by Bill Seals
A game-day visit to Ames for the Cy-Hawk game on Saturday morning spurred the first Power-5 offer for a Class of 2019 cornerback from the Chicagoland area.
LaGrange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy junior Devin Blakley said he talked to several Cyclone coaches during his time.
“I went down there Saturday morning for the game with a couple teammates,” said Blakley. “I knew they were really interested in me. When I got there, I saw the weight room, indoor practice field and all of that. Coach (Matt Campbell) called me in the office and talked to me for a little bit. He said he wanted to offer me.
“He loves how aggressive I play and my work ethic. He said that’s the kind of player he needs in the program. It’s pretty big to get an offer from Iowa State and is over my head still. I’m really excited about it.”
The 5-foot-10, 179-pound Blakley said he was already blown away by getting the offer, and then came the atmosphere around Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday.
“I couldn’t have chosen a better day to go, just because of that rivalry down there,” Blakley said. “It was pretty electric and the fans were amazing. The whole deal that happened was great. It really exceeded my expectations. I didn’t expect it to be that amazing, really.”
Blakley said he also met with area recruiter Alex Golesh and the Cyclones’ Director of Scouting Joe Schaefer.
“Coach Golesh talked to me about my season and how he liked my film,” Blakley said. “He asked me about our games. He is really interested about my season right now. Coach Schaefer said he likes how I never really come off the field and how aggressive I play. I have a different type of motor that other kids don’t have.”
The defender was invited to the game, along with teammates Diamond Evans and Jermaine Baker who do not have offers. Another one of Blakley’s high school teammates, defensive tackle Isaiah Lee, is one of the Cyclones’ 2018 commitments.
“I haven’t talked to him much about it, as we’re focused about our season right now,” Blakley said. “I just know that he loves it out there.”
Blakley also has an offer from Bowling Green to go along with Big 10 interest from Penn State, Northwestern and Illinois.
A game-day visit to Ames for the Cy-Hawk game on Saturday morning spurred the first Power-5 offer for a Class of 2019 cornerback from the Chicagoland area.
LaGrange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy junior Devin Blakley said he talked to several Cyclone coaches during his time.
“I went down there Saturday morning for the game with a couple teammates,” said Blakley. “I knew they were really interested in me. When I got there, I saw the weight room, indoor practice field and all of that. Coach (Matt Campbell) called me in the office and talked to me for a little bit. He said he wanted to offer me.
“He loves how aggressive I play and my work ethic. He said that’s the kind of player he needs in the program. It’s pretty big to get an offer from Iowa State and is over my head still. I’m really excited about it.”
The 5-foot-10, 179-pound Blakley said he was already blown away by getting the offer, and then came the atmosphere around Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday.
“I couldn’t have chosen a better day to go, just because of that rivalry down there,” Blakley said. “It was pretty electric and the fans were amazing. The whole deal that happened was great. It really exceeded my expectations. I didn’t expect it to be that amazing, really.”
Blakley said he also met with area recruiter Alex Golesh and the Cyclones’ Director of Scouting Joe Schaefer.
“Coach Golesh talked to me about my season and how he liked my film,” Blakley said. “He asked me about our games. He is really interested about my season right now. Coach Schaefer said he likes how I never really come off the field and how aggressive I play. I have a different type of motor that other kids don’t have.”
The defender was invited to the game, along with teammates Diamond Evans and Jermaine Baker who do not have offers. Another one of Blakley’s high school teammates, defensive tackle Isaiah Lee, is one of the Cyclones’ 2018 commitments.
“I haven’t talked to him much about it, as we’re focused about our season right now,” Blakley said. “I just know that he loves it out there.”
Blakley also has an offer from Bowling Green to go along with Big 10 interest from Penn State, Northwestern and Illinois.
