by Bill Seals
With two and a half weeks left until the February signing period, Iowa State made a move in the right direction for a Georgia prep defensive back over the weekend.
Stone Mountain Stephenson senior Justin Birdsong took his second official visit of the recruiting process to Ames, saying he enjoyed most everything about his experience.
“I loved it a lot,” said Birdsong. “It’s definitely a great school and great place to be. They definitely blew out my expectations. Once I first got the offer, everybody said I wasn’t going to Iowa State there in the middle of nowhere. But it didn’t feel like that. It felt like a real college town and a good place. I especially liked how I related to the players and being able to talk to the coaches and spent time with them. I felt like at home and that it was a real team.”
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Birdsong is valued by the Cyclones due to his versatility in the secondary, and it appears he’d be ticketed to play in one particular area of need.
“I spent time one-on-one with Coach (D.K.) McDonald and he explained to me that coming in I would have a better shot of coming in, competing or starting at the safety spot,” Birdsong said. “They run a three-safety type deal. He said it would be easier there, because they have two all-conference guys returning at corner and decent backups. All three of the safeties are moving on, so I’d have an opportunity there.”
True freshman Keontae Jones hosted Birdsong over the visit, and the two had a lot in common.
“He was a cool guy and reminds me of myself,” Birdsong said. “He’s a laid-back kid and chilled a lot. He’s not the type to go out to parties all the time. We chilled a lot and had fun. He’s really into the books and into the game of football. He loves being there. He played a little bit during the season as a true freshman and enjoyed it.
“He said he’s going to probably end up moving to safety, because of the lack of depth there. He explained to me how good it is up there and exactly what he loves. There wasn’t really anything negative about the place.”
The official visit wrapped up this morning with Birdsong having breakfast at head coach Matt Campbell’s house.
“He really wants me to come up there and play,” Birdsong said. “He likes me. He loves my film and loves me as a person, probably even more than he does as a football player. That’s good. He explained to me how bad they want me up there and competing early, being a good person for the team and in the community.
“I told him they’re definitely at the top of my board right now. Other than distance, I have nothing negative or bad to say about them. If I can go in there and play, distance won’t matter since I’d be on the field playing and having a good time.”
I-State will likely be in-home with Birdsong later this week, he said.
“Coach Campbell said that he and the staff will come down this week or next week, so I definitely look forward to that.”
Birdsong is a three-star safety with a 5.5 Rivals rating. Throughout the recruiting process, he has collected offers Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State and Minnesota. He took an official visit to Georgia Southern last weekend, and is considering trips to Duke and Toledo for future weeks.
With two and a half weeks left until the February signing period, Iowa State made a move in the right direction for a Georgia prep defensive back over the weekend.
Stone Mountain Stephenson senior Justin Birdsong took his second official visit of the recruiting process to Ames, saying he enjoyed most everything about his experience.
“I loved it a lot,” said Birdsong. “It’s definitely a great school and great place to be. They definitely blew out my expectations. Once I first got the offer, everybody said I wasn’t going to Iowa State there in the middle of nowhere. But it didn’t feel like that. It felt like a real college town and a good place. I especially liked how I related to the players and being able to talk to the coaches and spent time with them. I felt like at home and that it was a real team.”
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Birdsong is valued by the Cyclones due to his versatility in the secondary, and it appears he’d be ticketed to play in one particular area of need.
“I spent time one-on-one with Coach (D.K.) McDonald and he explained to me that coming in I would have a better shot of coming in, competing or starting at the safety spot,” Birdsong said. “They run a three-safety type deal. He said it would be easier there, because they have two all-conference guys returning at corner and decent backups. All three of the safeties are moving on, so I’d have an opportunity there.”
True freshman Keontae Jones hosted Birdsong over the visit, and the two had a lot in common.
“He was a cool guy and reminds me of myself,” Birdsong said. “He’s a laid-back kid and chilled a lot. He’s not the type to go out to parties all the time. We chilled a lot and had fun. He’s really into the books and into the game of football. He loves being there. He played a little bit during the season as a true freshman and enjoyed it.
“He said he’s going to probably end up moving to safety, because of the lack of depth there. He explained to me how good it is up there and exactly what he loves. There wasn’t really anything negative about the place.”
The official visit wrapped up this morning with Birdsong having breakfast at head coach Matt Campbell’s house.
“He really wants me to come up there and play,” Birdsong said. “He likes me. He loves my film and loves me as a person, probably even more than he does as a football player. That’s good. He explained to me how bad they want me up there and competing early, being a good person for the team and in the community.
“I told him they’re definitely at the top of my board right now. Other than distance, I have nothing negative or bad to say about them. If I can go in there and play, distance won’t matter since I’d be on the field playing and having a good time.”
I-State will likely be in-home with Birdsong later this week, he said.
“Coach Campbell said that he and the staff will come down this week or next week, so I definitely look forward to that.”
Birdsong is a three-star safety with a 5.5 Rivals rating. Throughout the recruiting process, he has collected offers Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State and Minnesota. He took an official visit to Georgia Southern last weekend, and is considering trips to Duke and Toledo for future weeks.
