Is CPR looking at a JC MLBer?

[CyCloned]

It is pretty scarry how well Jesse Smith is playing and his graduation will leave a huge void in the middle. Is ISU looking for a JC to replace him or is there someone on the team waiting in the wings. I really can't remember Jesse being out of very many games this year. Who is his backup now?

 

[aauummm]

Derec Schmidgall is his backup and I think he's a senior also.

 

[BigM]

aj klein?
matt taufoo?

 

[bigsag]

Focus in on AJ Klein and Jake Knott on special teams play. Between practice this Fall, Spring practice, and next years preseason practice, either of those two will be more than capable of taking over for Jesse Smith. IMO

 

[mustangcy]

Focus in on AJ Klein and Jake Knott on special teams play. Between practice this Fall, Spring practice, and next years preseason practice, either of those two will be more than capable of taking over for Jesse Smith. IMO

No doubt in my mind AJ Klein is the future for ISU. Some of his plays on special teams just gets me pumped to see him get some hardcore minutes next year. :biggrin:

 

[AmesCloneFan]

Focus in on AJ Klein and Jake Knott on special teams play. Between practice this Fall, Spring practice, and next years preseason practice, either of those two will be more than capable of taking over for Jesse Smith. IMO

CPR has mentioned AJ Klein several times as an up-and-comer. He talked after some of the first fall practices that Klein has been a big surprise. I must say he's done very well in special teams this year.

 

[clones26]

All 3 of our LB's are seniors, what about the 3rd option after Klein & Knott since Raven, Garrin, & Smith graduate?

 

[BooneCy]

Tafouo(spelling?) and Lattimer are the JUCOs that you see playing with Klein and Knott. Both have played this year

 

[clone2011]

Has Taufoou played? I don't remember seeing him on the field at all, possibly redshirting him? I know Lattimer has been playing more lately but I think in more of a hybrid rush end/OLB role

 

[tim_redd]

All 3 of our LB's are seniors, what about the 3rd option after Klein & Knott since Raven, Garrin, & Smith graduate?

Probably one of the jucos this year, Lattimer or Taufoou.

edit: Slow to the party looking up spelling...

 

[CyValley]

All 3 of our LB's are seniors, what about the 3rd option after Klein & Knott since Raven, Garrin, & Smith graduate?

On his Monday call-in show earlier this month, CPR was asked about next year's linebacking. He mentioned five linebackers: Klein, Taufoou, Knott, Lattimer, and Hamlin. He implied the first three likely would enter spring drills atop the depth chart.

Also this fall, CPR has said the staff will sign four linebackers in the upcoming recruiting class, and he also said the Cyclones will ink 6-8 JUCO players. I have not heard him breakdown JUCO wants by position.

HTH

 

[BooneCy]

He's got one in Hubert, hopefully he picks up George and Mattison and then one more and he is set at his goal for 4. None of the first three are JUCOs, which is good considering we have two in their now. He lost on Earls, but I think we can survive without him.

 

[BryceC]

Considering the amount of nickel we run, I think we'll be fine with Knott, Klein, and the guys we have now.

 

[cylen]

Future is bright with Klein and Knott. Would like to see Jeremiah George commit.

 

[PGreen ISU '92]

Coach Rhoads said on the call-in show on Monday the 19th that LB was our biggest need for this next in-coming class numbers wise and that at least one would most likely be a junior college player. This is due to the number of graduating seniors at that position. All three starters are seniors.

 

[Tre4ISU]

If we can get a JUCO that can some in and be better than any other linebacker we have I am all for it. However, I don't want us to sign a JUCO that isn't going to play much when we could get younger guys and get them some time to develop. I am not against JUCO players, just JUCO players that don't help us much.

 

[bawbie]

If we can get a JUCO that can some in and be better than any other linebacker we have I am all for it. However, I don't want us to sign a JUCO that isn't going to play much when we could get younger guys and get them some time to develop. I am not against JUCO players, just JUCO players that don't help us much.

We need depth. Any JUCO signing at LB would be good, in my opinion.

Looking at returning players, we have exactly 3 LBs listed on the roster who will be upperclassmen next year: Taufoou, Lattimer and Kaufman.

We have 5 returning players who will either be So or RSFr.

I think adding another Jr to that, to balance out the classes and add depth, would be a great idea.

 

[tman24]

Is there any guys that walked on that didnt get a scholarship that might be able to get on next year?

 

[cystate925]

Mark it down AJ Klein starting LB next year, my concern would be finding 1 more great LB and few more guys on d-line, either highschool or JUCO. Believe we have 6 guys to replace next year, so that should be part of the selling point on getting players in that there are positions to be filled.

 

[dinger]

If we can get a JUCO that can some in and be better than any other linebacker we have I am all for it. However, I don't want us to sign a JUCO that isn't going to play much when we could get younger guys and get them some time to develop. I am not against JUCO players, just JUCO players that don't help us much.

i agree. i like the david sims type jucos that come in like they know how to play ball. i dont get bringing in jucos that take 2 years to develop in the system. the exception to this might by tim dobbins, who i believe barely played as a junior. could be completely wrong.

this brings up another point...perhaps LB is much tougher to make a transition juco to D1 than other positions.