When Xavier Hutchinson arrived on campus in Ames for an official visit on June 21, he could immediately feel the vibes the coaching staff had been describing to him.
Ames is a pure college town and, in the end, that became a huge factor in Hutchinson, a three-star class of 2020 wide receiver out of Blinn College, announcing his commitment to the Cyclones the following Monday.
“It’s a lot easier for coaches to say one thing over the phone or in a text message but when they show it to you in person in front of your family, it just makes it a lot easier,” Hutchinson told Cyclone Fanatic over the phone. “When they said it was a college town and how everybody is always about Iowa State. That was something I just fell in love with and realized right when I got on campus.”
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound pass catcher starred at Bartram Trail High School in Jacksonville, Fla., but failed to qualify out of the prep ranks. He landed at Blinn and proceeded to catch 15 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman.
He chose the Cyclones over offers from Utah, Arizona State, TCU and a handful of other FBS programs. Now, he will focus on his sophomore season with the Buccaneers before turning his attention to hopefully contributing immediately in Ames.
“Just coming in to play X and really being ready to play right away,” Hutchinson said. “I really just knew that (Iowa State) had some really good X receivers in Allen Lazard and then Hakeem Butler.”
He is one of two committed players who will fit the X-receiver mold for the Cyclones along with Florida prepster Aidan Bitter. Hutchinson sees himself coming in and filling a role similar to those two players he mentioned.
“I would describe myself as just someone who can go get it,” Hutchinson said. “If you put the ball anywhere, I’ll just get it.”
