When it comes to making a college decision, Jirehl Brock is looking to draw on the wisdom of someone who has already been through the recruiting process.
The four-star Quincy, Ill. native was on campus in Ames last weekend for Iowa State’s Junior Day, giving him an opportunity to pick the brain of a notable current player who has been through the process of being recruited to Iowa State first hand.
“I got to talk to David Montgomery which was really a big thing so I could ask him questions,” Brock, who also took an unofficial to Ames last fall, told Cyclone Fanatic in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. “Since he’s been through the whole process before, see what made him go to Iowa State and other things like that.”
Brock, who is rated as the No. 150 prospect in the nation and No. 9 running back in the class by 247Composite, said the visit gave him an opportunity to see things he never had before in the Iowa State football complex and learn more about the academic side of the school.
It also gave the 6-foot, 180-pound tailback an opportunity to connect with new Cyclones running backs coach Nate Scheelhaase.
“I was with Coach Scheelhaase most of the time,” Brock said. “We had a part where it was just me and him and my parents in the running backs room and we talked about similarities of my film and David Montgomery’s film. He told me how I would fit into their offense.”
“I really like him. He was the guy who gave me the offer to Illinois while he was there so me and him kind of know each other. We kind of have past acquaintances before so I’ve known him and gotten to know him more lately.”
Unsurprisingly, a player of Brock’s stature has a long list of suitors even with the first signing period more than nine months away. He said he plans to take additional visits to Purdue, Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa and Illinois this spring with the timing depending on when his junior basketball season comes to a close.
The No. 2 prospect in Illinois plans to return to Ames again, if not this spring, then in the summer.
Brock also has considered the opportunity to take advantage of this being the first recruiting class allowed to take official visits the summer before their senior year of high school.
“I’ve thought about doing that so it can help me make a decision by the time football season comes but it will kind of be a feel thing,” Brock said. “If I can, I’ll try and make it before this football season. If I can’t then I can’t. I’ll wait until during or after.”
