Ryan Harklau apparently mentioned on the radio that Cartevious Norton (incoming freshman) runs with the power of David Montgomery and the speed of Breece Hall. (source: Sound the Cyrens podcast)
About this incoming class...... highest rated class ever for ISU. I took a look at the Rivals site, they have 4 of our new recruits as 4 star: Deyo, Gaines, Becht and Orange. Plus 6 are rated as high 3 star: Imming, McLaughlin, Howard, Keller, Essex and Ezeogu. That's half our class with really good ratings coming in. Then we have guys like Quaron Adams, Deylin Hasert, Norton (mentioned above), these are the kind of guys that come in under the radar but our coaches develop them into real contributors or better (Mike Rose, Hakeem Butler).
So, yeah, I have some "optimism going forward" to quote the OP. I'm starting to think our coach knows what he is doing and maybe has a plan for better things yet to come. College football today is a craps shoot, because so many things have been changing. So, being realistic, anything could happen. But we have as good a reason as any to raise our expectations.
Let's not forget, too, these guys that went into the portal, one of their options is to come back to ISU. Most have not been picked up yet by another team, so as long as we still have room on the roster.... Maybe not likely, but I think we would take back a couple if they asked.
