by Bill Seals
Iowa State hosted a graduate transfer wide receiver last weekend that was looking for a better situation than the one he found himself in at an SEC program.
Former Arkansas leading pass catcher La’Michael Pettway said his trip to Ames was more low-key than the ones he took coming out of high school and that was just fine with him.
“It’s not really recruiting for me right now, it’s more of a business decision,” said Pettway, who said he spent a lot of time with Josh Johnson, Joseph Scates and Brock Purdy over the course of his official visit.
“I’ve been through the whole recruiting process, so just shoot me straight and give me the facts. That’s what went on this weekend. I toured the campus, of course, and got to meet some of the players and tour the stadium. It was a good visit.”
The 6-foot-2, 219-pound Pettway led the Razorbacks with 30 catches for 499 yards and four scores in 2018, but the quarterback play in Fayetteville was a hot mess as four quarterbacks combined to throw more interceptions (18) than touchdowns (17).
A former three-star wide receiver coming out of Arkansas’ Nashville High School, Pettway also had offers from Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Louisville, Ole Miss and Ohio State. He played for two head coaches during his three years in the SEC.
“What I was looking for was everything that I didn’t have at Arkansas,” Pettway said. “I really like the coaches they have established at Iowa State and of course the quarterback play was a big factor in my decision. I like the way Iowa State throws the ball around.
“I’ve always known of Iowa State in the back of my head, but seeing in person what they have to offer and that it’s a team that throws the ball around a lot in the Big 12 (were big for me). They lost Hakeem (Butler) and he was a big part of their offense, so they’re looking for someone to come in and play right away. We talked ball. The offense is not a big deal for me to pick up on, since I’ve been in the pro and the spread (at Arkansas). All of that comes easy. It should be an easy transition.”
If Pettway ends up playing for the Cyclones in 2019, he said he could be utilized in a number of ways in the passing game.
“They label me as a boundary receiver, but I’d be playing everywhere being that I would be able to grasp the offense,” he said. “I come from the SEC and am a big receiver and big target. I feel like I could bring a lot to the Big 12 and to the table in this offense. There will be a lot of targets to go around, so it’s up to me what I do with it.”
Pettway, who has just one core class to complete before graduating in mid-May, visited Auburn two weeks ago and will travel to Oklahoma State next weekend. He said he’s also considering one more to either North Carolina or Notre Dame. He has set no timetable for making a decision.
Iowa State hosted a graduate transfer wide receiver last weekend that was looking for a better situation than the one he found himself in at an SEC program.
Former Arkansas leading pass catcher La’Michael Pettway said his trip to Ames was more low-key than the ones he took coming out of high school and that was just fine with him.
“It’s not really recruiting for me right now, it’s more of a business decision,” said Pettway, who said he spent a lot of time with Josh Johnson, Joseph Scates and Brock Purdy over the course of his official visit.
“I’ve been through the whole recruiting process, so just shoot me straight and give me the facts. That’s what went on this weekend. I toured the campus, of course, and got to meet some of the players and tour the stadium. It was a good visit.”
The 6-foot-2, 219-pound Pettway led the Razorbacks with 30 catches for 499 yards and four scores in 2018, but the quarterback play in Fayetteville was a hot mess as four quarterbacks combined to throw more interceptions (18) than touchdowns (17).
A former three-star wide receiver coming out of Arkansas’ Nashville High School, Pettway also had offers from Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Louisville, Ole Miss and Ohio State. He played for two head coaches during his three years in the SEC.
“What I was looking for was everything that I didn’t have at Arkansas,” Pettway said. “I really like the coaches they have established at Iowa State and of course the quarterback play was a big factor in my decision. I like the way Iowa State throws the ball around.
“I’ve always known of Iowa State in the back of my head, but seeing in person what they have to offer and that it’s a team that throws the ball around a lot in the Big 12 (were big for me). They lost Hakeem (Butler) and he was a big part of their offense, so they’re looking for someone to come in and play right away. We talked ball. The offense is not a big deal for me to pick up on, since I’ve been in the pro and the spread (at Arkansas). All of that comes easy. It should be an easy transition.”
If Pettway ends up playing for the Cyclones in 2019, he said he could be utilized in a number of ways in the passing game.
“They label me as a boundary receiver, but I’d be playing everywhere being that I would be able to grasp the offense,” he said. “I come from the SEC and am a big receiver and big target. I feel like I could bring a lot to the Big 12 and to the table in this offense. There will be a lot of targets to go around, so it’s up to me what I do with it.”
Pettway, who has just one core class to complete before graduating in mid-May, visited Auburn two weeks ago and will travel to Oklahoma State next weekend. He said he’s also considering one more to either North Carolina or Notre Dame. He has set no timetable for making a decision.
