I'm going to take a guess at the 2017 FB recruiting class. No inside info, just going by need, interviews on various sites, visits, reading tea leaves and some flat out guesses. I think that they should have a nearly full class, as Campbell will likely keep removing some of the dead weight from the roster. Here are my guesses:
QB: 1 - I think that the staff really likes Devon Moore. Plus, they seem to really like Lanning's backups. We've heard them say good things about DeLira and Noland and Park is coming in with 3 to play. They could afford to take a risk with a high upside guy like Moore here.
RB: 1 - The only guy they really lose is Harger. At least one of the TRFR will redshirt. I see no reason to get too crazy here with pretty much everyone coming back. Haven't heard ISU being high up with any of the offer players, but they can afford to be picky. Jeff Jones, the Minny retread at IWCC is intriguing. I don't know that we have a need for a JUCO RB though.
WR: 1JC, 2HS - They lose Daley, but I believe that you have to recruit with the thought that Lazard is going to go pro. I don't think that he's fast enough to be a high round pick, but he's good enough to get drafted somewhere. Personally, I don't think that ISU holds on to Josh Johnson. He bolted from Indiana with one visit to Ames. What's going to happen if he visits South Bend? I think that ISU gets Willie Wright for the M position, then IWCC kid Guyton and one other.
TE: 1 - They really firmed that position up last year and now they just need to keep the pipeline full. I think that they end up signing Koontz out of OH. Will be a nice underated prospect.
OL: 1JC, 4HS - I think that Jost makes a commitment soon and that will leave one more HS spot. ISU can be pretty picky there...Abojei or Chandler with the Iowa City kid as a fallback? They've offered a couple of JUCOs, so it won't be a surprise if they get one to commit.
DE: 1JC, 2HS - They would love to get the VanGinkel kid from IWCC. After that, I expect them to get a couple of underated kids like Murphy from OH or Obannaya and Collins from Houston. I doubt that whoever they sign will have a bunch of offers. Seems like most of the DL recruits are going to be diamonds in the rough, as anyone who is a sure thing is snapped up by the big dogs.
DT: 1JC, 2HS - For the JC, I like Haskins. For the HS, I have no idea. All I know is that you absolutely cannot neglect the DL in recruiting, so I expect Campbell to sniff out a few DTs.
LB: 3 - They have Vance, I think that they get Hummel this summer. And then, I think that they'll go fishing for more of a bluechip. Maybe that is Gumbs, but more likely someone like Breydon Boyd or Derrick Hubbard (although neither of these guys have stars yet).
CB: 2 - I haven't seen anything to make me think that they are really close with any of the prospects. But, they do lose Tribune and Wiltz, so I think that they'll sign a couple. I'll go with Bowens and Tucker.
S: 2 - TreSean Smith would be a huge get, but I'll go with them getting Cedrick Mitchell and Keontae Jones (just because his brother will be on the roster).
K: 1 - This is IF one of the walk-ons doesn't prove himself this fall.
That makes for a class of 25. It could very well be less than that, but that's at least how I see it.
QB: 1 - I think that the staff really likes Devon Moore. Plus, they seem to really like Lanning's backups. We've heard them say good things about DeLira and Noland and Park is coming in with 3 to play. They could afford to take a risk with a high upside guy like Moore here.
RB: 1 - The only guy they really lose is Harger. At least one of the TRFR will redshirt. I see no reason to get too crazy here with pretty much everyone coming back. Haven't heard ISU being high up with any of the offer players, but they can afford to be picky. Jeff Jones, the Minny retread at IWCC is intriguing. I don't know that we have a need for a JUCO RB though.
WR: 1JC, 2HS - They lose Daley, but I believe that you have to recruit with the thought that Lazard is going to go pro. I don't think that he's fast enough to be a high round pick, but he's good enough to get drafted somewhere. Personally, I don't think that ISU holds on to Josh Johnson. He bolted from Indiana with one visit to Ames. What's going to happen if he visits South Bend? I think that ISU gets Willie Wright for the M position, then IWCC kid Guyton and one other.
TE: 1 - They really firmed that position up last year and now they just need to keep the pipeline full. I think that they end up signing Koontz out of OH. Will be a nice underated prospect.
OL: 1JC, 4HS - I think that Jost makes a commitment soon and that will leave one more HS spot. ISU can be pretty picky there...Abojei or Chandler with the Iowa City kid as a fallback? They've offered a couple of JUCOs, so it won't be a surprise if they get one to commit.
DE: 1JC, 2HS - They would love to get the VanGinkel kid from IWCC. After that, I expect them to get a couple of underated kids like Murphy from OH or Obannaya and Collins from Houston. I doubt that whoever they sign will have a bunch of offers. Seems like most of the DL recruits are going to be diamonds in the rough, as anyone who is a sure thing is snapped up by the big dogs.
DT: 1JC, 2HS - For the JC, I like Haskins. For the HS, I have no idea. All I know is that you absolutely cannot neglect the DL in recruiting, so I expect Campbell to sniff out a few DTs.
LB: 3 - They have Vance, I think that they get Hummel this summer. And then, I think that they'll go fishing for more of a bluechip. Maybe that is Gumbs, but more likely someone like Breydon Boyd or Derrick Hubbard (although neither of these guys have stars yet).
CB: 2 - I haven't seen anything to make me think that they are really close with any of the prospects. But, they do lose Tribune and Wiltz, so I think that they'll sign a couple. I'll go with Bowens and Tucker.
S: 2 - TreSean Smith would be a huge get, but I'll go with them getting Cedrick Mitchell and Keontae Jones (just because his brother will be on the roster).
K: 1 - This is IF one of the walk-ons doesn't prove himself this fall.
That makes for a class of 25. It could very well be less than that, but that's at least how I see it.
