterday wondering why Iowa State would be looking to add another quarterback after signing three in the last two classes. The answer is rather simple: Nearly every program in the country tries to bring in a quarterback in every recruiting class.

In fact, Iowa State already has its signal caller for the 2019 class in Michigan dual-threat Dwan Mathis. There are few rooms in the Bergstrom Building where competition is more important than with the quarterbacks.

If you have an opportunity to bring in big-time talent, you do it. It can only help to create further competition and push the guys already in the program to be better in order to beat out the new blood.

Next February, we could look back and see Mitchell’s commitment as the most important one of the 2018 class, especially if he is able to convince some top talent to join the class with him.