Rugger Leo inks with Iowa State

It’s a long way from the rugby fields of Adelaide, Australia, to the football field at Jack Trice Stadium. But that is the journey that Matthew Leo signed up for on Wednesday evening.

Leo, a 6-foot-7, 265-pound defensive end prospect from Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona, put his signature on a National Letter of Intent with Iowa State. The Rivals.com three-star prospect chose ISU over offers from Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi State, Oklahoma and others. He officially visited Ames back in September on a weekend that included the Cyclones’ 44-10 win over San Jose State.

The keywords for Leo are potential and upside as he’s a football newcomer. Leo played rugby in his native Australia and his only two seasons of American football have been the two he’s spent at Arizona Western.

Leo made just 17 tackles for the 9-1 Matadors this fall, but over a third of those stops (6.5) came behind the line of scrimmage. That included 3 ½ sacks. Leo played in 11 games as a freshman in 2015, learning the ropes of his new sport.

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell and the others that offered Leo a scholarship couldn’t miss his physical gifts and he’ll enroll at ISU in January to get on the fast track to being ready to play for the Cyclones in 2017. Leo will participate in Iowa State spring football practice this coming March and April. “One word comes up with Matt, and it’s size,” Campbell said. “He’s got great length and really does a great job coming off the edge. He has the ability to rush the passer, but also the strength and ability to stop the run.”

Leo was the second mid-year JUCO prospect to sign with Iowa State on Wednesday, joining Poplarville (Miss.) Pearl River Community College wide receiver Matthew Eaton.