Sep 26, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Rice Owls safety JT Ibe (17) sits by himself on the bench during the fourth quarter of the game between the Baylor Bears and the Owls at McLane Stadium. The Bears defeat the Owls 70-17. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Rice graduate transfer safety J.T. Ibe knew from the outside looking in that Iowa State had a good program following the 2017 season, but his visit to Ames this weekend confirmed those suspicions.
The 6-foot, 200-pound defensive back, who compiled 121 tackles in his time with the Owls, does not have a timeline for deciding his next school, but Iowa State has put itself firmly in the conversation.
“I think it confirmed everything I already knew about Iowa State,” Ibe told Cyclone Fanatic on Sunday. “Just the genuine feel of the coaching staff and how together they were and how they interacted with the players I met.”
Ibe said he plans to take an official visit to Indiana later this month and may end up officially visiting South Carolina early next month. Georgia Tech, Kansas and Colorado have also offered Ibe an opportunity to continue his collegiate career at the Power 5 level.
With 17 career starts and 33 games played in three seasons, Ibe would instantly become one of the most experienced members of an Iowa State secondary that just lost starting safeties Kamari Cotton-Moya, Evrett Edwards and Reggie Wilkerson to graduation.
“Me and Coach (Jon) Heacock sat down and watched some film,” Ibe said. “They run two main types of defenses and he said you have to know all positions and every position is just as versatile as the other, so whichever one has the most need, that’s what I would come in and play.”
“I just knew from the outside looking in this past season Iowa State is a great program, (Matt) Campbell is a great coach and they should be Big 12 title contenders next year.”
