by Bill Seals
In addition to gaining a better understanding of what Iowa State has to offer academically, an Illinois prep offensive lineman wanted to get a better idea on who his position coach would be if he signs on in the Class of 2019.
Washington junior J.J. Guedet took his second unofficial visit to Ames this past weekend, and said the latest stop was the most intensive.
“We started off with a little highlight and talk with Coach (Matt) Campbell at the beginning,” said Guedet. “He went up front and told us a little bit about why he came to Iowa State from Toledo. He said he was impressed by their fan base after (Toledo) played there. I went to one of their games last year and saw that. Football is pretty big in Iowa, so that was cool.
“Then we broke into groups and talked to our position coaches. That was nice to meet the new coach, since Coach (Tom) Manning got the job with the Colts. It was just me and one other with Coach (Jeff) Myers and we talked to him a little bit. We checked out the weight room and talked with a strength coach on what a regular day would be training. We went through what some of the different machines are that are uncommon.
“Then we took a tour of the campus and came back and had another talk one on one with Coach Campbell. It was just me and my dad in his office. He’s very excited to be recruiting me and wanted to know a little more about me. He talked about himself and his background, and then he talked about what he wants to see from me in the future. He told me he was going to start recruiting me even harder now that he’s met me.”
Guedet said the focus of his latest trip to I-State was much different than his first, which came on the day of the CyHawk game last September.
“From a football aspect, the first visit was a lot better because of the environment of the game against Iowa,” he said. “You can’t replicate that. We didn’t talk a ton of football when we were there (Saturday), but the academic side was really nice to see.
“We went down and saw the training area and physical therapy. I talked to the trainer about how I would have to go about pursuing a Sports Medicine degree there. Being able to see the academic side of Iowa State…this was probably my best visit.”
The 6-foot-8, 255-pound offensive tackle said he got an idea of just how important his position is to the continued turnaround of the Cyclones.
“(Campbell) said when he came to Iowa State, the offensive line was probably the worst thing they had,” Guedet said. “He’s been talking about trying to bring the o-line back up and make it one of their strongest points. For me, he said I was one of their top guys right now and that was cool. There’s some expectations to it, but it’s pretty awesome.”
Guedet is a pretty big target for a number of FBS teams presently. He also has P5 offers from Illinois, Iowa, Louisville and Minnesota, in addition to a number from G5 conferences.
In order to not lose any footing with Guedet during the transition, I-State ensured the recruit got plenty of face time with Manning’s replacement.
“When we went there the first time, I didn’t sit down and talk to him but I knew he was there,” Guedet said of Myers, who was the assistant offensive line coach at the time. “Coach Campbell (Saturday) said how Coach Myers had played for Coach Manning and himself at Toledo, and then was a GA under both of them. They talked a lot about if and when Coach Manning was offered a job to go somewhere, he was most likely going to take it.
“They have been grooming Coach Myers into being the next offensive line coach. He’s definitely different and is young for a coach. He seemed to be really comfortable with the players and talking to them. He seemed a lot like a player’s coach.”
Guedet said he looks forward to continuing to build that connection in the coming months with what would be his third trip to ISU.
“Me and my dad were talking with Coach Campbell and Coach Myers about trying to find a day that fits my schedule to come back up for a spring practice,” Guedet said. “I want to see Coach Myers in action coaching his kids and how their relationship is.”
In addition to the early signing day moving up his recruitment, Guedet said he will be mid-term graduate, so he would like to have his decision made prior to his senior season.
In addition to gaining a better understanding of what Iowa State has to offer academically, an Illinois prep offensive lineman wanted to get a better idea on who his position coach would be if he signs on in the Class of 2019.
Washington junior J.J. Guedet took his second unofficial visit to Ames this past weekend, and said the latest stop was the most intensive.
“We started off with a little highlight and talk with Coach (Matt) Campbell at the beginning,” said Guedet. “He went up front and told us a little bit about why he came to Iowa State from Toledo. He said he was impressed by their fan base after (Toledo) played there. I went to one of their games last year and saw that. Football is pretty big in Iowa, so that was cool.
“Then we broke into groups and talked to our position coaches. That was nice to meet the new coach, since Coach (Tom) Manning got the job with the Colts. It was just me and one other with Coach (Jeff) Myers and we talked to him a little bit. We checked out the weight room and talked with a strength coach on what a regular day would be training. We went through what some of the different machines are that are uncommon.
“Then we took a tour of the campus and came back and had another talk one on one with Coach Campbell. It was just me and my dad in his office. He’s very excited to be recruiting me and wanted to know a little more about me. He talked about himself and his background, and then he talked about what he wants to see from me in the future. He told me he was going to start recruiting me even harder now that he’s met me.”
Guedet said the focus of his latest trip to I-State was much different than his first, which came on the day of the CyHawk game last September.
“From a football aspect, the first visit was a lot better because of the environment of the game against Iowa,” he said. “You can’t replicate that. We didn’t talk a ton of football when we were there (Saturday), but the academic side was really nice to see.
“We went down and saw the training area and physical therapy. I talked to the trainer about how I would have to go about pursuing a Sports Medicine degree there. Being able to see the academic side of Iowa State…this was probably my best visit.”
The 6-foot-8, 255-pound offensive tackle said he got an idea of just how important his position is to the continued turnaround of the Cyclones.
“(Campbell) said when he came to Iowa State, the offensive line was probably the worst thing they had,” Guedet said. “He’s been talking about trying to bring the o-line back up and make it one of their strongest points. For me, he said I was one of their top guys right now and that was cool. There’s some expectations to it, but it’s pretty awesome.”
Guedet is a pretty big target for a number of FBS teams presently. He also has P5 offers from Illinois, Iowa, Louisville and Minnesota, in addition to a number from G5 conferences.
In order to not lose any footing with Guedet during the transition, I-State ensured the recruit got plenty of face time with Manning’s replacement.
“When we went there the first time, I didn’t sit down and talk to him but I knew he was there,” Guedet said of Myers, who was the assistant offensive line coach at the time. “Coach Campbell (Saturday) said how Coach Myers had played for Coach Manning and himself at Toledo, and then was a GA under both of them. They talked a lot about if and when Coach Manning was offered a job to go somewhere, he was most likely going to take it.
“They have been grooming Coach Myers into being the next offensive line coach. He’s definitely different and is young for a coach. He seemed to be really comfortable with the players and talking to them. He seemed a lot like a player’s coach.”
Guedet said he looks forward to continuing to build that connection in the coming months with what would be his third trip to ISU.
“Me and my dad were talking with Coach Campbell and Coach Myers about trying to find a day that fits my schedule to come back up for a spring practice,” Guedet said. “I want to see Coach Myers in action coaching his kids and how their relationship is.”
In addition to the early signing day moving up his recruitment, Guedet said he will be mid-term graduate, so he would like to have his decision made prior to his senior season.
