by Bill Seals
The countdown is on for a long-time Iowa State commitment to officially become part of the program on mid-year signing day later this month.
Pearl River (Miss.) sophomore Matthew Eaton chose the Cyclones during an official visit in late-August and has remained tight with the coaching staff in the months since.
“We talk pretty much every day,” said Eaton, a mid-year transfer that will have two years to play two in Ames. “Coach (Bryan) Gasser, Coach (Matt) Campbell or Coach (Alex) Golesh all keep in touch with me week to week. They want me to come in and hit the ground running and help the offense collectively as a wide receiver.”
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Eaton, who transferred to Pearl River and didn’t compete this fall after spending two seasons at Temple, said he was impressed with what he saw of the Cyclones on the field.
“Being able to watch them, I could tell it was a really good program,” Eaton said. “Going there and playing at Iowa State, I’ll be in a great atmosphere. I’m thankful for the opportunity and can’t wait to get there. Iowa State is a great place and being able to go to the school is a perfect platform for myself, to contribute to the team on offense.”
Although he sat out an entire season in 2016, Eaton feels he will be a better player once he moves on to Iowa State because of the individual work he did this fall and the experience he gained playing FBS-level football for two seasons.
“I feel like playing at Temple under guys like Robby Anderson and practicing against a guy like Tavon Young who is now starting in the NFL…it made me a student of the game,” Eaton said.
“This year I focused a lot on preparation and learning more about football. I focused on me and trying to be the best I can be.”
Eaton, who at the time of his commitment also had offers from Bowling Green, UMass and Toledo, said he will be looked upon to play either the Z or X positions in the I-State offense.
“Coach Gasser definitely sees me as an outside guy who can stretch the field and make big plays,” Eaton said.
The JUCO transfer is one of two wide receivers in the Class of 2017 and only one who will arrive in January in time for spring drills.
The countdown is on for a long-time Iowa State commitment to officially become part of the program on mid-year signing day later this month.
Pearl River (Miss.) sophomore Matthew Eaton chose the Cyclones during an official visit in late-August and has remained tight with the coaching staff in the months since.
“We talk pretty much every day,” said Eaton, a mid-year transfer that will have two years to play two in Ames. “Coach (Bryan) Gasser, Coach (Matt) Campbell or Coach (Alex) Golesh all keep in touch with me week to week. They want me to come in and hit the ground running and help the offense collectively as a wide receiver.”
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Eaton, who transferred to Pearl River and didn’t compete this fall after spending two seasons at Temple, said he was impressed with what he saw of the Cyclones on the field.
“Being able to watch them, I could tell it was a really good program,” Eaton said. “Going there and playing at Iowa State, I’ll be in a great atmosphere. I’m thankful for the opportunity and can’t wait to get there. Iowa State is a great place and being able to go to the school is a perfect platform for myself, to contribute to the team on offense.”
Although he sat out an entire season in 2016, Eaton feels he will be a better player once he moves on to Iowa State because of the individual work he did this fall and the experience he gained playing FBS-level football for two seasons.
“I feel like playing at Temple under guys like Robby Anderson and practicing against a guy like Tavon Young who is now starting in the NFL…it made me a student of the game,” Eaton said.
“This year I focused a lot on preparation and learning more about football. I focused on me and trying to be the best I can be.”
Eaton, who at the time of his commitment also had offers from Bowling Green, UMass and Toledo, said he will be looked upon to play either the Z or X positions in the I-State offense.
“Coach Gasser definitely sees me as an outside guy who can stretch the field and make big plays,” Eaton said.
The JUCO transfer is one of two wide receivers in the Class of 2017 and only one who will arrive in January in time for spring drills.
