Cyclones make another run at Leath

Close followers of Iowa State's football recruiting efforts will remember at least one of the prospects heading to Ames this weekend, as he's been on the coaching staff's radar for several seasons.

Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College sophomore Bobby Leath, who will take an official visit to Ames this weekend, was heavily pursued by the Cyclones as a standout at Lake Wells High School in Florida. However, the talented defender was academically ineligible and landed at the formidable Coffeyville program. He also shares a close bond with I-State's defensive coordinator.

"I'm very excited about it," said the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Leath. "Me and Wally Burnham go back a long ways and he had recruited my brother when he was at Florida State. We have a lot of communication and more experience with each other than some of the coaches I have been getting offered by. I think it will be a good experience for me to see Iowa State."

This will be the first official visit of the recruiting cycle for Leath, who said he will graduate from Coffeyville in May. He said the Cyclones are selling him on the ability to play right away, but that he also needs to keep up his coursework between now and signing day.

"They're telling me that if I come there, I would make a big impact in the Big 12 and big impact to the Iowa State Cyclones," Leath said. "What they really want me to do first - I mean, my academics are straight - is to focus on my classwork. Without academics, you don't have football. They say if you have both, then no one can touch you. When I do go Division, I don't want to have to worry about being short any classes."

Leath said ISU is up there with any of the other programs recruiting him, due mainly to his camaraderie with the coaching staff.

"Iowa State is in my top five schools," he said. "Of all the coaches I've been getting recruited by, the Iowa State coaches have consistently stayed in touch. One of the coaches came down when we played Independence and said that I did a really good job. I talked to Coach Shane Burnham yesterday and he said everyone is excited me to come up there this weekend."

The trip to Ames figures to be the first of many for Leath, who said he will be scheduling additional visits in the near future.

Through 10 regular season games, Leath recorded 45 tackles, including 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks. Coffeyville closes the 2014 campaign in the Heart of Texas Bowl against Trinity Valley on December 6.