Pictured is Adrin Haughton...
As we alluded to earlier this week, DE/TE prospect Kurt Hammerschmidt has officially verbally committed to Iowa State. The Cyclones also picked up another commitment last night in the person of OT Adrin Haughton, a massive manbeast of a man.....beast.
Hammerschmidt Rivals Info
Hammerschmidt Scout Info
Haughton Rivals Info
Haughton Scout Info
Let's talk about Hammerschmidt first. ISU was undoubtedly the biggest school to offer him, as most of the rest of the interest appeared to come from Gateway conference schools. However, the Ames Tribune seems to think that LSU was sniffing around the Hammer as well.
t's probably been a while since the Iowa State football team impressed a potential national champion. When a Louisiana State assistant coach saw a highlight tape of tight end Kurt Hammerschmidt, who committed to ISU Dec. 9, his jaw hit the ground.
"They weren't going after a tight end or a defense end, but their recruiter said ISU got themselves one heck of a player," said Hammerschmidt's high school coach, Patrick Mahoney. "They were impressed with his athletic ability."
We probably shouldn't really read too much into that, but it's nice to know that some bigger schools were at least showing interest in the Hammer. And yes, I plan to call him that every time I get the chance.
The Hammer was a guy, much like recent commit Lonzie Range, who was injured in high school, limiting his chance to shine.
Hammerschmidt missed his junior season after tearing his meniscus. Without a highlight tape, few teams showed interested in him. Mahoney sent a tape to ISU because Gene Chizik's father served as principal at a Florida school Mahoney taught at.
The Cyclones liked what they saw and even though several schools - such as Indiana, Iowa, Northern Iowa and Western Illinois - have come on strong in the last few weeks, Hammerschmidt chose the school that has been with him throughout the season.
"I loved the atmosphere," Hammerschmidt said. "I connected with the coaches. I think they are on their way up."
Hammerschmidt, who earned all-conference honors as a senior, played on both sides of the ball. He caught seven passes for 87 yards while playing part of the season as an offensive tackle because of injuries.
As a defensive lineman, he recorded 30 tackles and four sacks. Hammerschmidt's numbers may not be eye popping, but Mahoney said his play jumps out on game film.
"He is a gem in the rough," Mahoney said. "He could be as good as he wants to be. He is fast. He has a motor that never stops. Everything is still in front of him."
Damn that meniscus. Either way, it looks like the Hammer will be a sleeper prospect, but he's got some athletic ability.
In regards to Haughton, the Clones snagged a 6-4, 323 pound manchild that somehow motors through the 40 at 4.9. Rivals has Haughton's only other serious interest as Buffalo, but Scout paints a different picture, with Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame and Georgia interested in the big guy.
With the ability to play on both sides of the ball, it remains to be seen where Chizik and company can fit him in, but he's another guy, much like the Hammer, that can fit in a couple of different places, and its nice to have that sort of versatility. He could very well be our Tuba of the future.
Oh, and enjoy these YouTube highlight videos of WR commits Lonzie Range and Jason Carlson.