Iowa QB is first Campbell commit

During his introductory press conference on Monday afternoon, new Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said he and his staff would hit the ground running. They most certainly have, getting a commitment from a Class of 2017 quarterback that had been offered by the old coaching staff over the summer.

Waterloo West's Devon Moore gave a verbal commitment to Campbell over the phone late Monday night, after the new head coach spoke with him over the phone to let him know his offer was still valid. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Moore had also had an offer from Toledo during the process and was very familiar with Campbell from his days in Ohio.

"When I heard they were getting a new coach, I was still wondering to see if my offer was still on the table," said Moore. "He got in contact with me and was really excited about them already having an offer out.

"I really liked Coach Campbell when I went out to his camp last summer. I got to work with his staff and really liked everything they had to offer. And then I liked everything Iowa State had to offer with facilities, the weight program and education. I thought that really brought it all together."

Moore said there were a lot of similarities in Toledo's offense to the one he runs in high school.

"I really liked that they play out of the spread a lot and the passes they make are similar to what I've made my entire life," Moore said. "Their entire offense really fit what I was trying to do."

Since receiving his offer from former head coach Paul Rhoads over the summer, Moore said he continued to stay in touch with the old staff. He said his familiarity with Campbell made the decision a no-brainer.

"Coach Campbell was really excited that I was ready to commit and to get me down there for a visit with my family," Moore said. "The old staff had kept in contact with me a lot. They sent me a lot of things before every game. Then when Coach Campbell came on board, he was one of the first people to contact me and let me know they're excited to have me and still had the offer on the table."

Moore had his junior season at Waterloo West cut short due to a fractured left tibia and fibula. He's anxious to shed his cast in the near future and get started down the comeback trail.

"It's going good," he said. "I had surgery and still have a cast on. My doctor said it's healing really fast, so I'm hoping to get it off within a week or so to get started on my rehab. There's no set length of time for my rehab. It's really just how I come along."

In giving Campbell his pledge on Monday night, Moore became the first verbal commitment for the Class of 2017 and first-ever in the new head coach's tenure at I-State. The quarterback gave much of the credit for his success to his father/coach, Lonnie Moore, at West.

"I just want to thank my dad, because he's been a big part with being my coach," Devon Moore said. "He's brought me up to who I am today. All of this wouldn't be possible without him."