by Bill Seals
Over the past several months, a Class of 2019 defensive end has made four unofficial visits to Ames and is already planning to be on campus again for the Cyclones’ season opener against Northern Iowa.
Beresford (S.D.) junior Blake Peterson said he has gotten to know head coach Matt Campbell and his staff much better during the course of his trips.
“I’ve been there a total of four times,” said Peterson. “I was up there earlier in the spring for a basketball game, then I was there later for a spring practice, I was there for the Big Man camp this summer and I was there (Monday) to watch practice.
“I think things are going pretty well. I’m focused on continuing to build that relationship between me and the coaches. I like a lot of the things I’ve seen about Iowa State so far. I’ve been talking a lot with Coach (Tyson) Veidt and Coach (Eli) Rasheed. They’re really interested in me and I’m really interested in them. They’re showing me around and showing me some of the recruits they’re bringing in. They’re looking pretty good and that’s a good sign. I like the nutrition program and the culture they’re bringing in there.
Peterson’s most recent visit came Monday afternoon, when he watched a group of I-State backups and first-year players go at it on day one of training camp.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “Right when I got there, I got to go sit in on the defensive line meeting. It was a lot of fun to see the program from that angle. I watched practice and it was a lot of fun watching the guys compete. It’s pretty cool how they split up practice a little bit.
“I watched the twos and freshmen practice. They get more reps in when it’s not all everyone at once. I thought the tempo was pretty good. They kept things moving pretty quickly. As soon as they get done, they’d run over to the next drill. I like how the coaches were interacting with the players and coaching guys up.”
Peterson said he particularly enjoyed chatting with Rasheed and Campbell on this trip.
“I talked to Coach Rasheed a little bit when I got there and we had a nice conversation,” he said. “Right before I left, I went into Coach Campbell’s office and we talked a little bit. It’s really cool that he also played defensive end in college and he is a really great guy. I’ve never heard anything bad about him. They’re really interested in me and are looking forward to getting me back down for a game. I’m planning on coming down again for the UNI game.”
In addition to his ISU offer, Peterson has a Power-5 offer from Minnesota to go with FCS programs South Dakota and South Dakota State.
Over the past several months, a Class of 2019 defensive end has made four unofficial visits to Ames and is already planning to be on campus again for the Cyclones’ season opener against Northern Iowa.
Beresford (S.D.) junior Blake Peterson said he has gotten to know head coach Matt Campbell and his staff much better during the course of his trips.
“I’ve been there a total of four times,” said Peterson. “I was up there earlier in the spring for a basketball game, then I was there later for a spring practice, I was there for the Big Man camp this summer and I was there (Monday) to watch practice.
“I think things are going pretty well. I’m focused on continuing to build that relationship between me and the coaches. I like a lot of the things I’ve seen about Iowa State so far. I’ve been talking a lot with Coach (Tyson) Veidt and Coach (Eli) Rasheed. They’re really interested in me and I’m really interested in them. They’re showing me around and showing me some of the recruits they’re bringing in. They’re looking pretty good and that’s a good sign. I like the nutrition program and the culture they’re bringing in there.
Peterson’s most recent visit came Monday afternoon, when he watched a group of I-State backups and first-year players go at it on day one of training camp.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “Right when I got there, I got to go sit in on the defensive line meeting. It was a lot of fun to see the program from that angle. I watched practice and it was a lot of fun watching the guys compete. It’s pretty cool how they split up practice a little bit.
“I watched the twos and freshmen practice. They get more reps in when it’s not all everyone at once. I thought the tempo was pretty good. They kept things moving pretty quickly. As soon as they get done, they’d run over to the next drill. I like how the coaches were interacting with the players and coaching guys up.”
Peterson said he particularly enjoyed chatting with Rasheed and Campbell on this trip.
“I talked to Coach Rasheed a little bit when I got there and we had a nice conversation,” he said. “Right before I left, I went into Coach Campbell’s office and we talked a little bit. It’s really cool that he also played defensive end in college and he is a really great guy. I’ve never heard anything bad about him. They’re really interested in me and are looking forward to getting me back down for a game. I’m planning on coming down again for the UNI game.”
In addition to his ISU offer, Peterson has a Power-5 offer from Minnesota to go with FCS programs South Dakota and South Dakota State.
