Versatile 2021 KC defender says ISU staff has made him priority
Although he had to cancel an Iowa State visit due to an NCAA-imposed dead period, a 2021 Kansas City (Mo.) linebacker said the Cyclones are still in a good spot.
During an in-school visit last week, Lincoln College Prep junior Jermaine Hamilton-Jordan told Cyclone Report that the staff has clearly made him a priority and are in contact with him frequently.
“I hear from the coaches about every week,” said Hamilton-Jordan, who visited last season for the game against Iowa and had been planning an overnight visit for next month during Cyclone spring practice prior to the introduction of the dead period.
“I’ve talked to the entire defensive staff and they really like me. They stay in touch and send me mail to the school and my home address. They’re ready for me to commit…I can tell you that. They said they need me and I’m their guy in the Class of 2021.”
A versatile 6-foot-1, 205-pound defender, Hamilton-Jordan said I-State wants him to be someone who can play in space in Jon Heacock’s 3-3-5 scheme.
“I’m a linebacker that can really move around, sideline to sideline, that can hit,” he said. “When I was up there for a game day visit last year, I liked the way their linebackers warmed up, interacted with the ball and how they played in the game against Iowa.
“My coach and I sat there and watched the game, focusing on the type of linebackers that they have and if I think I could play like them. I feel like I have a good chance of playing there. I want to be able to play early and compete.”
As a junior, Hamilton-Jordan posted 150 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss, five sacks and two defensive touchdowns. He is a three-star recruit with a 5.5 Rivals rating. In addition to ISU, he has Power-5 offers from Arkansas, Kansas and Kansas State. He’s also getting serious interest from Missouri and Nebraska.
“Most of them run a 3-3-5 that I’ve visited,” Hamilton-Jordan said. “The Arkansas coaching staff will have a 3-3-5 set and said they’d have four safeties on the field, so I could play safety. I just want to get on the field and hit. Just put me somewhere and I’ll get the job done.”
In addition to getting a good feel for the Cyclone gameday atmosphere last September, Hamilton-Jordan said he learned what it was like to be a student-athlete in Ames.
“The game I went to was a big one,” he said. “The fans, the crowd all interacted. The pre-game was intense. It rained that game, but every time the guys took the field, they were going back at it. They love the Cyclones. The best thing about the football facility was the tunnel walk. The fans are close to the field. You make a big play and everybody is calling your name. I like it.
“There was also a player panel. There was a freshman and sophomore, and they talked about their transition from high school. Another guy talked about how the feeling was great from the coaching staff. When they’re here, they’re going to treat you like you’re their son. When you leave, they’re going to stay in contact with you. Now that you’re done with college and have your degree, what’s next for you? What are you going to do in your 40 years after football?”
Hamilton-Jordan said he’s looking for one primary aspect when he chooses a school.
“What it is for me, I need a coaching staff that I can trust,” he said. “I need a coaching staff that I can trust. I need a coaching staff that is going to treat me like their son when I come to the college.”
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