(From the editor: All rankings information via the free portion of 247 Sports database. Visit information, etc., has been compiled through prospect information on Twitter and sourcing within Cyclone Fanatic.)
Iowa State signed three players on National Signing Day this past Wednesday. Wide receiver Joseph Scates became the highest rated player to ink with the Cyclones since Allen Lazard when he committed on Jan. 18. The Cyclones also signed quarterback Brock Purdy out of Arizona and wide receiver Tayvonn Kyle from Georgia. The additions gave ISU the 53rd best class according to 247 composite. All three of Matt Campbell’s classes have been rated in the top 55.
The Cyclones also picked up two in-state preferred walk-on commitments this week. Zach Shipman, a 6-foot-4 wide receiver and defensive back out of Council Bluffs and Jared Rus, a 6-foot-2 running back and linebacker out of Eldridge, both made the pledge on signing day. The staff handed out another PWO opportunity to wide receiver Zach Lester from Clear Lake on Saturday.
On Saturday, 2019 dual-threat QB Easton Dean announced his commitment while taking an unofficial visit to Ames, two months to the day that the staff offered him a scholarship. His commitment moves the class up from 18th to 14th on 247 Sports team rankings. Jared wrote a piece about his commitment.
THE LATEST:
*** Matt Campbell visited Iowa Western C.C. February 2nd. IWCC is one of the top community colleges in the country and ISU has offers out to defensive ends Chester Graves and Malcolm Lee for the 2019 class. Two 2018 offers, cornerback Kevin Brewer and offensive lineman Dalton Tomlinson, have both signed with the Reivers and could be names to watch in future classes.
*** Graduate transfer safety J.T. Ibe remains a top target for the staff. Ibe visited Ames last weekend and has plans to visit Indiana this weekend. He might also visit South Carolina and has been hearing from Ole Miss. You can read his visit recap here.
*** Wide receiver/cornerback Zach Lester was in Ames on Saturday for a visit. Lester, a Clear Lake native, received a preferred walk-on offer from the staff on Feb. 3. He plans on visiting Iowa, who has also offered PWO, and plans to make a decision by the end of the month.
*** Offensive tackle Bobby Lawrence flipped his commitment for the second time, this time from ISU to his home state school Mizzou. The staff will be looking to add another offensive lineman to the class following his departure. Here is a quick read on his flip to the Tigers.
*** It appears that 2019 wide receiver Maurice Massey is still committed to Iowa State after previously tweeting out a decommitment on Jan. 30., according to Matthew Bain of the Des Moines Register. With Massey in the class, ISU is currently rated as the 17th best class by 247 composite.
Top-50 2019 WR @massey_maurice (6-4, 185) tells me he is still firmly committed to Iowa State. On Jan. 30 he tweeted out a decommitment, which has since been deleted.
— Matthew Bain (@MatthewBain_) February 6, 2018
*** Cedar Falls linebacker Jack Campbell, who has long been a top priority for the staff, will announce in April. His top 3 currently includes ISU, Iowa and Minnesota.
*** The staff handed out nine 2019 offers this week, seven of those were to wide receivers and defensive backs, with the other two to a running back and tight end.
HIGH INTEREST:
*** Defensive end MJ Anderson from Missouri has a top four of Iowa State, Minnesota, Purdue and South Carolina. ISU was his first P5 offer in April last year and he has visited Ames, witnessing the TCU upset in October.
*** Defensive back Nicktroy Fortune out of Georgia has announced his top two of ISU and West Virginia. Iowa State offered Fortune in October.
RATING BOOSTS (According to 247 Composite):
*** Wide receiver Joseph Scates jumped 10 spots at his position and 58 overall. He was one of 25 players to earn their 4th star from 247 Sports this week, jumping up to the 266th best player in the class.
*** Sean Shaw Jr. also moved up in the wide receiver rankings, climbing 12 spots in the position rankings and 112 overall to be ranked as the 543rd best player.
*** Offensive guard Trevor Downing was the third Cyclone to move up this week, up three for the position and 140 spots to 740th overall.
SUMMARY:
Signed:
PQB Brock Purdy
WR Tayvonn Kyle
WR Joseph Scates
Commits:
PQB Brock Purdy: 2/7
WR Tayvonn Kyle: 2/7
WR/CB Zach Shipman PWO: 2/7
RB/OLB Jared Rus PWO: 2/7
2019 DQB Easton Dean: 2/10
Decommit:
OG Bobby Lawrence
Offers:
WR/CB Zach Lester PWO: 2/3
Rating Boost:
WR Joseph Scates: Up 10 Position, 58 Overall to #266. One of 25 players to earn his 4th star this week from 247 Sports.
WR Sean Shaw Jr.: Up 12 Position, 112 Overall to #543.
OG Trevor Downing: UP 3 Position, 140 Overall to #740.
2019 Newly Warm to ISU:
SDE MJ Anderson
CB Nicktroy Fortune
2019 Offers:
RB King Doerue: 2/6
TE Brayden Liebrock: 2/8
WR/CB Romel Goston: 2/4
WR Nick Jackson: 2/7
WR Sterling White: 2/8
CB Brandon Shivers: 2/7
CB Joseph Thompson: 2/8
CB Travon Killins: 2/8
CB Alex Hogan: 2/8
2019 Warming (Warm on 247):
DQB Jayden Daniels: USC
SDE MJ Anderson: MN, Purdue, S Carolina
OLB Lance Dixon: ND, tOSU
CB Nicktroy Fortune: WVU
CB Erick Young: TA&M
2019 Cooling(No longer warm on 247):
OG EJ Ndoma-Ogar: Oregon
Commitments:
OG Dalton Tomlison: Iowa Western CC
OT Xavier Delgado: Mizzou
RB Andrew Cunningham: Georgia Southern
RB Kenny Wilkins: Marshall
WR Corey Gammage: Marshall
WR Geordon Porter: Arizona State
WR Amir Abdur-Rahman: Vanderbilt
WR Blaine McDaniel: Mary Hardin-Baylor
WR John Jackson: USC(PWO)
SDE/OT Christian Jones: Texas
SDE Tacorrie Russell: Jaxonsville St.
SDE Gavin Lewis: UNC
WDE Dionte Gipson: Hutchinson C.C.
DT Avery Demmons: Mesa C.C.
ILB Shamod Sullivan: Prairie View A&M
CB Kevin Brewer: Iowa Western CC
CB Justin Birdsong: Georgia Southern
S Avonta “BJ” Crim: Western Kentucky
S Joseph Foucha: Arkansas
S Nikko Hall: Colorado St.
S/OLB Dayven Coleman: Arizona
2019 Commitments:
OG Jesse Hanson: Virginia Tech
SDE Jalen Thornton: West Virginia
