by Bill Seals
Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Manning has taken a liking to an Alabama junior prospect that already has an offer from a perennial Power-5 program, recently extending an offer of his own during a phone conversation.
Prattville (Ala.) Class of 2018 athlete Cameron Taylor said he was pleased to hear the news first-hand from Manning on October 26th.
“Coach Tom Manning followed me on Twitter and we started building a relationship from there,” said Taylor. “I called him and am supposed to be on the phone with the head coach soon. Coach Manning said he was shocked to be on the phone with me. He asked who I had offers from and I said, ‘Michigan, Cincinnati and Troy’. He said, ‘and you have one from Iowa State’.
“He said he was so pleased with how fast I can get the ball out of my hands and they need playmakers like that on the team. He was shocked at how good I looked on film. He just wants the ball in my hands to make plays on either side of the ball.”
The 6-foot-0, 194-pound Taylor, who said he would like to take an unofficial visit to Ames next spring or summer, said the Cyclone offer is a big one for him at this point in the process.
“I’ve never been anywhere near Iowa State and for them to just offer me out of the blue was great,” he said. “Coach Manning said he’s never seen anyone like me and that I’m his number one priority in this class. That’s a big thing for me and I like that a lot. We’ve also talked about my family, just simple questions of him getting to know me.”
Taylor’s also excited to hear about the direction of the program from Manning.
“He told me straight up that it wasn’t going to be a good year for them, because they were just starting off new and trying to get things settled like they were at Toledo where they were going to bowls every year,” Taylor said. “He told me he wants me to be a part of that turnaround at Iowa State.”
With offers from ISU, Michigan, Cincinnati and Troy, Taylor said he is evaluating all programs evenly.
“Everyone is at the same level and I don’t have a top anything right now,” he said. “I’m just blessed to have the offers I have. Iowa State was a big offer for me. People probably don’t think so because of their record, but just to have an offer from Iowa State where you’ve never been or thought of going, and a coach you talked to on the phone and he offers you on the spot because he was so pleased with your film…all of that means a lot to me.”
Prattville enlisted Taylor’s services at the quarterback position this past season and next season will move him to wide receiver and safety.
Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Manning has taken a liking to an Alabama junior prospect that already has an offer from a perennial Power-5 program, recently extending an offer of his own during a phone conversation.
Prattville (Ala.) Class of 2018 athlete Cameron Taylor said he was pleased to hear the news first-hand from Manning on October 26th.
“Coach Tom Manning followed me on Twitter and we started building a relationship from there,” said Taylor. “I called him and am supposed to be on the phone with the head coach soon. Coach Manning said he was shocked to be on the phone with me. He asked who I had offers from and I said, ‘Michigan, Cincinnati and Troy’. He said, ‘and you have one from Iowa State’.
“He said he was so pleased with how fast I can get the ball out of my hands and they need playmakers like that on the team. He was shocked at how good I looked on film. He just wants the ball in my hands to make plays on either side of the ball.”
The 6-foot-0, 194-pound Taylor, who said he would like to take an unofficial visit to Ames next spring or summer, said the Cyclone offer is a big one for him at this point in the process.
“I’ve never been anywhere near Iowa State and for them to just offer me out of the blue was great,” he said. “Coach Manning said he’s never seen anyone like me and that I’m his number one priority in this class. That’s a big thing for me and I like that a lot. We’ve also talked about my family, just simple questions of him getting to know me.”
Taylor’s also excited to hear about the direction of the program from Manning.
“He told me straight up that it wasn’t going to be a good year for them, because they were just starting off new and trying to get things settled like they were at Toledo where they were going to bowls every year,” Taylor said. “He told me he wants me to be a part of that turnaround at Iowa State.”
With offers from ISU, Michigan, Cincinnati and Troy, Taylor said he is evaluating all programs evenly.
“Everyone is at the same level and I don’t have a top anything right now,” he said. “I’m just blessed to have the offers I have. Iowa State was a big offer for me. People probably don’t think so because of their record, but just to have an offer from Iowa State where you’ve never been or thought of going, and a coach you talked to on the phone and he offers you on the spot because he was so pleased with your film…all of that means a lot to me.”
Prattville enlisted Taylor’s services at the quarterback position this past season and next season will move him to wide receiver and safety.
