I could see it going higher for one reason. Campbell has shown that he will try to sell players on taking the "home team discount" over what they might be worth on the open market. He will try to get a former Cyclone with comparable talent cheaper that what he has to pay on the open market.
***Official portal tracker thread***
- Thread starter demoncore1031
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Campbell might have wanted him but:
- Not willing to pay price other schools were offering
- PSU might have good CB's on existing roster
- PSU defensive staff other than Broomfield is PSU guys.
- Jontez wanting to play in a different defensive system to improve his NFL standing
No, Matt Campbell believed it when he came here, it wasn't a platitude. Now, do I think he saw how jacked up what college football would come to be,,,,I doubt it or we wouldn't be talking about Indiana right now. Meaning Iowa State is a big donor away from a National Championship just like every other school is...totally jacked up system.
I count 15 that I've heard rumors or seen offers announced. Wouldn't be too hard to get there I guess if a few more guys go with.
Becht
Manske
Hansen
Eskildsen
Brahmer
Burkle
Buhr
Kuol
Ikakoula
Tompkins
Bacon
Ebel
Brezina
Coop
Neal
Matt told him to drive up his price before coming over…so he could justify overpaying him with an injury.
Was Manske really that good that he could be the future at PSU? I guess we didn’t see what the coaches saw in practice, but knowing Penn State fans they are wanting 5-star QBs.
Then we had pretty good talent! Not sure what he was complaining about ISU being at a disadvantage all those years.
Well we're 20 mil short of what Indiana has to work with. It also needs to be pointed out that what Indiana is doing is nothing short of a miracle. To go from perennial bottom feeders to national championship contenders in two years just doesn't happen.
I don't want coaches to settle. But Jamie has a program running in the red right now with lots of mouths to feed.
Can never know interest level, but A&M was recruiting Manske. So yes, he would seem to have the talent. Plus Campbell and Mauser got to see him everyday in practice. I would trust that much more that recruiting a 5 star HS kid.
But it's not like signing Manske precludes them from recruiting 5 star HS kids next fall. And I would expect they'll bring in more QB's than just Becht and Manske to the 2026 PSU roster.
Important to consider that there is a top tier of ISU players going to the portal that MC would want to offer immediately, and then a second tier of guys that will be fall back options later in the cycle as the portal empties. When it's all said and done there will be some head scratchers in that list I bet, while talented guys like Jontez end up elsewhere.
The leadership from this site did a 180 in about 24 hours the weekend of December 5, ending with a full court press to stomp out (and literally delete) every bit of dissent and frustration from fans (something very clearly orchestrated by the Iowa State administration). The overwhelming damage-control narrative shifted to "frustration and perceived-negative opinions towards decision makers at Iowa State are not constructive, and those having them are just looking for a villain! Move on, you BAD fans you!"
Fast forward a few weeks, and now we see new unsubstantiated ambiguous rumors start swirling that sorta kinda paint the old staff as the true villains!? ("Maybe that old staff's culture wasn't so great after all! Ey!? Eh!?") That is such weird timing! I thought we were scolded for being bad fans that are just out for blood for unfairly seeking out villains...
I personally don't feel the need to 'defend' Matt Campbell as a football coach. I have been vocal for years that his in-game coaching has been the core reason why we're losing games. Not talent, not scheduling, not bad luck. I believe they absolutely screwed the pooch this year by only (yes only) winning 8 games, when it was very clear that 10 was the floor with this schedule, even with the injuries. I could make a case for 11. But separate from that - this idea that now he and his prior staff - many of who would have absolutely loved to stay in Ames - are the jilted lovers in this is insane. On days like this, I appreciated the Blum story shared about Jalen Travis, which reminds us how much players loved to play for the former staff. The culture and program stability that was in place was absolutely very real, something Cyclone fans were very proud of, and this sentiment has been consistently shared by former players, coaches, folks close to the program, etc. for the last 10 years. The culture of Iowa State football was quite literally one of the most nationally recognized 'things' about our football squad. Hell, I would dream for my sons to grow up having a coach they talk about like Brock Purdy talks about Matt Campbell.
And in case it wasn't obvious - none of this prevents Jimmy from also doing some impressive things at Iowa State. Like others, I would absolutely love it if he (and his staff) are better in-game coaches than we have had in the past. I got chills hearing him say "beat the f***in hawks" in Hilton. He seems like a dude that is pretty relentless. My entire family can't wait for the first football tailgate, wearing our Cardinal colored glasses of course.
As a young Chicago Blitz fan, the next year the team was all new guys. Deja Vu.
www.nytimes.com
sportsteamhistory.com
Two rosters traded for each other, an owner who just left; the crazy days of the USFL's Chicago Blitz
In his new book, Jeff Pearlman chronicles how in a league full of dysfunctional franchises, the Blitz may have been the worst of them all.
www.nytimes.com
Merge with the Chicago Blitz | SPORTS TEAM HISTORY
Joseph lost millions of dollars in the 1983 season. Like most of the other owners, he'd bought into the league knowing to expect years of losses. However, he was disappointed in the team's attendance and unwilling to stick it out in Arizona. In a stroke of luck for Joseph, Chicago Blitz owner...
sportsteamhistory.com
All of these could be the reason except number two. Penn State is seeing an exodus of players as well. They’ve lost 25 players to the portal including 2 CBs. Here’s a write up from their local paper.
Key departures/portal entries: A.J. Harris (portal), Elliot Washington II (portal)
Potential targets: Tre Bell (Iowa State), Jontez Williams (Iowa State)
Penn State’s cornerback room should look a lot different next season with A.J. Harris and Elliot Washington II off to the portal. Audavion Collins and Daryus Dixson returning will help — especially Dixson, who might be the best young player on the team — but Matt Campbell will need to add corners.
There are intriguing options from Iowa State, like Jontez Williams and Tre Bell, but competition will be tough for players like them, especially Williams. This could be a position where Campbell goes outside of the Iowa State pipeline.
Wrong thread, but Tom Farniok has joined the ISU staff. He was one of my favorite players from the CPR era. Welcome back, Farnyard!
To Segway, at least we aren’t in Memphis!
