Three Thoughts on Thursday: Tonight and football recruiting updates

1 – Final Cy-Hawk thoughts

I tend to overthink things.

If it’s what I’m going to eat for dinner, how to dress my daughter in the morning or what movie to rent on “date night.”

When it comes to big Iowa State games, it’s nauseating how much I do this.

Two weeks ago, I was convinced that Iowa State would beat Iowa tonight by 15 points or more.

Then yesterday, I had fully convinced myself that the subtraction of Aaron White (for Iowa) and the addition of Jameel McKay (for the good guys) from a matchup standpoint (Iowa is smaller, Iowa State is bigger) would favor the Hawkeyes.

While part of me does believe that (listen to this week’s FAWcast for further explanation), I came to the realization late last night that my brain is simply fried when thinking about this game and the ball simply needs to be tossed in the air.

It’s go time. 

A few random notes on tonight’s matchup before I dig into football recruiting…

— First of all, I highly suggest you guys to read this in-depth piece with Steve Prohm written by my friend Reid Forgrave at FOXSports.com. Very good stuff.

— If Iowa State wins tonight, Steve Prohm will become the first coach in program history to start off his career in Ames with an 8-0 record.

— Iowa State is the only team in the top-25 in which five players are averaging at least 12.5 points per game. That’s why I think the “depth” conversation with this game has been completely overplayed. Prohm has shown multiple times this season that he trusts these guys to play in minor foul trouble. Iowa State won’t go any deeper than seven or eight guys (with Deonte Burton) for the majority of the season, and that’s okay. 

— With so much attention being paid to McKay vs. Woodbury and Niang vs. Uthoff, Iowa’s ability to match up with Monte Morris and Abdel Nader is being overlooked. Last year, Monte Morris absolutely abused Mike Gesell. My guess is that Fran McCaffrey primarily throws Anthony Clemons on Monte for the majority of the night.

2 – A massive football recruiting weekend ahead

I’m told that over 20 unofficial visitors will be at the game tonight and that Iowa State will host 12-15 officials this weekend.

A few of the official visitors who I have my eyes on…

Chase Pine, LB out of Williamsburg, Virginia – Toledo was the first school to offer Pine, who is now a Pitt commitment. The thing is, he’s so high on Matt Campbell that When Power 5 schools like Pitt, California, North Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia came calling, he still considered the Rockets. Now that Campbell is at a Power 5 school, perhaps he will make the switch?

Thadd Daniels, CB out of Cerritos C.C in Norwalk, California – Playing in the Big 12, you need as many cornerbacks as you can get and this 6-foot-2, 195-pound speedster would provide immediate depth for Iowa State next year. He’s got additional offers from Boise State, Washington State, Nevada, Fresno State, Utah and Utah State. 

Josh Mueller, OL out of Mequon, Wisconsin – Iowa State made an in-home visit last night to this former Northern Illinois commit. He visited Wyoming last weekend and will be in Ames over the next few days. Will the Big 12 be enough lure him to Ames?

Zeb Noland, QB out of Watkinsville, Georgia – Last week, I reported that Iowa State wanted to add a junior college and high school quarterback to his 2016 class. This could be the high school prospect. 

3 – Go to Hilton tomorrow night

I can’t hide the passion I have for Iowa State women’s basketball. I absolutely believe that Bill Fennelly’s program is the cornerstone of Iowa State’s athletics department.

Do your family a favor: Get up to Hilton on Friday night to watch the Cyclones take on Iowa. The atmosphere will be electric and considering how expensive (and hard to find) men’s tickets are these days, this is a fantastic alternative for the family.

I’m calling the game for the Cyclone Radio Network, but my wife and little girl will be in attendance. 

Go State.