JUCO lineman plans to commit

Junior college offensive lineman Wendell Taiese is back on campus at Laney College in Oakland (Cal.) today after a weekend official visit to Iowa State.

The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Taiese said he intends to make a verbal commitment to the Cyclones, but he had not spoken to anyone at ISU about it as of 4:00 central time

Monday afternoon.

"I just got back last night and I've been working on a class thing here at Laney hoping to get it so I can graduate mid-year," Taiese said Monday afternoon. "I was just talking to my family and they supported me on it so I've decided to commit to Iowa State. I haven't talked to Coach Rhoads. I haven't talked to them at all yet."

Taiese said he also had scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Fresno State and Kansas. He had not been on any other visits. Taiese originally committed to Washington State out of high school.

Taiese said Iowa State won him over with its overall package.

"It's a good atmosphere there, I got to talk to all the coaches," said Taiese. "I think it's a place I can excel as a player and student."