by Bill Seals
Iowa State was one of the first schools into the fray with a St. Louis (Mo.) area offensive lineman in the 2019 class and recently had the opportunity to host the prospect on an official visit.
Trinity Catholic rising senior Ira Henry has racked up nearly two-dozen offers, a list that includes several Power-5 programs, throughout his recruiting process. But the Cyclones have never been deterred in their pursuit of Henry and that’s starting to pay off handsomely.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Henry recapped his two days in Ames over the weekend, saying he enjoyed many aspects of his experience.
“I liked the official visit and seeing the facility and coaching staff,” said Henry, who was hosted on his visit by linebacker Marcel Spears. “I like Coach (Jeff) Myers, the new offensive line coach. He’s younger and is one of the youngest coaches recruiting me at my position, so I feel like he can connect better with me.
“I toured the campus a couple times and also went to Coach Campbell’s house to a party. We also got a good look at the dorms. We got to go bowling and play paint ball. I got a good feel for how the players are in the program.”
Henry said Spears and the current crop of Cyclone student-athletes also put off a vibe that’s been different than in other places he’s traveled to.
“I visited with some of the players and out of all the other schools I’ve been to, they’re actually like brothers and care about each other,” he said. “It’s surreal. They get along great. The school is also real and everybody gets along. It’s a good program and everybody treats you like family. My parents also went on the visit with me and said they felt like part of the family, too.”
During his visit with Myers, the first-year full-time position coach said the big man would actually be moving outside from the guard spot he’s been projected to play.
“They want me to play tackle there and I could tell that they really need me,” Henry said. “Coach Myers told me that I could be a really good fit up there.”
Henry wrapped up his second full day of the official visit with a conversation at Campbell’s house.
“He thanked me for coming up there on a visit and for staying in touch with them,” Henry said. “They’re one of my top schools out of all the offers I have and he thanked me for choosing them to be in that top mix.”
In a pack of P5 offer schools that includes Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Syracuse, Henry said his most recent visit to ISU could play a crucial role in his ending up in Ames.
“This helped out a lot,” he said. “I got to see more than what I could see on just an unofficial visit. I got to see how they act. Iowa State is still the top school. I’m trying to take all of my officials and then probably two unofficials and then make my decision.”
Henry said Oklahoma and Florida are likely the next two stops on his official visit tour.
Iowa State was one of the first schools into the fray with a St. Louis (Mo.) area offensive lineman in the 2019 class and recently had the opportunity to host the prospect on an official visit.
Trinity Catholic rising senior Ira Henry has racked up nearly two-dozen offers, a list that includes several Power-5 programs, throughout his recruiting process. But the Cyclones have never been deterred in their pursuit of Henry and that’s starting to pay off handsomely.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Henry recapped his two days in Ames over the weekend, saying he enjoyed many aspects of his experience.
“I liked the official visit and seeing the facility and coaching staff,” said Henry, who was hosted on his visit by linebacker Marcel Spears. “I like Coach (Jeff) Myers, the new offensive line coach. He’s younger and is one of the youngest coaches recruiting me at my position, so I feel like he can connect better with me.
“I toured the campus a couple times and also went to Coach Campbell’s house to a party. We also got a good look at the dorms. We got to go bowling and play paint ball. I got a good feel for how the players are in the program.”
Henry said Spears and the current crop of Cyclone student-athletes also put off a vibe that’s been different than in other places he’s traveled to.
“I visited with some of the players and out of all the other schools I’ve been to, they’re actually like brothers and care about each other,” he said. “It’s surreal. They get along great. The school is also real and everybody gets along. It’s a good program and everybody treats you like family. My parents also went on the visit with me and said they felt like part of the family, too.”
During his visit with Myers, the first-year full-time position coach said the big man would actually be moving outside from the guard spot he’s been projected to play.
“They want me to play tackle there and I could tell that they really need me,” Henry said. “Coach Myers told me that I could be a really good fit up there.”
Henry wrapped up his second full day of the official visit with a conversation at Campbell’s house.
“He thanked me for coming up there on a visit and for staying in touch with them,” Henry said. “They’re one of my top schools out of all the offers I have and he thanked me for choosing them to be in that top mix.”
In a pack of P5 offer schools that includes Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Syracuse, Henry said his most recent visit to ISU could play a crucial role in his ending up in Ames.
“This helped out a lot,” he said. “I got to see more than what I could see on just an unofficial visit. I got to see how they act. Iowa State is still the top school. I’m trying to take all of my officials and then probably two unofficials and then make my decision.”
Henry said Oklahoma and Florida are likely the next two stops on his official visit tour.
