by Bill Seals
Iowa State might not be done quite yet with filling its 2019 recruiting class, as the coaching staff hosted a reclassified JUCO wide receiver on an official visit over the weekend.
Butler County (Kan.) redshirt freshman Darren Wilson said his Cyclone recruitment has come together fairly quickly, and has intensified even more with his graduation last week.
“They were looking for a receiver and kind of searching the country,” said Wilson, who arrived in Ames on Friday for his first official visit of an expedited recruiting process. “They had a scholarship left over for the 2019 class. I’m a JUCO guy that just graduated this past Thursday and finished my degree.
“I’m eligible to get out now and they want me to come in now and be a playmaker. I’ll have three years to play three. They didn’t know if they were going to take a grad transfer or somebody that didn’t have as much eligibility as I had. They watched my film and really liked it. They got a little background with my coaches and really like how I carried myself. They really like my character and think I fit that program.”
Although the Cyclones have added Arkansas graduate transfer La’Michael Pettway to the 2019 mix, they may not be done trying to fill the void left by Hakeem Butler’s early entry to the NFL and Josh Johnson’s pending transfer.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Wilson said he was encouraged by the outlook in Ames, as far as his ability to play early and be around a winning culture created by head coach Matt Campbell and his staff.
“Coach Nate (Scheelhaase) showed me a little bit about how they really do develop their receivers,” Wilson said. “He showed me clips of when Hakeem Butler just got to Iowa State. I saw how much he improved since when he first got there. I saw how they develop all their receivers.
“I have a legitimate shot of coming in, especially since (Johnson) is headed out of Iowa State. The two slot receivers Tarique Milton and Deshaunte Jones are still there, but they still have some spots to compete for the outside job. I can come in, compete this year and be a playmaker this year, but still have two more years after this one.”
In his first season of college ball in 2018, Wilson caught 20 passes for 390 yards and three touchdowns. Since it became apparent that he would be graduating this spring, Wilson has attracted offers from ISU, West Virginia, Buffalo, Liberty, South Alabama, UAB, UNLV and Western Michigan.
The recruiting attention has been a welcome sight for a wide receiver that tackled his fair share of adversity as a high school senior.
Although he was a non-qualifier out of Milton (Ga.) Cambridge, likely headed to a JUCO, Wilson’s path got even more difficult when he suffered a tibial tuberosity during the long jump event at a track meet. Wilson underwent surgery which kept him out of football in fall of 2017. He enrolled at nearby Georgia State Perimeter College, where he rehabbed while being a full-time student during a redshirt year.
Once he arrived at Butler County, Wilson had to prove himself all over again.
“I came out here in January of 2018 and went through that spring,” he said. “That was kind of my tryout. When they bring in spring recruits, they do tryouts and actually make cuts. I made the team and started last fall. Our team was young and all freshmen. I hadn’t played in a year, but led the team in receiving yards.
“This spring, I really did well and started getting some looks. Coach Golesh came out to practice to watch me earlier this month and offered me that day. I’ve also talked to Coach Campbell and Coach Scheelhaase. All of them wanted to set up an official visit, so I could come out to see Ames. This weekend, I went out there and had a great visit.”
Wilson said it was the staff at I-State that could ultimately seal the deal for him to join the program this summer.
“Usually, the facilities at any big Power-5 Division I program are going to be really nice, so it’s going to come down to the relationships with the coaches, what their situation is and what kind of relationship I have with the coaches,” Wilson said. “All of the coaches there are great.”
At least two more official visits are on the horizon for Wilson, who appears to be down to three finalists with the Cyclones out to an early lead.
“Decision-wise, that was my first visit and (Iowa State) completely understand that was my first visit and that I want to see what else is there,” he said. “I’m going to take a visit to West Virginia on Memorial Day weekend, which is the 27th to the 29th. I’m getting new interest from Nebraska. They haven’t offered yet, but I think they’re going to.
“As soon as I’m able to get both of those visits done, I’m going to make a decision. As of right now, I really like how Iowa State does things and really like the coaches over there. I’m kind of leaning towards there right now, but I still want to see what other opportunities are available.”
Iowa State might not be done quite yet with filling its 2019 recruiting class, as the coaching staff hosted a reclassified JUCO wide receiver on an official visit over the weekend.
Butler County (Kan.) redshirt freshman Darren Wilson said his Cyclone recruitment has come together fairly quickly, and has intensified even more with his graduation last week.
“They were looking for a receiver and kind of searching the country,” said Wilson, who arrived in Ames on Friday for his first official visit of an expedited recruiting process. “They had a scholarship left over for the 2019 class. I’m a JUCO guy that just graduated this past Thursday and finished my degree.
“I’m eligible to get out now and they want me to come in now and be a playmaker. I’ll have three years to play three. They didn’t know if they were going to take a grad transfer or somebody that didn’t have as much eligibility as I had. They watched my film and really liked it. They got a little background with my coaches and really like how I carried myself. They really like my character and think I fit that program.”
Although the Cyclones have added Arkansas graduate transfer La’Michael Pettway to the 2019 mix, they may not be done trying to fill the void left by Hakeem Butler’s early entry to the NFL and Josh Johnson’s pending transfer.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Wilson said he was encouraged by the outlook in Ames, as far as his ability to play early and be around a winning culture created by head coach Matt Campbell and his staff.
“Coach Nate (Scheelhaase) showed me a little bit about how they really do develop their receivers,” Wilson said. “He showed me clips of when Hakeem Butler just got to Iowa State. I saw how much he improved since when he first got there. I saw how they develop all their receivers.
“I have a legitimate shot of coming in, especially since (Johnson) is headed out of Iowa State. The two slot receivers Tarique Milton and Deshaunte Jones are still there, but they still have some spots to compete for the outside job. I can come in, compete this year and be a playmaker this year, but still have two more years after this one.”
In his first season of college ball in 2018, Wilson caught 20 passes for 390 yards and three touchdowns. Since it became apparent that he would be graduating this spring, Wilson has attracted offers from ISU, West Virginia, Buffalo, Liberty, South Alabama, UAB, UNLV and Western Michigan.
The recruiting attention has been a welcome sight for a wide receiver that tackled his fair share of adversity as a high school senior.
Although he was a non-qualifier out of Milton (Ga.) Cambridge, likely headed to a JUCO, Wilson’s path got even more difficult when he suffered a tibial tuberosity during the long jump event at a track meet. Wilson underwent surgery which kept him out of football in fall of 2017. He enrolled at nearby Georgia State Perimeter College, where he rehabbed while being a full-time student during a redshirt year.
Once he arrived at Butler County, Wilson had to prove himself all over again.
“I came out here in January of 2018 and went through that spring,” he said. “That was kind of my tryout. When they bring in spring recruits, they do tryouts and actually make cuts. I made the team and started last fall. Our team was young and all freshmen. I hadn’t played in a year, but led the team in receiving yards.
“This spring, I really did well and started getting some looks. Coach Golesh came out to practice to watch me earlier this month and offered me that day. I’ve also talked to Coach Campbell and Coach Scheelhaase. All of them wanted to set up an official visit, so I could come out to see Ames. This weekend, I went out there and had a great visit.”
Wilson said it was the staff at I-State that could ultimately seal the deal for him to join the program this summer.
“Usually, the facilities at any big Power-5 Division I program are going to be really nice, so it’s going to come down to the relationships with the coaches, what their situation is and what kind of relationship I have with the coaches,” Wilson said. “All of the coaches there are great.”
At least two more official visits are on the horizon for Wilson, who appears to be down to three finalists with the Cyclones out to an early lead.
“Decision-wise, that was my first visit and (Iowa State) completely understand that was my first visit and that I want to see what else is there,” he said. “I’m going to take a visit to West Virginia on Memorial Day weekend, which is the 27th to the 29th. I’m getting new interest from Nebraska. They haven’t offered yet, but I think they’re going to.
“As soon as I’m able to get both of those visits done, I’m going to make a decision. As of right now, I really like how Iowa State does things and really like the coaches over there. I’m kind of leaning towards there right now, but I still want to see what other opportunities are available.”
