by Bill Seals
Iowa State defensive end commit Angel Dominguez’s senior year ended before it began with a knee injury suffered during a scrimmage game the week before the regular season began.
While the setback put an end to what was sure to be a huge final season for Dominguez at Overland Park St. Thomas Aquinas, it has also brought he and the Iowa State coaching staff closer. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Dominguez said he confided in the Cyclone head coach during the tough stretch.
“It’s extremely frustrating,” said Dominguez, who tore his ACL and lateral meniscus and has missed the entire 2016 season. “It truly humbles and brings you down to earth. How much I love this game, I don’t want to be away from it. I can’t wait to get back on the field (next season). My team is going through the playoffs right now and has a really good chance of winning state.
“Throughout the process, I have talked to Coach Campbell numerous times and called him a day after I found out the news. He listened to me while I was in tears. I have so much respect for that man. He still wants me to come up there, help lead that defense and spark them to achieve big things.”
Campbell and position coach Eli Rasheed have continued keeping tabs on Dominguez over the past few months.
“I have a really good relationship with both those guys,” Dominguez said. “They call me every single week to see how I’m doing. They help me cope with my pain. I’ll do anything for those coaches. I can’t wait to get up there and start playing again.”
The senior defensive end said his comeback from knee surgery has gone well.
“I’m a month and a week out of rehab and I’m already walking on my own with no problem,” Dominguez said. “I can walk around with a brace. I’m biking already and almost ready to start jogging in the pool. I have a doctor’s appointment in about six weeks and we’ll see where I’m at then. My physical therapist has said I’ve been doing extremely well. When I got surgery, I still had my quad and that was almost unheard of. My scar healed up really quickly.”
Having been named a captain to prior to the season, Dominguez was known as a vocal leader. That’s only increased as he’s transitioned into a player-coach on the sidelines throughout the fall.
“If you see me on Friday nights, I’m losing my voice,” he said. “That’s where I make my due as a player is watching a lot of film, so I’ve helped out my other teammates. I have a freshman defensive end and he’s doing really well. He listens to me and makes plays. I’m doing the best I can.”
I-State coaches will pay Dominguez a visit at school on Friday, just a day ahead of the Kansas game over in Lawrence.
“They’re coming down to see me at school and I’m going to go out and watch the Kansas game in Lawrence, so I’m pretty excited about that,” Dominguez said. “They want me to come up on my official visit in January.”
When Dominguez chose the Cyclones back in April, he also had Power-5 offers from Kansas and Oklahoma State.
Iowa State defensive end commit Angel Dominguez’s senior year ended before it began with a knee injury suffered during a scrimmage game the week before the regular season began.
While the setback put an end to what was sure to be a huge final season for Dominguez at Overland Park St. Thomas Aquinas, it has also brought he and the Iowa State coaching staff closer. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Dominguez said he confided in the Cyclone head coach during the tough stretch.
“It’s extremely frustrating,” said Dominguez, who tore his ACL and lateral meniscus and has missed the entire 2016 season. “It truly humbles and brings you down to earth. How much I love this game, I don’t want to be away from it. I can’t wait to get back on the field (next season). My team is going through the playoffs right now and has a really good chance of winning state.
“Throughout the process, I have talked to Coach Campbell numerous times and called him a day after I found out the news. He listened to me while I was in tears. I have so much respect for that man. He still wants me to come up there, help lead that defense and spark them to achieve big things.”
Campbell and position coach Eli Rasheed have continued keeping tabs on Dominguez over the past few months.
“I have a really good relationship with both those guys,” Dominguez said. “They call me every single week to see how I’m doing. They help me cope with my pain. I’ll do anything for those coaches. I can’t wait to get up there and start playing again.”
The senior defensive end said his comeback from knee surgery has gone well.
“I’m a month and a week out of rehab and I’m already walking on my own with no problem,” Dominguez said. “I can walk around with a brace. I’m biking already and almost ready to start jogging in the pool. I have a doctor’s appointment in about six weeks and we’ll see where I’m at then. My physical therapist has said I’ve been doing extremely well. When I got surgery, I still had my quad and that was almost unheard of. My scar healed up really quickly.”
Having been named a captain to prior to the season, Dominguez was known as a vocal leader. That’s only increased as he’s transitioned into a player-coach on the sidelines throughout the fall.
“If you see me on Friday nights, I’m losing my voice,” he said. “That’s where I make my due as a player is watching a lot of film, so I’ve helped out my other teammates. I have a freshman defensive end and he’s doing really well. He listens to me and makes plays. I’m doing the best I can.”
I-State coaches will pay Dominguez a visit at school on Friday, just a day ahead of the Kansas game over in Lawrence.
“They’re coming down to see me at school and I’m going to go out and watch the Kansas game in Lawrence, so I’m pretty excited about that,” Dominguez said. “They want me to come up on my official visit in January.”
When Dominguez chose the Cyclones back in April, he also had Power-5 offers from Kansas and Oklahoma State.
