3-star Fla. CB commits to Iowa St.

When CycloneReport.com talked to O.J. Tucker Sunday morning following the conclusion of his Iowa State official visit, he sounded like a prospect very close to committing to the Cyclones.

By Sunday night, he was.

Tucker, a three-star cornerback from Ocala (Fla.) Vanguard, made his verbal pledge to Iowa State over offers from at least six other Power 5 schools and 10-plus schools overall. Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi State, Nebraska and Wake Forest all previously offered Tucker, he said.

Iowa State made a relatively late push with the 6-foot-0, 190-pound Tucker, who was previously committed to Georgia Tech.

Tucker said the loyalty he felt from the Cyclone coaching staff as well as the importance placed on academics in Ames contributed to Iowa State zooming to the top of his list.

According to Tucker, his official visit closed with a conversation with Matt Campbell that helped him see Iowa State was the place to be.

“He was telling me that I’m a top priority to them,” Tucker said. “The opportunity to play early is there. Iowa State is really a great program. I just want(ed) to make sure it is where I want to be before I decided, because I respect him and the staff too much to flip on him.” Tucker said he expects Campbell and Iowa State assistant coaches D.K. McDonald and Bryan Gasser to be in Florida for an in-home visit with him this week.