(Below is Iowa State’s press release on the players added as part of its 2013 recruiting class.)
AMES, Iowa – They come from eight states, covering every position on the football field. For Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads, this group of 25 student-athletes who signed national letters of intent to join the Cyclones’ upward-bound program Wednesday, they are family. All the dust of signing day has cleared and Rhoads couldn’t be happier.
“I’m very pleased with our 2013 recruiting class and the decisions that came together for all of us today,” Rhoads said. “A class like this comes together through relationship-building that our coaches accomplished with these young men who are here now and will be coming to Iowa State University. The foundation of recruiting is still the strength of the relationships built by our coaches with these new members of the Cyclone family and their parents.”
Iowa State’s newest Cyclones include four individuals who are already enrolled and participating in strength and conditioning work outs. Tight end Emmanuel Bibbs, Jr. chose Iowa State after earning junior college All-America honors at Arizona Western. He caught 22 passes last season for 230 yards and six touchdowns. As a freshman, his team played for the 2011 junior college national championship. His new Cyclone teammate, Aaron Wimberly, played with his Iowa Western team in the 2012 junior college title game. He also earned All-America honors after rushing for 1,125 yards and 13 touchdowns at Iowa Western. Freshmen offensive lineman Shawn Curtis and linebacker Alton Meeks started college at Iowa State with the start of the second semester. All four Cyclones were offered scholarships by a variety of the nation’s top college football programs. They all chose Iowa State.
“We addressed every single position group,” Rhoads said. “We had dropped down in some numbers in the quarterback position and offensive line position and we were able to bring those numbers up to a level where we are comfortable. Maintaining a balance in those numbers is crucial to the future of any college football program.”
The 2013 Iowa State football recruiting class is the fifth of the Paul Rhoads era. By taking the Cyclones to three bowl games in his first four seasons, his previous signing classes have made a statement on the field. Now it is the turn of the newest Iowa Staters to make their own indelible mark in Cardinal and Gold.