by Bill Seals
One of the top 15 overall prospects in the state of Ohio for the 2020 class is talking official visit with Cyclone coaches and continues to be impressed with the staff’s recruitment of him.
Cleveland Heights junior Justin Wodtly is being targeted for multiple roles along Iowa State’s defensive front and has been recruited heavily by position coach Eli Rasheed.
“The coaches are great and I’m trying to build better relationships with them,” said Wodtly. “I’ve been talking to Coach Rasheed and trying to build a good connection there. Coach (Matt) Campbell is also a great guy.
“There’s a lot of Ohio guys on that staff and that makes me feel more comfortable. Coach Rasheed is from there, so he knows where I’m coming from. He knows that Iowa State is not too close and knows how far it is away from home. He’s doing what he can to make me feel more comfortable. I have an official visit scheduled for June 11th through the 13th.”
Wodtly has been assigned a 5.7 Rivals rating, making him a borderline four-star recruit. In addition to his Power-5 offer from ISU, he has ones from Boston College, Indiana. Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers and Syracuse.
A 6-foot-3, 270-pound all-around performer at Cleveland Heights, Wodtly is an athletic specimen who has even played some running back for his school. He’s also impressed recruiters with his want-to attitude on and off the field.
“I may be moving down to a three-technique if I put on more weight,” he said. “They like that I’ve kept my versatility and that I’m quick on my feet. Not a lot of people my size move as quickly as I do. I come ready to compete every day. I compete 100 percent from the snap to the whistle. My motor never stops. They think I could play defensive end or three-technique.
“I’m also not only a defensive lineman. I get to play a little bit of tight end and running back, since we run the triple-option at Cleveland Heights. Being able to show that I’m 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds and can run the ball too is very scary. I think that’s really impressed coaches.”
ISU has recruited Wodtly’s area heavily since Campbell left Toledo for ISU following the 2015 season. One of the nearby prospects the Cyclones added late in the 2018 class was linebacker Daeshawn Davis, who Wodtly knows well and competed against last fall.
“I’ve talked to him a little bit and he’s said the facilities are nice and the coaches really make it feel like home,” Wodtly said. “I’ve heard great things and can’t wait to get down there.”
In addition to his scheduled I-State visit in mid-June, Wodtly said he is also considering officials to Minnesota, Michigan State and Purdue.
One of the top 15 overall prospects in the state of Ohio for the 2020 class is talking official visit with Cyclone coaches and continues to be impressed with the staff’s recruitment of him.
Cleveland Heights junior Justin Wodtly is being targeted for multiple roles along Iowa State’s defensive front and has been recruited heavily by position coach Eli Rasheed.
“The coaches are great and I’m trying to build better relationships with them,” said Wodtly. “I’ve been talking to Coach Rasheed and trying to build a good connection there. Coach (Matt) Campbell is also a great guy.
“There’s a lot of Ohio guys on that staff and that makes me feel more comfortable. Coach Rasheed is from there, so he knows where I’m coming from. He knows that Iowa State is not too close and knows how far it is away from home. He’s doing what he can to make me feel more comfortable. I have an official visit scheduled for June 11th through the 13th.”
Wodtly has been assigned a 5.7 Rivals rating, making him a borderline four-star recruit. In addition to his Power-5 offer from ISU, he has ones from Boston College, Indiana. Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers and Syracuse.
A 6-foot-3, 270-pound all-around performer at Cleveland Heights, Wodtly is an athletic specimen who has even played some running back for his school. He’s also impressed recruiters with his want-to attitude on and off the field.
“I may be moving down to a three-technique if I put on more weight,” he said. “They like that I’ve kept my versatility and that I’m quick on my feet. Not a lot of people my size move as quickly as I do. I come ready to compete every day. I compete 100 percent from the snap to the whistle. My motor never stops. They think I could play defensive end or three-technique.
“I’m also not only a defensive lineman. I get to play a little bit of tight end and running back, since we run the triple-option at Cleveland Heights. Being able to show that I’m 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds and can run the ball too is very scary. I think that’s really impressed coaches.”
ISU has recruited Wodtly’s area heavily since Campbell left Toledo for ISU following the 2015 season. One of the nearby prospects the Cyclones added late in the 2018 class was linebacker Daeshawn Davis, who Wodtly knows well and competed against last fall.
“I’ve talked to him a little bit and he’s said the facilities are nice and the coaches really make it feel like home,” Wodtly said. “I’ve heard great things and can’t wait to get down there.”
In addition to his scheduled I-State visit in mid-June, Wodtly said he is also considering officials to Minnesota, Michigan State and Purdue.
