JC tight end commits to I-State

It was a big weekend for the Iowa State football program on the field and the recruiting trail with three official visitors in town, and it only got better for head coach Paul Rhoads and his coaching staff this morning when a JUCO tight committed to the Cyclones.

As CycloneReport.com first reported, Southwest Mississippi sophomore Cliff Fernandez gave Rhoads the news after breakfast at the head coach's house.

"He jumped up and was pretty happy," said Fernandez of Rhoads when he gave him the news. "He's excited that I want to be a part of the program."

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Fernandez, who is set to graduate next month and will be a mid-year transfer that's eligible for spring ball, said he liked a number of aspects of his official visit.

"It would have to be the fans, players and coaches," he said. "The fans were just all in for the players and everything about the football team. The atmosphere was really amazing. I really enjoyed a lot of the pre-game festivities around the stadium."

It's hard to argue the Cyclones have had a lot of success with JUCO tight ends in recent years, as names like E.J. Bibbs and Ernst Brun come to mind. Fernandez said he likes the way ISU has proposed using him once he becomes part of the program.

"They told me what they want to do with the tight end is what they got away from doing," Fernandez said. "They see that my style fits it because I already do a lot of stuff they want to do with that position. They showed me a lot of stuff they used to do and I really enjoyed that. They want to line up in a bunch of different positions with the tight end and that's what I do."

Fernandez, who was scouted and recruited by assistant coach Stan Eggen, said former JUCO transfer Jay Jones hosted him over the weekend.

"He told me how much he liked it there, all the stuff they did and how much fun they have," Fernandez said. "He likes how the coaches push you to be the best they can. I like knowing that the coaches are there for you."