Algona’s Alex Manske attempts a pass during a football game at Lions Field on Friday, September 29, 2023 in Clear Lake. © Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
A large contingent of coaches were present in Algona High School’s gym Monday to catch up with top, in-state football targets in the 2025 recruiting class in Alex Manske along with linebacker Jack Limbaugh and tight end Thomas Meyer.
Iowa State’s entire coaching staff attended the game as well as Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein.
“I think coach Campbell and Iowa State’s staff was up in the top left,” Manske said. “Like up in the balcony and I remember, I looked up there like before the game or (during) a timeout or something – and there was just like a line of people waiting to get a picture.”
Manske has been Iowa State’s top quarterback target for the class for the better part of the last year.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback is rated as the No. 3 player from the state, according to 247 Sports, as well as the No. 34 player in the country at his position.
“It definitely means a lot,” Manske said of the number of staff members Iowa State brought. “I know that me, Thomas and Jack, you know, they’re all kind of prioritizing us. Obviously, the chance to watch through at one time and stuff so it was it was definitely meant a lot and it was really cool.”
Manske said that Kansas State coaches had planned on making the trip, but ended up staying put due to the number of coaches there for the game.
During his trip to Ames for Iowa State’s homecoming football game against Kansas this fall, Manske spoke to former Cyclone Brock Purdy, who punched his ticket into the Super Bowl on Sunday.
“It’s definitely really cool,” Manske said. “I’ve like watched in the four years he was at Iowa State and stuff. Getting to talk to him was a pretty surreal moment – (I was) just thinking, ‘I’m have him in Fantasy Football and then I’m talking to him right now.’ So it was definitely really cool to see him succeed and can’t wait to watch them in the Super Bowl for sure.”
Manske said he’s getting closer to reaching a decision on his commitment, with Iowa State and Texas A&M being the expected favorites to land the Algona standout.
“I’m really close,” Manske said. “I think I’ve narrowed down it narrowed it down to a few schools for sure, and I think I could make my decision pretty soon.”
