Ohio HS junior talks latest trip to I-State
Given that his older brother is currently a starter in Ames, Iowa State has held a special place with a defensive end since he received an offer last November, but the 2025 prospect said he wanted to get an even closer look at the program this past weekend.
Hamilton (Ohio) junior Trey Verdon, the younger brother of Cyclone safety Malik Verdon, recapped his time at ISU for a junior day on Saturday.
“It was great, and we toured around the facilities and stuff,” said said Verdon, who also has offers from Louisville and Pittsburgh, to go along with several others in the FBS ranks.
“Coach (Matt) Campbell talked to everyone and said they develop young men, students, and athletes. They make you grow as a person and not just as a player. We watched the basketball game which was great, and they beat Kansas. It was nice. We had a position meeting with coaches, which was also great.”
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Verdon said one name came up frequently over the weekend as he was digging into more details about the staff’s plans for him.
“They were talking about playing what Will McDonald did and fitting into that position,” he said. “I’m going to try to do what he did but better; it’s the only thing you can do. It was exciting to hear about that, where I might end up in a few years.
“This visit helped a lot. I had a general idea what they wanted me at, but I got a little more detail, so that helps a lot. I didn’t get to meet with Coach (Eli) Rasheed too much before that, but now that I have a general feel for him as a coach and person, it helps with getting into my decision.”
Having already traveled to I-State twice for football games in November, Verdon said he already had a feeling for what the fan support was, but said he was blown away by what he witnessed in Hilton Coliseum as the basketball team knocked off seventh-ranked Kansas.
“It was crazy,” he said. “It was so loud. When we left, my ears were ringing because it was so crazy in there. It was pretty hot. You can definitely tell that Iowa State’s fans are great. Comparing the football game to the basketball game, it’s equal. I didn’t think it was possible to have two sports that are so much support from the community.”
Verdon’s junior day visit included a conversation with the leader of the program.
“Coach Campbell and I talked one on one for a little bit,” the Ohio native said. “He said he wants me to come there and talked to me about how everything would plan out if I did go there.”
The 2025 prospect said he plans to ramp up his process in the coming months by taking another round of trips to see programs high on his list.
“I was going to go visit all the schools that have offered me and that I’m interested in, trying to see how they work,” he said. “The junior days and stuff like that can be all flashy sometimes, not what you’re really going to get when you go out there.
“I’ve been told several times by different people that you want to go to a spring practice to see how the coaches coach. That’s what you’re going to be dealing with for four years or however long you’re there. I’m going to take a little bit on my decision and collect information on everyone.”
