by Bill Seals
Taking in Iowa State for the first time over the weekend with his brother that signed with the program in this year’s class, an Ohio prep defensive back came away impressed with what the new coaching staff is building.
Cincinnati Colerain’s Keontae Jones made the trek to Ames with his older brother Deshaunte, and felt the Cyclones made quite an impression on him.
“I enjoyed the campus and how all the fans were at the spring game,” said Jones. “I took a tour around the campus a little bit and it was really nice. I got to meet more of the people around the program, which was nice.
“I was on the visit with my brother and we hung out with some of the recruits that were going to Iowa State next year and it went well. We talked a lot about football and how when they go to Iowa State things are going to change.”
The 6-foot-0, 175-pound junior also enjoyed his team around head coach Matt Campbell’s staff, who preached to him that he could be a top player in the 2017 class.
“(My perception) changed a lot, because the relationships got better with me and the coaches over the weekend,” Jones said. “I met some more coaches that I really like. It was a good experience. I liked the people around there and that made it great.
“They talked to me a lot about how Iowa State is going to change and how they’re going to be a dominant leader. They told me they need leaders to guide their team and I can be a leader for them.”
As they have done with other top recruits on their board, I-State coaches showed Jones some video clips of himself and of the defense to demonstrate how he’d fit into the system.
“I went into a position meeting to watch a little film,” Jones said. “They were showing me the position I would play. They run a nickel defense and the position I’d play would be more down to the line.”
Although the family connection has certainly helped put the Cyclones on Jones’ radar, it won’t be the deciding factor on whether he officially joins Deshaunte next February.
“He doesn’t play a huge role, because I want to go somewhere that fits me and make a name for myself,” Keonte said.
In addition to his I-State, Jones has Power-5 offers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Purdue, Rutgers and West Virginia.
Jones said he will likely make a commitment in the coming months.
“I want to make a decision before the football season starts, like in late July or early August,” he said.
Taking in Iowa State for the first time over the weekend with his brother that signed with the program in this year’s class, an Ohio prep defensive back came away impressed with what the new coaching staff is building.
Cincinnati Colerain’s Keontae Jones made the trek to Ames with his older brother Deshaunte, and felt the Cyclones made quite an impression on him.
“I enjoyed the campus and how all the fans were at the spring game,” said Jones. “I took a tour around the campus a little bit and it was really nice. I got to meet more of the people around the program, which was nice.
“I was on the visit with my brother and we hung out with some of the recruits that were going to Iowa State next year and it went well. We talked a lot about football and how when they go to Iowa State things are going to change.”
The 6-foot-0, 175-pound junior also enjoyed his team around head coach Matt Campbell’s staff, who preached to him that he could be a top player in the 2017 class.
“(My perception) changed a lot, because the relationships got better with me and the coaches over the weekend,” Jones said. “I met some more coaches that I really like. It was a good experience. I liked the people around there and that made it great.
“They talked to me a lot about how Iowa State is going to change and how they’re going to be a dominant leader. They told me they need leaders to guide their team and I can be a leader for them.”
As they have done with other top recruits on their board, I-State coaches showed Jones some video clips of himself and of the defense to demonstrate how he’d fit into the system.
“I went into a position meeting to watch a little film,” Jones said. “They were showing me the position I would play. They run a nickel defense and the position I’d play would be more down to the line.”
Although the family connection has certainly helped put the Cyclones on Jones’ radar, it won’t be the deciding factor on whether he officially joins Deshaunte next February.
“He doesn’t play a huge role, because I want to go somewhere that fits me and make a name for myself,” Keonte said.
In addition to his I-State, Jones has Power-5 offers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Purdue, Rutgers and West Virginia.
Jones said he will likely make a commitment in the coming months.
“I want to make a decision before the football season starts, like in late July or early August,” he said.
