Iowa State Recruiting Taking Blows Before Signing Day
By Ross
Well, it definitely wasn’t the best weekend in terms of recruiting for Cyclone fans. A lot of Iowa State fans (including me) were extremely excited about the Blinn College duo of MLB Eddie Porter and DE Ishmail Hayes joining the Clones next year. However, with only two weeks until National Signing Day, both Porter and Hayes decommitted. To make news even worse for Cyclone fans, they might not be the last.
I’m sure you’ve heard by now that the Blinn College duo will now play at Arkansas State. Yes, Arkansas State, the team that plays in the Sun Belt. I’ll give credit to former Auburn OC and current Arkansas State coach, Gus Malzahn. Malzahn has a straight pipeline to Blinn College. Remember Cam Newton played at Blinn College and Malzahn was a big reason he ended up choosing Auburn. Also, Malzahn is taking Michael Dyer with him to Arkansas State. However, this is besides the point.
Porter and Hayes are good friends and another of their friends is going with them to play at Arkansas State. There have been rumors that they might not meet the academics of Iowa State (Hayes in particular). That may be true, but why would you want to leave a Big 12 team for the Sun Belt conference. In the Big 12, you are going against great competition and have a chance to prove scouts that you are NFL material. I don’t know if both were going to the NFL, but they had a chance. 247sports.com ranked Ishmail Hayes as a 4-star prospect. Rivals.com listed Eddie Porter as the best JUCO linebacker in the nation this year.
I don’t understand why you would waste that talent and go to the Sun Belt and face the likes of Troy and Western Kentucky. I can somewhat understand Hayes if he didn’t have the grades but I’m more confused with Porter. Yes, you wouldn’t be with your friend but Porter would have the chance to play in between two of the best linebackers in the nation. Porter would have been recognized by scouts at the next level, because Klein and Knott would make him look great.
Well that’s that and if these two weren’t “All in”, do they really fit the identity of Paul Rhoads and this program?
Other news concerning recruiting is about Barkley Hill visiting Iowa this past weekend. Barkley Hill, former Cedar Falls running back, committed to the Cyclones back in April. However, Iowa has offered him a scholarship since that time.
From HawkCentral.com:
"“The family just thought he should look around before he settles and he’s in Iowa City this weekend,” Cedar Falls football coach Pat Mitchell said this afternoon."
Also, Courtney Messingham was his main recruiter and as you know, he was upgraded to offensive coordinator. I think it is up in the air whether or not Hill will go with the Hawkeyes instead of the Cyclones. The Cyclones have a lot of depth right now at running back, but Hill is ISU’s only RB commitment in this year’s class.
Damien Lawry, the prized athlete from Dallas with big offers (Notre Dame, A&M, Clemson, Arkansas, Iowa, Tennessee, and others), just took a visit to Missouri this weekend. Damien Lawry committed to Iowa State about eight days ago, but Rivals.com has his commitment categorized as a “soft verbal”. Lawry would be a very nice addition to this year’s class and would really hurt if he left.
One last note, Darius White has been receiving some attention from Miami lately and they have offered him a scholarship. However, CycloneReport.com reported that the 3-star linebacker will be sticking with Iowa State.
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