by Bill Seals
Although Iowa State recently picked up a commitment from an interior defensive lineman, the coaching staff is still targeting a versatile big man from the southeast whose best position is probably as an anchor on the same side of the ball.
Bradenton (Fla.) St. Stephens rising senior Dylan Davis said the coaches picked up on his trail earlier this year before stepping up their pursuit last month with an early-July offer.
“They first came down to my spring practice and I impressed them there,” said Davis, who said he’s being recruited to play the same position as recent 2020 commitment Willis Singleton. “I worked out in front of the coaches (down here), they started recruiting me a little more and trying to get me up to campus. I took an unofficial visit and had a good meeting with Coach Campbell. I really impressed their staff.
“Afterwards, there was a two-week period where they were focused on getting the new freshmen in and acclimated. After that, they said they were thinking about how my visit and workout went, were really excited about me and wanted to offer me. That was incredible. It was my first big-time offer and the coaching staff made me feel so welcome when I was up there.”
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Davis is listed in the Rivals database as an offensive tackle, and says his ability to factor in on either side of the ball is an attribute the Cyclones covet during his unofficial visit on June 18th.
“When I worked out, they wanted to see some of my versatility and what I could do on offense,” he said. “They worked me out there for a while. I feel like I’m more comfortable on defense and got an opportunity to move over there and show them some of the things I can do defensively.
“They liked my love for the game and my versatility, because I can play multiple spots on the defensive line and also on the offensive line. Coach (Eli) Rasheed really liked how I got off the ball. A lot of colleges are telling me that get-off will translate on any front. I think Iowa State likes me the most at the three-technique, but I can play the one-technique and if I got a little quicker I could play defensive end.”
Davis said his conversation with Campbell to cap off his visit covered more than the football program in Ames.
“It was more about character and the type of culture they have there than football,” Davis said. “That was impressive to me. He really likes how I fit into their program, because my values are the same as theirs. It’s a great culture up there.”
Campbell and other coaches have laid out to Davis where he presently stands in the pecking order even with the Singleton recruitment ending up in a commitment.
“That was a big one for Iowa State and the coaches were excited about that,” he said. “I think they want to take two, have indicated to me that they would really like it to be me and I bring a lot of things to the table. I don’t feel like that (Singleton’s decision) changes where they stand on me, because I have that versatility.”
In addition to I-State’s offer, Davis also has a Power-5 one from Illinois to go with Army, Cornell, Furman, Jacksonville and Lehigh.
Now comes the process of sorting everything out, says Davis.
“It’s been a pretty confusing and complicated time for me,” he said. “I got a couple schools that are really on my mind and that I’m really considering. Iowa State is right in that mix. I haven’t really put a timetable on it. I’m hoping I’ll know when it feels right. Ideally, I would have liked to have had it out of the way by August 1st so I could focus on my senior season. If it doesn’t work out, then that’s OK as well.”
Although Iowa State recently picked up a commitment from an interior defensive lineman, the coaching staff is still targeting a versatile big man from the southeast whose best position is probably as an anchor on the same side of the ball.
Bradenton (Fla.) St. Stephens rising senior Dylan Davis said the coaches picked up on his trail earlier this year before stepping up their pursuit last month with an early-July offer.
“They first came down to my spring practice and I impressed them there,” said Davis, who said he’s being recruited to play the same position as recent 2020 commitment Willis Singleton. “I worked out in front of the coaches (down here), they started recruiting me a little more and trying to get me up to campus. I took an unofficial visit and had a good meeting with Coach Campbell. I really impressed their staff.
“Afterwards, there was a two-week period where they were focused on getting the new freshmen in and acclimated. After that, they said they were thinking about how my visit and workout went, were really excited about me and wanted to offer me. That was incredible. It was my first big-time offer and the coaching staff made me feel so welcome when I was up there.”
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Davis is listed in the Rivals database as an offensive tackle, and says his ability to factor in on either side of the ball is an attribute the Cyclones covet during his unofficial visit on June 18th.
“When I worked out, they wanted to see some of my versatility and what I could do on offense,” he said. “They worked me out there for a while. I feel like I’m more comfortable on defense and got an opportunity to move over there and show them some of the things I can do defensively.
“They liked my love for the game and my versatility, because I can play multiple spots on the defensive line and also on the offensive line. Coach (Eli) Rasheed really liked how I got off the ball. A lot of colleges are telling me that get-off will translate on any front. I think Iowa State likes me the most at the three-technique, but I can play the one-technique and if I got a little quicker I could play defensive end.”
Davis said his conversation with Campbell to cap off his visit covered more than the football program in Ames.
“It was more about character and the type of culture they have there than football,” Davis said. “That was impressive to me. He really likes how I fit into their program, because my values are the same as theirs. It’s a great culture up there.”
Campbell and other coaches have laid out to Davis where he presently stands in the pecking order even with the Singleton recruitment ending up in a commitment.
“That was a big one for Iowa State and the coaches were excited about that,” he said. “I think they want to take two, have indicated to me that they would really like it to be me and I bring a lot of things to the table. I don’t feel like that (Singleton’s decision) changes where they stand on me, because I have that versatility.”
In addition to I-State’s offer, Davis also has a Power-5 one from Illinois to go with Army, Cornell, Furman, Jacksonville and Lehigh.
Now comes the process of sorting everything out, says Davis.
“It’s been a pretty confusing and complicated time for me,” he said. “I got a couple schools that are really on my mind and that I’m really considering. Iowa State is right in that mix. I haven’t really put a timetable on it. I’m hoping I’ll know when it feels right. Ideally, I would have liked to have had it out of the way by August 1st so I could focus on my senior season. If it doesn’t work out, then that’s OK as well.”
