Y’know, Paul Rhoads once said it’s hard to recruit good defensive linemen to Iowa State. Often misquoted, but true. I see the college football “haves” sometimes signing as many as four gaudily talented HS defensive tackles or defensive ends in the same signing class, and I wonder what those kids are thinking.
I’ve been a Cyclone fan a long time. Rhoads was right. Chizik wasn’t any better. I watched McCarney try to put defensive lines together from table scraps. Even when he managed two good DT’s, he never managed a third one for depth.
Walden and Criner weren’t any better. If Donnie Duncan was, it was only because of the talent Earle Bruce left him.
Things have changed. Howard and JR Singleton may not be highly ranked kids, but they’re athletic and have a chance to be really good.
And it’s because of Matt Campbell. Because, ironically, Rhoads recruited Jamal Johnson, then Campbell signed Ray Lima—and Jon Heacock built something special around the two of them.
Welcome aboard, Howard. Go Cyclones!