ISU Pipeline Analysis: offensive line
National Signing Day 2017 is in the books and Iowa State’s recruiting class will rank somewhere in the 40s nationally when all is said and done. On paper, on signing day, it stacks up as the best Cyclone recruiting class since 2004.
But football is a quality and quantity sport and success isn’t built on one solid recruiting class. It’s built on stacking solid recruiting classes one upon another. So naturally, the Iowa State coaching staff has long been at work on the 2018 recruiting cycle.
In a series of analysis articles, we’re recapping the current Cyclone football personnel pipeline by position group, add in 2017 signees, and project what ISU needs to do in its 2018 class. Next up: the offensive line.
Tackles (Quota: 8)
Current Pipeline (9)
Seniors – Jake Campos, Shawn Curtis, Robby Garcia
Juniors – None
Sophomores – Julian Good-Jones
RS Freshmen – Sean Foster, Josh Mueller
Freshmen – Jacob Bolton, Robert Hudson, Alex Kleinow
Pipeline Analysis: Campos is returning from a leg injury that cost him his entire junior campaign. Project he and Good-Jones as the 2017 starters for now. There’s an obvious void in the pipeline with no juniors, but that can be worked around. There’s no reason to anticipate attrition because the three returning underclassmen all look to be talented with bright futures in due time.
2017 Class Analysis: Kleinow will need some time to build on his 275-pound frame. Bolton will arrive big and Hudson will arrive huge. All three should be redshirted this fall and then be ready to battle for a spot in the two-deeps come 2018. None will come in with the four-star accolades of a Campos or Foster, but any could develop into being just as good as those highly touted teammates by the time all is said and done.
2018 Needs Analysis (2): With three departing seniors and no juniors, Iowa State will definitely need to bring in at least a pair or tackles in its next recruiting class. ISU has offered in-state target Trevor Downing (Creston, Iowa) and also put early offers out to the likes of Casey Holman (Snellville, Ga.), Owen Condon (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Joey Ramos (Glendale, Ariz.) And while I-State doesn’t necessarily need a JUCO tackle in 2018, it likes Anthony McKinney at Iowa Western and has offered.
Guards/Centers (Quota: 9)
Current Pipeline (9)
Seniors – Dave Dawson, Khaliel Rodgers
Juniors – Kory Kodanko, Oge Udeogu, Will Windham
Sophomores – Bryce Meeker
RS Freshmen – Keenan Forbes
Freshmen – Jeff Nogaj, Colin Newell
Pipeline Analysis: There was clearly concern about the game day readiness of what Iowa State had on hand at the conclusion of last season. That led to the pursuit of graduate transfers and two are in the fold; more on them in a bit. As far as returning players go, Meeker is the only proven commodity and could safely be projected as one of the starters at guard. Kodanko and Windham have played some while Udeogu and Forbes sat out last season as redshirts.
2017 Class Analysis: In Dawson and Rodgers, ISU will be getting (provided they enroll in Ames as planned) a pair of experienced Power 5 players with big-time high school recruiting resumes back in 2013. Rodgers was the No. 1 guard prospect in the nation four years ago and Dawson wasn’t far behind at No. 9. Rodgers started games at center for USC and could plug into that same spot for I-State as a grad transfer, ala Brian Bobek coming in from Minnesota just last fall. Dawson will battle for a No. 1 guard spot. Newell is 270 pounds coming in and will redshirt to grow and develop and Nogaj is a guy that could end up at guard or tackle – where he played in high school – after a redshirt year and more development.
2018 Needs Analysis (2): best-case scenario is that Dawson and Rodgers come in and they’re everything expected. Even so, they’d be one-year wonders. So the Cyclones will obviously need to sign at least a pair of interior O-line body types and securing a proven specialist at center would be desirable. A pair of Iowa State’s earlier 2018 verbal offers went out to in-state guards in Zach Ross (West Des Moines Dowling) and Andrew Todd (Cedar Rapids Washington). The Cyclones got prospects from each of those high schools in 2017, so the well is primed. Justin Dedich (Temecula, Calif.) and Blaine Scott (Portsmouth, Ohio) are also high on the early hot board.
