by Bill Seals
A long-time Iowa State linebacker commit has returned to Ames once since making his decision and said he plans to be back more during the fall.
Barnesville (Minn.) rising senior Hunter Zenzen, who picked the Cyclones over offers from North Dakota, North Dakota State and South Dakota last April, said he’s continued to build solid relationships with the coaching staff.
“I stayed pretty busy over the summer,” said Zenzen, who last traveled to I-State on June 8th for the second Saturday Night Lights camp. “I went to the football camp at Iowa State and worked with two other linebacker commits. We went out to eat together and just kind of got to know each other. That went really well.
“I’ve also been working out all summer and staying busy with my team. We just got done with camp in the last week of July. We’re already rolling in practice here. I talk to (ISU linebacker coach) Tyson Veidt quite a bit, as well as (assistant director of scouting) Colby Kratch. We all keep in touch. They keep in touch and ask how me and my family are doing, which means a lot. When we’re in person and go out to eat, we get closer and closer.”
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Zenzen said he’ll be back in Ames for the Cy-Hawk rivalry game on September 14th, and will take his official visit with many of the 2020 commits in early December.
During his trip next month, Zenzen said he’s anxious to experience one thing he’s never seen before and that’s Jack Trice Stadium for a game. He’s also looking forward to delving into his future position and where the Cyclones envision him fitting into the mix.
“I might look at some of the academic stuff, but it’s pretty much going to be about football,” he said. “I want to see the environment, because I haven’t been there for a gameday visit yet. I’m really excited about that.
“(Veidt and I) haven’t really talked about (my position) in depth yet. I’m assuming the next time I go down there, I’ll sit down with Coach Veidt. When I was down there for my last visit, I sat in some of the linebacker meetings.”
In anticipation of signing with the Cyclones in the 2020 class, and for his final season of high school football, Zenzen said he tried to improve on a few select areas of his game.
“One of the things I really sat a goal to improve was getting my 40 time down,” he said. “I really focused on my speed this summer and all the weightlifting stuff. I continued to get stronger. I’d go to the gym and then go work on speed stuff with my brother.”
Zenzen’s Barnesville team will open 2019 next Friday at Ada-Borup. The future Cyclone said he’ll be playing defensive line, linebacker and tight end this season.
A long-time Iowa State linebacker commit has returned to Ames once since making his decision and said he plans to be back more during the fall.
Barnesville (Minn.) rising senior Hunter Zenzen, who picked the Cyclones over offers from North Dakota, North Dakota State and South Dakota last April, said he’s continued to build solid relationships with the coaching staff.
“I stayed pretty busy over the summer,” said Zenzen, who last traveled to I-State on June 8th for the second Saturday Night Lights camp. “I went to the football camp at Iowa State and worked with two other linebacker commits. We went out to eat together and just kind of got to know each other. That went really well.
“I’ve also been working out all summer and staying busy with my team. We just got done with camp in the last week of July. We’re already rolling in practice here. I talk to (ISU linebacker coach) Tyson Veidt quite a bit, as well as (assistant director of scouting) Colby Kratch. We all keep in touch. They keep in touch and ask how me and my family are doing, which means a lot. When we’re in person and go out to eat, we get closer and closer.”
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Zenzen said he’ll be back in Ames for the Cy-Hawk rivalry game on September 14th, and will take his official visit with many of the 2020 commits in early December.
During his trip next month, Zenzen said he’s anxious to experience one thing he’s never seen before and that’s Jack Trice Stadium for a game. He’s also looking forward to delving into his future position and where the Cyclones envision him fitting into the mix.
“I might look at some of the academic stuff, but it’s pretty much going to be about football,” he said. “I want to see the environment, because I haven’t been there for a gameday visit yet. I’m really excited about that.
“(Veidt and I) haven’t really talked about (my position) in depth yet. I’m assuming the next time I go down there, I’ll sit down with Coach Veidt. When I was down there for my last visit, I sat in some of the linebacker meetings.”
In anticipation of signing with the Cyclones in the 2020 class, and for his final season of high school football, Zenzen said he tried to improve on a few select areas of his game.
“One of the things I really sat a goal to improve was getting my 40 time down,” he said. “I really focused on my speed this summer and all the weightlifting stuff. I continued to get stronger. I’d go to the gym and then go work on speed stuff with my brother.”
Zenzen’s Barnesville team will open 2019 next Friday at Ada-Borup. The future Cyclone said he’ll be playing defensive line, linebacker and tight end this season.
