by Bill Seals
While Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain standout safety Keontae Jones has generated a lot of headlines in Iowa State’s recruitment for the Class of 2017, an offensive lineman from the same high school program also has an offer and is looking to take two visits to Ames in the coming months.
Senior big man Howard Watkins gives the Cyclones high marks for the job they’ve done trying to reel him in for next February’s signing class.
“Since my recruitment started, Iowa State has just been really honest and I can tell how much they really want me to be a part of the program,” said Watkins. “They expressed that when they offered me. I got to talk to my recruiting coach, Coach Gasser, my position coach, Coach Manning, and the head coach, Coach Campbell. The head coach was the one who offered me and he expressed how much he wants me to be a part of his program and what he has going on at Iowa State.
“Coach Campbell said himself, Coach Gasser and Coach Manning are going to finish out my recruitment. He has been a man of his word. They really want me to get down there for a game before I go on my official. Coach Manning is one of the best offensive line coaches in the country.”
The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Watkins said he would still like to take a game-day visit to Ames that would serve as a precursor to the official visit he has initially planned for the weekend of December 16-18.
“I’d like to come out there with Keontae Jones, because he knows the area more than I do,” Watkins said. “I want to go out there with him before we take our official visits. We’re also going to take our officials together. I’m trying to work out a way for us to get out there to see the campus. I’m hoping that can be one of the next two Saturdays.”
An impressive senior season playing on the offensive side has gotten Watkins a lot of attention from programs looking for linemen, including Iowa State coaching staff which had the prospect on the radar since their days in the MAC.
“While they were at Toledo, I was on the bubble of getting an offer because I played both ways,” Watkins said. “They wanted me as an offensive lineman, but I had played a lot of defense my junior year. Then my senior year, I developed into the offensive lineman they were looking for.
“They said I was an athlete that could play offensive and defensive line, I’m a hard worker, have a nice body type, am physically impressive and am what they need at Iowa State. The coaches said they need linemen like me. They’re telling me I’ll have an opportunity to play early. They want me to come up there and be elite.”
The Cyclones are in a good place with Watkins, not only because of their long-time recruitment of Jones but also due to the outstanding freshman season currently being had by Jones’ older brother and former high school teammate Deshaunte in Ames.
“That means a lot,” Watkins said. “Deshaunte has always been a great leader to me and is somebody I look up to. He doesn’t say a lot, but he shows it on the field. It’s great to see him playing as a true freshman on a Power-5 conference team. What he’s doing is amazing and it gives me confidence that I can do it.”
In addition to ISU, Watkins has P5 offers from the likes of Illinois, Indiana, Louisville and Rutgers. He took his first official visit of the process back on September 9th to Illinois, and is planning four more in the coming weeks.
“I have a list of favorites and I think those are the schools I’m going to focus on,” he said. “Iowa State is in the picture with Illinois, Cincinnati, Louisville and Georgia State. All of them have great programs. Iowa State is definitely in the mix. I love their program and what they’re doing.”
While Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain standout safety Keontae Jones has generated a lot of headlines in Iowa State’s recruitment for the Class of 2017, an offensive lineman from the same high school program also has an offer and is looking to take two visits to Ames in the coming months.
Senior big man Howard Watkins gives the Cyclones high marks for the job they’ve done trying to reel him in for next February’s signing class.
“Since my recruitment started, Iowa State has just been really honest and I can tell how much they really want me to be a part of the program,” said Watkins. “They expressed that when they offered me. I got to talk to my recruiting coach, Coach Gasser, my position coach, Coach Manning, and the head coach, Coach Campbell. The head coach was the one who offered me and he expressed how much he wants me to be a part of his program and what he has going on at Iowa State.
“Coach Campbell said himself, Coach Gasser and Coach Manning are going to finish out my recruitment. He has been a man of his word. They really want me to get down there for a game before I go on my official. Coach Manning is one of the best offensive line coaches in the country.”
The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Watkins said he would still like to take a game-day visit to Ames that would serve as a precursor to the official visit he has initially planned for the weekend of December 16-18.
“I’d like to come out there with Keontae Jones, because he knows the area more than I do,” Watkins said. “I want to go out there with him before we take our official visits. We’re also going to take our officials together. I’m trying to work out a way for us to get out there to see the campus. I’m hoping that can be one of the next two Saturdays.”
An impressive senior season playing on the offensive side has gotten Watkins a lot of attention from programs looking for linemen, including Iowa State coaching staff which had the prospect on the radar since their days in the MAC.
“While they were at Toledo, I was on the bubble of getting an offer because I played both ways,” Watkins said. “They wanted me as an offensive lineman, but I had played a lot of defense my junior year. Then my senior year, I developed into the offensive lineman they were looking for.
“They said I was an athlete that could play offensive and defensive line, I’m a hard worker, have a nice body type, am physically impressive and am what they need at Iowa State. The coaches said they need linemen like me. They’re telling me I’ll have an opportunity to play early. They want me to come up there and be elite.”
The Cyclones are in a good place with Watkins, not only because of their long-time recruitment of Jones but also due to the outstanding freshman season currently being had by Jones’ older brother and former high school teammate Deshaunte in Ames.
“That means a lot,” Watkins said. “Deshaunte has always been a great leader to me and is somebody I look up to. He doesn’t say a lot, but he shows it on the field. It’s great to see him playing as a true freshman on a Power-5 conference team. What he’s doing is amazing and it gives me confidence that I can do it.”
In addition to ISU, Watkins has P5 offers from the likes of Illinois, Indiana, Louisville and Rutgers. He took his first official visit of the process back on September 9th to Illinois, and is planning four more in the coming weeks.
“I have a list of favorites and I think those are the schools I’m going to focus on,” he said. “Iowa State is in the picture with Illinois, Cincinnati, Louisville and Georgia State. All of them have great programs. Iowa State is definitely in the mix. I love their program and what they’re doing.”
