by Bill Seals
With more than two-dozen offers, including several in the Power-5 ranks, a defensive lineman from the Michigan high school ranks has seen his recruitment blow up this spring. And he said there’s no college program recruiting him harder right now than the Cyclones.
Dearborn three-star junior Ali Saad made a huge impression on the staff in Ames with a standout 2018 season and impressive Hudl tape. The attention he’s received as a result shows how serious the staff is in signing him.
“Iowa State has been great in contacting me and texting me every day lately,” said Saad. “The coaches are saying they can’t wait for me to come visit and that they really want me. When they offered me over the phone (on February 25th), it was a blessing. I love the coaching staff and they’re recruiting me really hard. I love everything about Iowa State and can’t wait to go on a visit.”
I-State staffers are covering a variety of subjects with Saad during their conversations.
“They usually talk about what defensive positions they utilize, what I can improve on individually and what they do as a coaching staff to develop their players,” he said. “We’ve talked about certain positions I could play and hopefully start at there. I would likely come in as an interior defensive lineman.
“They love my tape, how explosive I was and how fast I can run to the ball. They really enjoy my physicality. They like everything about me – my height, weight and all that stuff. I’m also still only 16, so they love that.”
In addition to ISU, Saad has secured P5 offers from the likes of Boston College, Indiana, Missouri, Northwestern and Rutgers. Rivals has assigned him a 5.5 rating.
He said the Cyclones currently stand out to him for a number of reasons.
“Everything is amazing,” Saad said. “The program is great. They have a great coaching staff. I love their facilities. They run a great defense and offense. The campus down there looks beautiful. I should be able to visit there next month to see it all for myself.”
With summer around the corner, the Michigan prep said he would like to start narrowing down his list of schools. He currently claims no favorites and wouldn’t say where I-State stands in his mix.
“I have no clue, because I haven’t visited some of the schools,” he said. “I’m planning on taking visits this month and next month. Once that’s done, I should have a better idea. I’m hearing the most from Iowa State right now and am also hearing a lot from MAC and Ivy League schools.”
With more than two-dozen offers, including several in the Power-5 ranks, a defensive lineman from the Michigan high school ranks has seen his recruitment blow up this spring. And he said there’s no college program recruiting him harder right now than the Cyclones.
Dearborn three-star junior Ali Saad made a huge impression on the staff in Ames with a standout 2018 season and impressive Hudl tape. The attention he’s received as a result shows how serious the staff is in signing him.
“Iowa State has been great in contacting me and texting me every day lately,” said Saad. “The coaches are saying they can’t wait for me to come visit and that they really want me. When they offered me over the phone (on February 25th), it was a blessing. I love the coaching staff and they’re recruiting me really hard. I love everything about Iowa State and can’t wait to go on a visit.”
I-State staffers are covering a variety of subjects with Saad during their conversations.
“They usually talk about what defensive positions they utilize, what I can improve on individually and what they do as a coaching staff to develop their players,” he said. “We’ve talked about certain positions I could play and hopefully start at there. I would likely come in as an interior defensive lineman.
“They love my tape, how explosive I was and how fast I can run to the ball. They really enjoy my physicality. They like everything about me – my height, weight and all that stuff. I’m also still only 16, so they love that.”
In addition to ISU, Saad has secured P5 offers from the likes of Boston College, Indiana, Missouri, Northwestern and Rutgers. Rivals has assigned him a 5.5 rating.
He said the Cyclones currently stand out to him for a number of reasons.
“Everything is amazing,” Saad said. “The program is great. They have a great coaching staff. I love their facilities. They run a great defense and offense. The campus down there looks beautiful. I should be able to visit there next month to see it all for myself.”
With summer around the corner, the Michigan prep said he would like to start narrowing down his list of schools. He currently claims no favorites and wouldn’t say where I-State stands in his mix.
“I have no clue, because I haven’t visited some of the schools,” he said. “I’m planning on taking visits this month and next month. Once that’s done, I should have a better idea. I’m hearing the most from Iowa State right now and am also hearing a lot from MAC and Ivy League schools.”
