by Bill Seals
The persistence of Iowa State’s coaching staff on the recruiting trail has paid off in them landing at the very top for a high school defensive back from Florida.
Largo Pinellas Park’s Zamari Maxwell has taken notice of the job done by position coach D.K. McDonald and area recruiter Tyson Veidt, who was on campus during spring evaluations.
“Those guys are really persistent and I love those guys,” said Maxwell. “They talk to me every day – the defensive backs, coach, the linebackers coach, the defensive line coach and the head coach. I Facetimed with them last week.
“I’ve got to say they’re the frontrunners right now. They’ve made me feel real comfortable. They’re one of the few teams I want to visit this summer and then take another official visit during the season so I can get a feel for the atmosphere.”
The 6-foot-1, 161-pound Maxwell also has Power-5 offers from Arizona, Boston College and Minnesota, to go along with several other FBS programs. He said he received the Cyclones’ offer in early May.
Although he doesn’t know a whole lot yet about the school itself, Maxwell says the coaching staff’s work has made him take notice of what head coach Matt Campbell is building.
“They make me feel really wanted and are honest with me,” Maxwell said. “The head coach texts me out of the blue to show his appreciation he has for me. The DBs coach texts me almost every day saying he would love to coach me and can’t wait to have me up there. I just love those guys.”
Maxwell says he’s being recruited to play cornerback at ISU and believes he could make an early impact in Ames.
“The coaches say I can be a game-changer and will fit right into their scheme,” he said. “They really love my personality and playmaking ability. I just love the confidence they have in me and say ‘thank you’. They don’t have to worry about the academic part of me, because I’m keeping my grades up.”
A pair of trips to I-State are in store for Maxwell, who says he will be on campus later this month for an unofficial visit and has his eyes on an official during the season.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the facilities and city,” he said. “This won’t be the only time I visit, because I plan on taking an official to get a feel for the campus life and how game day is.”
The persistence of Iowa State’s coaching staff on the recruiting trail has paid off in them landing at the very top for a high school defensive back from Florida.
Largo Pinellas Park’s Zamari Maxwell has taken notice of the job done by position coach D.K. McDonald and area recruiter Tyson Veidt, who was on campus during spring evaluations.
“Those guys are really persistent and I love those guys,” said Maxwell. “They talk to me every day – the defensive backs, coach, the linebackers coach, the defensive line coach and the head coach. I Facetimed with them last week.
“I’ve got to say they’re the frontrunners right now. They’ve made me feel real comfortable. They’re one of the few teams I want to visit this summer and then take another official visit during the season so I can get a feel for the atmosphere.”
The 6-foot-1, 161-pound Maxwell also has Power-5 offers from Arizona, Boston College and Minnesota, to go along with several other FBS programs. He said he received the Cyclones’ offer in early May.
Although he doesn’t know a whole lot yet about the school itself, Maxwell says the coaching staff’s work has made him take notice of what head coach Matt Campbell is building.
“They make me feel really wanted and are honest with me,” Maxwell said. “The head coach texts me out of the blue to show his appreciation he has for me. The DBs coach texts me almost every day saying he would love to coach me and can’t wait to have me up there. I just love those guys.”
Maxwell says he’s being recruited to play cornerback at ISU and believes he could make an early impact in Ames.
“The coaches say I can be a game-changer and will fit right into their scheme,” he said. “They really love my personality and playmaking ability. I just love the confidence they have in me and say ‘thank you’. They don’t have to worry about the academic part of me, because I’m keeping my grades up.”
A pair of trips to I-State are in store for Maxwell, who says he will be on campus later this month for an unofficial visit and has his eyes on an official during the season.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the facilities and city,” he said. “This won’t be the only time I visit, because I plan on taking an official to get a feel for the campus life and how game day is.”
