AMES — While Iowa State officially added four members to its 2014 recruiting class on Wednesday, it was the unofficial junior-college defensive end commitment that perhaps made the biggest splash.
Dale Pierson, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive end out of Pasadena C.C. in California picked up the phone, committed to Paul Rhoads and then, this happened.
“He said that he was going to go outside of his house and do a snow-angel,” Pierson said of his conversation with Rhoads.
Iowa State’s head coach was excited because he had just added a defensive end with the potential to start next season in his 2014 class. Pierson said that he chose Iowa State primarily over California and Illinois. Numbers and circumstances played an important part in Pierson’s decision.
“I had a Cal visit set up and an Illinois visit set up and today, I know they got their December guys,” Pierson said. “I looked on it and I saw two defensive ends had committed to Illinois and one had committed to Cal. Cal already had another defensive end committed so they ended up having two. I didn’t want to go in there and be a guy who is coming in later than those guys.”
Pierson plans to sign with Iowa State on National Signing Day on Feb. 5. He recorded 12 sacks last season for Pasadena.
“Iowa State pretty much runs the system that I run at Pasadena,” Pierson said. “I have more freedom to do what I want to get to the quarterback. It is the perfect fit. They want me to play defensive end on the weak side. They want me to be one-on-one with the tackle. It doesn’t matter which side I am on as far as right or left but they want me on the weak side.”
Pierson is the second junior-college defensive end commitment to join Iowa State’s recruiting class. He joins Gabe Luna, a 6-foot-1, 245-pound product who signed with the Cyclones on Wednesday.
“He is more of a run stopping guy who controls the line of scrimmage,” Pierson said. “I am more of a tougher guy to get past that line. I think that we complement each other well because if I am getting to the quarterback and that quarterback pulls up that ball and tries to run, I think he is going to be right there. I have confidence in him that he will be there when I will need him. He is a run guy. I am a pass guy.”
Iowa State’s wide receivers coach Todd Sturdy served as Pierson’s designated recruiter but Paul Rhoads also played a large role in snagging the commitment. Pierson officially visited Iowa State on Nov. 22.
Updated Class of 2014
Dale Pierson, DE, Pasadena C.C., Calif.
Brian Peavy, CB, Houston (Texas) Westfield
Wendell Taiese, OL, Laney College, Calif.
Jordan Harris, LB, Copiah-Lincoln C.C.
Gabe Luna, DE, Butler County C.C
Darius Lee-Campbell, QB, Spring, Texas
Qujuan Floyd, S, Santa Monica C.C.
Devron Moore, S, Northeastern Oklahoma C.C.
Cole Anderson, OL, League City, Texas
Dedric Brinson, CB, Lake Wales, Fla.
Colin Downings, P, Whitefish Bay, Wisc.
William Windham, OL, Samuel Clemens High School in Schertz, Texas
Jauan Wesley, WR, Harvey, Ill.
Tommy Mister, RB, St. Rita Chicago, Ill
Reggan Northrup, S, First Coast, Jacksonville, Fla.
Orion Salters, WR, Dallas Jesuit
Kody Kodanko, OL, West De Pere, Wisc.
Scott Schaffner, TE, Raymore Peculiar, Mo.
Martinez Syria, RB, Houston Nimitz, Texas
Sam Seonbuchner, LB, Hartland Arrowhead, Wisc.
Victor Holmes, CB, La Porte, Texas
De’Monte Ruth, CB, Wilmer-Hutchins in Dallas, Texas
Allen Lazard, WR, Urbandale, Iowa
