Just 24 hours before National Signing Day, Iowa State has added a junior college quarterback to its 2016 recruiting class.
First reported by 247 Sports and now confirmed by independent Cyclone Fanatic sources, Jacob Park is expected to ink with Iowa State on Wednesday.
Park, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound South Carolina native, comes to Iowa State from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, a JUCO where he never took a snap. That’s because the Park signed with Georgia out of high school, when he was the No. 5 pro-style quarterback in 247’s composite 2014 rankings.
It’s notable that out of high school, Rivals.com reports that Park had offers from Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
According to this 247 report, Park left Georgia because of coaching changes within the staff. The guy who recruited him, then offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, left. Now, of course, Mark Richt is gone too.
Park comes to Iowa State with three years of eligibility to play three.
What does this mean for the quarterback position at Iowa State in 2016?
To me, this early, it means that Joel Lanning actually has a backup. Until Park comes in and proves something, Lanning is the guy.
Park was highly touted for a reason. He is a talented guy. But remember that this is a young man who hasn’t taken a competitive football snap since the year 2013. There is sure to be rust while Lanning has not only developed as a quarterback over the last three years, but as a leader as well.
Make no mistake about it though: The soon-to-be signing of Jacob Park is a very good thing for Iowa State. This is what quality programs do. At every position on the depth chart, they add talent. That’s what Iowa State is doing here at quarterback.
