Iowa State Gets 3-star Cornerback

(This article originally appeared at iowastate.rivals.com.)

Gene Chizik's coaching staff put on a full-court press of attention in attempting to land two defensive recruits from Independence (Kan.) Community College, and Iowa State learned yesterday that the efforts were a slam dunk. Allen Bell, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound cornerback, and Chris Weir, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive tackle, both committed to Chizik and the Cyclones Monday evening.

Bell has previously given his verbal commitment to Ole Miss, while Weir was the subject of an intense battle between Iowa State and TCU, and Chizik's staff devoted large amounts of time and attention trying to land the two, who were generally perceived as a package deal.

"Yesterday night, Wayne Bolt was visiting me here (Independence)," Bell said Tuesday afternoon. "The D-Line coach was at Chris' house in Miami, and the D-Back coach was at my dad's house in Tallahassee, all at the same time."

Within the last few days, Chizik made a trip to Tallahassee himself to visit with Bell's father, and it was that visit that sealed the deal.

"I told him before he came down that I was kind of leaning toward Iowa State's way," Bell said. "One of my father's biggest concerns was getting to watch me play, but Coach Chizik convinced him basically that it wouldn't be that difficult, that there wasn't that much difference between 9 hours to Mississippi and 19 hours to Iowa State."

"I mean, if you're gonna fly, a plane ticket's a plane ticket."

In addition to the personal impression Iowa State coaches made on the Bell family, Chizik came with advance praise from several people whose opinion matters a lot to Bell, including a former teammate and a former coach.

"My high school coach played for him when he was at Central Florida," said Bell. "And all he told me was: the man is a technician. He is going to give you the tools and techniques you need to be your absolute best player I can be."

According to Bell, the Iowa State staff has indicated to him that he has a good chance to play a prominent role not only in the secondary, but returning punts and kickoffs as early as next season.

"Coach Chizik is pumped up about it," Bell said. "I just want to be an impact player and see how far we can go."

Bell also said that he will run track at Iowa State with the football staff's blessing. According to Bell, Chizik expressed no reservations whatsoever about his participation on the track squad, stating that his (Chizik's) only rule was: as long as your grades are solid, you have my blessing.

Bell's early struggles with academics landed him at Independence CC, but he says now that the problems weren't from lack of effort or intelligence, but due to unspecified family problems in his home during his final two years of high school.

"I've been doing good here so far, and all those problems with grades are behind me now."