by Bill Seals
Although Iowa State’s interest ground to a halt while a Florida wide receiver prospect was pledged to Maryland, a recent de-commitment has opened up a door for the coaching staff to make another impression.
Tampa (Fla.) Jefferson senior Ahmarean Brown saw a lot of the coaches yesterday as he looked ahead to the official visit he has scheduled to Iowa State next weekend.
“They came in yesterday to see me at school and they came to my house last night,” said Brown. “I thought it was great. I enjoyed the time we had. They talked to me about me being used in the system and how the system relates to my skill set. They believe I can be an efficient part to the offense and can make plays in the Big 12.”
Brown is a borderline four-star prospect given his 5.7 Rivals rating. At different points in the recruiting process, the 5-foot-9, 160-pound senior has had P5 offers from the likes of Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pound athlete says he’s known the staff in Ames for a while, getting offered as a freshman and just recently getting a “written” offer following his Maryland de-commitment.
“It’s a great program,” he said. “Coach (Matt) Campbell has won Big 12 Coach of the Year two times in a row, so for everybody else to see how good he is…that’s a plus. It looks the program is going in a good direction. They lose four tough games to some great teams. Those teams are beatable, but it’s just a matter of finding those weapons to beat those teams. The program is great and they’re trying to build into winning Big 12 championships.”
Wide receiver coach Bryan Gasser has remained in constant contact with Brown since I-State began recruiting him again, and Campbell recently stepped in to lend a hand. The pass catcher says he’s being sold on the different ways he’d be utilized in the offense.
“They come off well,” Brown said. “I talk to (Gasser) every day and I talked to Coach Campbell a couple days ago. We all have a good relationship. I feel like we all bond well. Things are going well.
“They’d use me as a slot guy and outside guy. I’m fast so they can put me outside to run go routes and post routes on corners and leave me one-on-one. They also want to use me on special teams – punt return, kick return and gunner on the punt team. I’d be all over the field.”
The coaches will look to make another impression starting one week from today when Brown arrives in central Iowa.
“I just want to see how everybody bonds with each other and the atmosphere,” he said. “I want to see the places I’d be spending my most time at and the town and students. Everything outside of football. I’d be living there and it’s not just football. But I still want to see the locker rooms, meeting rooms and everything there.”
Brown, who is taking an official visit to Minnesota this weekend, says his next commitment – one he wants to make later this month – is likely to come down to four schools. That includes his original destination.
“I feel like Maryland could still be in the picture,” he said. “Me and Coach (Mike) Locksley had a great bond when he was at Alabama when he offered me working under Nick Saban. Coach Locksley has always liked me and been my guy. I have no problem playing for him. I’ve visited already, so I know how everything is.
“Iowa State is a great school, great program and in a great conference. Minnesota is a great school with great coaches. I’m just trying to figure it all out right now. Kentucky is also in the mix. I took an unofficial visit there last spring, so I know what it’s all about.”
Although Iowa State’s interest ground to a halt while a Florida wide receiver prospect was pledged to Maryland, a recent de-commitment has opened up a door for the coaching staff to make another impression.
Tampa (Fla.) Jefferson senior Ahmarean Brown saw a lot of the coaches yesterday as he looked ahead to the official visit he has scheduled to Iowa State next weekend.
“They came in yesterday to see me at school and they came to my house last night,” said Brown. “I thought it was great. I enjoyed the time we had. They talked to me about me being used in the system and how the system relates to my skill set. They believe I can be an efficient part to the offense and can make plays in the Big 12.”
Brown is a borderline four-star prospect given his 5.7 Rivals rating. At different points in the recruiting process, the 5-foot-9, 160-pound senior has had P5 offers from the likes of Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pound athlete says he’s known the staff in Ames for a while, getting offered as a freshman and just recently getting a “written” offer following his Maryland de-commitment.
“It’s a great program,” he said. “Coach (Matt) Campbell has won Big 12 Coach of the Year two times in a row, so for everybody else to see how good he is…that’s a plus. It looks the program is going in a good direction. They lose four tough games to some great teams. Those teams are beatable, but it’s just a matter of finding those weapons to beat those teams. The program is great and they’re trying to build into winning Big 12 championships.”
Wide receiver coach Bryan Gasser has remained in constant contact with Brown since I-State began recruiting him again, and Campbell recently stepped in to lend a hand. The pass catcher says he’s being sold on the different ways he’d be utilized in the offense.
“They come off well,” Brown said. “I talk to (Gasser) every day and I talked to Coach Campbell a couple days ago. We all have a good relationship. I feel like we all bond well. Things are going well.
“They’d use me as a slot guy and outside guy. I’m fast so they can put me outside to run go routes and post routes on corners and leave me one-on-one. They also want to use me on special teams – punt return, kick return and gunner on the punt team. I’d be all over the field.”
The coaches will look to make another impression starting one week from today when Brown arrives in central Iowa.
“I just want to see how everybody bonds with each other and the atmosphere,” he said. “I want to see the places I’d be spending my most time at and the town and students. Everything outside of football. I’d be living there and it’s not just football. But I still want to see the locker rooms, meeting rooms and everything there.”
Brown, who is taking an official visit to Minnesota this weekend, says his next commitment – one he wants to make later this month – is likely to come down to four schools. That includes his original destination.
“I feel like Maryland could still be in the picture,” he said. “Me and Coach (Mike) Locksley had a great bond when he was at Alabama when he offered me working under Nick Saban. Coach Locksley has always liked me and been my guy. I have no problem playing for him. I’ve visited already, so I know how everything is.
“Iowa State is a great school, great program and in a great conference. Minnesota is a great school with great coaches. I’m just trying to figure it all out right now. Kentucky is also in the mix. I took an unofficial visit there last spring, so I know what it’s all about.”
