ISU Pipeline Analysis: WRs & TEs

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 wide receivers and tight ends.

Wide Receiver (Quota: 13)
Current Pipeline (13/14)
Seniors – Brandon Harris, Allen Lazard, Marchie Murdock, Trever Ryen
Juniors – Matthew Eaton, Carson Epps, Darius Lee-Campbell
Sophomores – Hakeem Butler, Denver Johnson, Deshaunte Jones
RS Freshmen – Landen Akers, Jalen Martin
Freshmen – Josh Johnson, (Tarique Milton)

Pipeline Analysis: Even though it’s a little senior heavy this year, there’s good class distribution in Iowa State’s receiving corps as it stands. Meaning, if this position group can be mostly attrition free, the Cyclone coaching staff won’t have to deal with much in the way of pipeline voids. Lazard, Ryen and Jones are well-known quantities and Butler and Epps made noticeable contributions in 2016.

2017 Class Analysis: Head Coach Matt Campbell heaped high praise and high expectations on Eaton on signing day. If Eaton lives up to the billing, ISU will have three formidable big receivers for opposing defenses to deal with in Lazard, Butler and Eaton. The Cyclone coaching staff was sold on Johnson early in the recruiting cycle and held his commitment for a long time. We’ve got Milton in parentheses for now since he wasn’t officially announced on NSD.

2018 Needs Analysis (2/3): If you add Milton in and take four seniors out, Iowa State will want to sign a pair of receivers in its 2018 class. If there’s attrition, bump that number. We’re familiar now with the various positions (M, X, Z) and what the Cyclone coaches are looking for in terms of big and physical outsides, quick and fast slots and balanced guys somewhere in the middle. It’s losing a top tier outside (Lazard) and a top tier slot (Ryen), so those are the types to focus on most in the next recruiting class. Bigs on the offer board early for Iowa State include TaCorrie Russell (Munford, Ala.), Brandon Gray (Southfield, Mich.) and Kory Taylor (Hilliard, Ohio). Slots with early I-State verbals include Davion Johnson (Bedford, Ohio), Lawrence Keys (New Orleans, La.) and Carson Schleker (Allen, Tex.).

Tight End (Quota: 4)
Current Pipeline (5/6)
Seniors – None
Juniors – Cole Anderson, Sam Seonbuchner
Sophomores – None
RS Freshmen – Chase Allen, Dylan Soehner
Freshmen – Charlie Kolar
Walk-Ons – Sam Harms (Sr)

Pipeline Analysis: Of course, the tight ends in the Iowa State offense are more than just tight ends. They are fullbacks and slots and wings and other duties as assigned. But for simplicity’s sake, we’re just calling them tight ends. ISU has five on scholarship and a sixth in walk-on Harms, who seemed to play more than any of the others a year ago. Allen might have played as a true freshman and perhaps was even expected to do so. But he was hit by a car last August and ended up redshirting. That creates a void in the sophomore class and doubles him up with Soehner as RS frosh.

2017 Class Analysis: Iowa State fended off a late challenge from Oklahoma State to keep and sign Kolar. His older brother plays quarterback for the Cowboys, so it was no idle threat when that 11th-hour offer came out of Stillwater. But in the end, Kolar stuck with his long-standing commitment to ISU. He’s a pass-catching threat for sure with 66 receptions for over 1200 yards as a high school senior.

2018 Needs Analysis (0): Does Iowa State NEED a tight end in its next recruiting class? As things stand, not really. But as with any other position, it would pursue the right one if available and highly interested in becoming a Cyclone. ISU has early offers to several prospects categorized as tight ends, but some could lean the way of being big outside receivers at the next level. Brian Kaiser (Winnetka, Ill.), TJ Ivy (Chicago, Ill.) and George Takacs (Naples, Fla.) are early names with Takacs being an especially intriguing target.