by Bill Seals
An in-state tight end in the 2021 class participated in a Saturday Night Lights camp over the summer and returned to Ames this past weekend for ISU’s game against Northern Iowa. The end result was a second Power-5 offer for the junior prospect
Council Bluffs Lewis Central junior Thomas Fidone said he had high hopes when he arrived in time for the game and head coach Matt Campbell delivered afterwards.
“One of my coaches told me I had an invite to a game, so I definitely had to make the trip,” said Fidone, who was previously on campus on June 1st as the Cyclones kicked off camp season. “I had a good feeling coming in, because I knew I performed well over the summer and the coaches told me. It was a great atmosphere and the I loved the coaches, staff and everyone. It’s a young staff and I like that a lot. I also loved the way they use the tight ends.
“After the game, I got brought up by one of the recruiters. They showed me around the facility for a little while and the weight room. I went into Coach Golesh’s office and talked for a while. When Coach Campbell was ready, they brought me into his office. I sat down and he said right away that they’re going to offer me a full scholarship.”
The 6-foot-5, 217-pound Fidone said he has the all-around attributes that I-State looks for in the position.
“(Campbell) said I’m the type of tight end they’re looking for,” he said. “I can run, am big, have the frame to put on weight and have a good catch radius with my wing span and height. I have the stature they’re looking for.”
It appears that Fidone’s pass catching ability is what most caught the staff’s eyes during the summer evaluation.
“I didn’t play tight end at camp, but I played wide receiver since that’s where I play for my high school,” he said. “I did really well against all the defensive backs. I’m pretty sure I won every ball and every route. I think they noticed that.”
As he reflects back on his visit, Fidone said Campbell and his staff made a favorable early impression.
“I love what he is trying to do with the culture and the family up there,” Fidone said. “They’re trying to change it and I love that. I loved the atmosphere and the stadium. The people are great. It’s a young staff full of coaches you can talk to. They appeal to the kids my age, because they’re young, you can talk to them and build relationships with them.”
I-State coaches have spent plenty of time at Fidone’s high school over the years, having recruited Max Duggan (TCU freshman) and Logan Jones (Iowa commit) while adding preferred walk-on Drake Nettles to this season’s squad.
All three have had some input on what Fidone can expect over the next 15-plus months.
“Logan wants me to go to Iowa, obviously, but he said he loves the staff at Iowa State,” Fidone said. “He said it’s a great place to go and encouraged me to go up there for the game. I also talked to Drake Nettles, our kicker who got offered as a preferred walk-on. He wants me to go to Iowa State. Max has also talked to me about recruiting and how it worked for him.”
Fidone opened his junior season this past Friday with four catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-7 victory over Sergeant Bluff-Luton.
An in-state tight end in the 2021 class participated in a Saturday Night Lights camp over the summer and returned to Ames this past weekend for ISU’s game against Northern Iowa. The end result was a second Power-5 offer for the junior prospect
Council Bluffs Lewis Central junior Thomas Fidone said he had high hopes when he arrived in time for the game and head coach Matt Campbell delivered afterwards.
“One of my coaches told me I had an invite to a game, so I definitely had to make the trip,” said Fidone, who was previously on campus on June 1st as the Cyclones kicked off camp season. “I had a good feeling coming in, because I knew I performed well over the summer and the coaches told me. It was a great atmosphere and the I loved the coaches, staff and everyone. It’s a young staff and I like that a lot. I also loved the way they use the tight ends.
“After the game, I got brought up by one of the recruiters. They showed me around the facility for a little while and the weight room. I went into Coach Golesh’s office and talked for a while. When Coach Campbell was ready, they brought me into his office. I sat down and he said right away that they’re going to offer me a full scholarship.”
The 6-foot-5, 217-pound Fidone said he has the all-around attributes that I-State looks for in the position.
“(Campbell) said I’m the type of tight end they’re looking for,” he said. “I can run, am big, have the frame to put on weight and have a good catch radius with my wing span and height. I have the stature they’re looking for.”
It appears that Fidone’s pass catching ability is what most caught the staff’s eyes during the summer evaluation.
“I didn’t play tight end at camp, but I played wide receiver since that’s where I play for my high school,” he said. “I did really well against all the defensive backs. I’m pretty sure I won every ball and every route. I think they noticed that.”
As he reflects back on his visit, Fidone said Campbell and his staff made a favorable early impression.
“I love what he is trying to do with the culture and the family up there,” Fidone said. “They’re trying to change it and I love that. I loved the atmosphere and the stadium. The people are great. It’s a young staff full of coaches you can talk to. They appeal to the kids my age, because they’re young, you can talk to them and build relationships with them.”
I-State coaches have spent plenty of time at Fidone’s high school over the years, having recruited Max Duggan (TCU freshman) and Logan Jones (Iowa commit) while adding preferred walk-on Drake Nettles to this season’s squad.
All three have had some input on what Fidone can expect over the next 15-plus months.
“Logan wants me to go to Iowa, obviously, but he said he loves the staff at Iowa State,” Fidone said. “He said it’s a great place to go and encouraged me to go up there for the game. I also talked to Drake Nettles, our kicker who got offered as a preferred walk-on. He wants me to go to Iowa State. Max has also talked to me about recruiting and how it worked for him.”
Fidone opened his junior season this past Friday with four catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-7 victory over Sergeant Bluff-Luton.
