Iowa State football: Will bad season persuade recruits to look elsewhere?

It’s one thing to suffer through a season of mediocrity, but it’s another to worry about how that impacts potential recruits.

With so many starters that left the Iowa State football team from last season, the Cyclones weren’t projected to make it to a bowl game like they haven’t been for many years. For the first time under Paul Rhoads, the team hasn’t made a statement with a landmark victory and have probably been performing under their expectations with just one victory after seven games.

Oct 26, 2013; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Paul Rhoads argues a call during the second quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jack Trice Stadium. Oklahoma State defeated Iowa State 58-27. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Don’t forget that the class of 2014 are just turning 18 years of age. They can still be easily persuaded by what their friends or family members are saying, they’ll listen to their coaches, and they can be influenced by what they see on television.

Now that Iowa State football his televised nationally every week, they were able to watch the same horrific blowouts that we’ve all followed for the past two weeks.

According to Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register, it seems that two of the major recruits, Iowa’s own top wide receiver Allen Lazard from Urbandale and Chicago’s Tommy Mister, are still firmly committed to the Cyclones.

"Mister, a running quarterback who will be a tailback-flanker type of player for Rhoads, said he’s “99.9 percent sure” he’s sticking with his Cyclone commitment.The 0.1 percent variable, he said, “is in case something like Penn State happens.”He said he’s visiting Michigan State, Syracuse and Indiana only to satisfy his parents’ wishes."

One thing that benefits Iowa State recruiting is the ease of access to Rhoads. Even with Mister being closer to Notre Dame and visiting the campus multiple times, he has yet to meet head coach Brian Kelly. Lazard, who’s also visited the Irish, shared the same underwhelming tones.

"“[Lazard and I] talk,” Mister said. “He’s a big reason I’m going to Iowa State — so together, we can turn it around.“I texted him after his Notre Dame visit. He said it was nice, but not like Iowa State. When we say we’re all-in, we’re all-in.”"

With how close both athletes are, it would be a surprise if they ended up splitting. If one of them is heading to Ames, it’s likely both will.

Both the coaches and fans will have to prepare for plenty of rumors on these two until they finally sign their letters of intent early next year. If there’s anything the football team can play for, it’s to assure that both Lazard and Mister don’t have to put out the flames of a dumpster fire by themselves.