*After hearing some of Chizik's comments on the KDSM website, it settled for me where some of these players are going to end up.
08 Recruiting Review
Offense
1. Sedrick Johnson WR 6-4 180 Fr Troup, Texas (Arp)
Undoubtedly a brilliant athlete, his hands, dedication, route running ability, and instincts (finding seams, running after the catch) are yet to be proven. Still the number one player in the class, and a wonderful addition for Cyclone quarterbacks.
2. Adrin Haughton OL 6-4 310 Sanford, Fla. (Seminole)
The first concern is getting him onto campus. That said…
…as a sculpted 315 pounder, at the least he would be an object lesson and role model to certain linemen of the benefits of being fit—a huge impact in the weight room as well. Isn't he also from Chizik's high school?
3. Bo Williams RB 6-0 207 Oakland Park, Fla. (Florida) (Northeast)
Sure, he’’s a transfer, but I reserve the right to rank him here. A good back, but most important right now seems to be his character and leadership. Whether he is a brilliant back on the field remains to be seen.
4. Chase Harper TE 6-4 230 Austin (TX) Connally
A question with grades, otherwise he has a great deal of ability. Could play as a stretch the field tight end as a true frosh, and a future star with added muscle for blocking.A huge asset, consider the roles of the athletic tight ends at UT, OU, A&M, and Mo last season.
5. Jerome Tiller QB 6-3 185 San Antonio, Texas (Robert E. Lee)
Might rank higher if I were confident of his passingability, but it appears that he will have three years to polish those skills. Excellent athlete, might help elsewhere.
6. Lonzie Range WR 6-3 190 Carrollton, Texas (Creekview)
Decidedly a long term grade as he rehabs from injury. Still an athlete, and I’m more than happy to have him.
7. Jason Carlson WR 6-0 195 RSo New Hope, Minn. (NDSC) (Robbinsdale Armstrong)
Hopefully an immediate return man, should have the skills to stretch the field as well.
8. Darius Darks WR 6-0 180 Fr Austin, Texas (Connally)
With SJ’s signing, and Range and Carlson, I might doubt whether he stays a wideout, but that’s for the future to decide. A good athlete, he’ll help somewhere.
9. Brayden Burris OL 6-7 250 Fr Wichita, Kan. (Bishop Carroll)
By all reports he moves well, which is the first requirement for an OL. Will need a lot of time in the weight room before he’s ready to play.
10. Kurt Hammerschmidt TE 6-5 236 Fr Chesterfield, Mo. (DeSmet)
Between Harper and Bykowski. Hammerschmidt might be the best of both worlds.Might play as a true frosh simply out of need.
11. Carter Bykowski TE 6-7 245 Fr Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)
While I think that he’ll eventually be an offensive lineman, Bykowski could playTE as a true frosh, simply helping as a blocker. That’s how thin the position is for the Cyclones.
12. Jeremiah Schwartz RB 5-11 230 Fr Orlando, Fla. (Edgewater)
I know that a lot of people really like him, but that 4.89 40 at a combine os a limitation. Still, could help in one back sets as a complement to A-Rob, an asset in short yardage and as a pass blocker.
13. Ethan Tuftee OL 6-3 285 Fr Davenport, Iowa (Assumption)
Long term made longer by rehabbing knee. Still a solid prospect.
Defense
1. Ter’Ran Benton DB 6-0 180 Arlington, Texas (Summit)
Gene Chizik likes coaching db’s from Arlington. They have a tendency to become first round picks. Benton is a good athlete who fits a need at a thin position. Could see playing time right away.
2. Leonard Johnson DB 5-11 180 Clearwater, Fla. (Largo)
No doubt that he’s an athlete, but the transition to corner is a challenge, so we’ll see. Could also be an awesome slot receiver.
3. Stephen Ruempolhamer DT 6-3 285 Tulsa, Okla. (Union)
Lots of positive reviews as a sleeper prospect, but let’s let him get on campus and settle in. After all, with only two years of US fooyball, he’s amazingly green.
4. Cleyon Laing DE 6-3 250 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Holy Trinity)
Intriguing, utter sleeper. As desperate as Cyclones are for ends, one hopes that he’s a major talent in disguise.
*Had Darks been listed on defense, he would have been next. For that matter, if Tiller were a safety, he would have been number one. ]
5. Jake McDonough DE 6-5 250 Urbandale, Iowa (Valley)
Good size and athleticism, I wonder if he’ll stay at end, or grow into a tackle.
6. Judah Linder DB 6-0 170 Miami, Fla. (Edison)
An interesting snag who flew under the radar, it’s been a while since
ISU signed a Miami high school kid. Potentially a corner, but fits the profile of some of Chizik’s A-A safeties at UT.
7. Ernest Ferguson LB 6-1 222 Royal Palm Beach, Fla. (Royal Palm Beach)
Slightly better size than he’s generally listed at, with a mixed bag at linebacker he could have an impact before long.
8. Dustin Land DB 5-11 200 Milton, Fla. (Milton)
I might be more excited about Land if I knew a claimed 4.42 forty were even close to legit—after all, he ran a 4.63 at combine, a vast diference. However, this team is desperate fopr safeties, so he’ll help one way or another.
9. Kevin Hamlin LB 6-3 215 Jupiter, Fla. (Dwyer)
Hamlin is something of a mystery to me. The best thing that I can say is that he seems to have excellent size and frame for a strongside linebacker.
10. Roosevelt Maggitt DL 6-2 215 Riviera, Fla. (Dwyer)
Unlike his teammate, Maggitt doesn’t seem to have prototypical size for the position. However, those eighteen sacks as a senior draw attention—and he’s taller than Rashawn parker.
Specialists
A. Zach Guyer K 6-3 180 Fr. Johnston, Iowa (Johnston)
B. Grant Mahoney K 6-1 180 Fr. Marion, Iowa (Linn-Mar)
With the struggles that the Cyclones have had for the better part of a decade, I hope that one of these two finally answers the question. Don’t really care which one, or if it’s both. Just want the problems to end.
It’s my general impression that the offense ended up raking in much more raw talent, both quantity- and quality-wise, especially with Darks listed as a wideout. Not that I’m complaining—it isn’t as if the defense were stinted. However, both lines suffered somewhat with the losses of Grant, King, Marshall, Guillory, Edwards and XXX. It’s simply too many bodies not to be missed. The same spots will be a priority a year from now.
Linear Mode
