Cliff Stokes is all in for ISU

By Chris Williams, CycloneFanatic.com PublisherFollow Chris on Twitter @ChrisMWilliams

It might have been the greatest official visit in Iowa State history.

Clifford Stokes, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound cornerback out of Trinity Valley C.C. in Athens, Texas, took his official visit to Ames the same weekend that the Cyclones shocked the college football world and upset then second ranked Oklahoma State in double-overtime.

"I haven’t ever been a part of anything like that," said Stokes. "The locker room and everything was awesome."

Stokes just might be Iowa State’s good luck charm?

In addition to an awesome football game in, Stokes had the opportunity to witness Paul Rhoads’ passionate locker room speech that appeared on every national sports program that mattered for the rest of the weekend.

"I won’t ever forget that," said Stokes.

Stokes, who also holds offers from Minnesota, Kansas, Baylor, Houston and Western Kentucky, didn’t have a whole lot to think about after his visit. Iowa State was the choice. No question.

"The motto of being ‘all in’ meant a lot to me," said Stokes. "The team unity, the fans at the game, the coaches. Everybody was just about business. That’s what I’m all about. Business. I want to be a part of it."

At 6-foot-1, Stokes will bring size to Iowa State’s secondary in 2012. Stokes plans on attending Iowa State during the second semester of this school year, so he’ll fully participate in winter workouts and spring football.

If things go as planned, Stokes will at the very least be heavily involved in the competition to replace Leonard Johnson at cornerback next season.

"They want me to come in and be a leader, said Stokes. "They want me to play more of a man-to-man and be a replacement for Johnson."