Cyclones lock down 3-star safety

One of Iowa State's longest recruiting investments of the 2017 cycle paid off Monday as defensive back Keontae Jones announced his verbal commitment to the Cyclones.

Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain safety Keontae Jones intends to sign with ISU on Wednesday. The 6-foot-0, 175-pound Jones, who is the younger brother of Iowa State sophomore-to-be receiver Deshaunte Jones, chose I-State from a final three that also included Virginia Tech and Indiana.

Jones officially visited Iowa State the weekend of Jan. 20-22, a major recruiting weekend that included mostly committed prospects. Spending the weekend with several future Cyclones apparently worked as planned with Jones, who visited Virginia Tech this past Friday through Sunday on the final available weekend for official visits before National Signing Day. He had officially visited Indiana in December.

Jones' offer list included a number of Power 5 schools, such as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Maryland, Purdue, Rutgers, West Virginia and Wisconsin in addition to his three finalists. He collected upwards of 20 scholarship offers altogether.

According to Rivals.com, Jones is the No. 39 safety prospect in the nation and the No. 18 prospect in Ohio. He is now one of four Iowa State high school defensive commitments with a 5.7 Rivals Rating, along with DE Cordarrius Bailey, CB Richard Bowens and LB O'Rien Vance. ISU also has two 5.7 commitments from the JUCO ranks; both on defense as well.

Jones is the 23rd known commitment in Iowa State's 2017 recruiting class, not including a pair of graduate transfers. The Cyclones could add one or more prospects to the 2017 class by the time signing day is wrapped up on Wednesday afternoon.