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If there is one thing that this staff adores - it’s defensive backs. This 2019 recruiting class is full of them yet again, as the Cyclones added four more to their roster, and all display a tremendous amount of versatility, size and SPEED.
CB Derrick “DJ” Miller
The leader of the pack is DJ Miller, who hails from the Saint Louis, Missouri area. The 5-foot-11 3-star is considered a cornerback, but can play anywhere on the field. He is ranked as the 75th best cornerback in the country by Rivals, and is a .8505 rating according to 247.
Miller was on the radar of this staff early, as the Cyclone assistants have begun to build a pipeline in the St. Louis area. He received offers from prestigious institutions - like Princeton, Yale and Harvard, and lowly colleges - like Iowa. Look for Miller to vie for playing time, especially on special teams.
CB Kym Mani-King
King continues the legacy of Florida cornerbacks to Ames, and did it all for his high school team, playing all over the field on both sides of the ball. He is a 3-star recruit, and his best attribute is his quickness. Some see similarities to current freshman Datrone Young.
King is 5-foot-10, and did not receive as much national attention, garnering offers from Georgia Southern, Marshall, UMASS and South Alabama.
S Virdell Edwards
Talk about multiplicity - this guy fits that bill to a T, as Edwards, a product of Texas has a Big-12 ready body and can play either safety spot. He is ranked as a 3-star, and 247 had him rated at .8451 on its composite. He is the 105th best safety in nation, and comes from a state where ISU has not received much love from - the Longhorn State.
Edwards played all the spots in high school - from free safety to cornerback to wide receiver, but his future is at safety. The 6-foot-1 185-pound defensive back chose the good guys over Texas Tech, Purdue and Colorado.
S Vonzell Kelley
From Virdell to Vonzell. Last but not least, we have Vonzell Kelley, an under-the-radar product out of Missouri. He has gained a lot of attention lately, as the Cyclones like this man to play either deep free safety, or in the slot at the STAR position.
This long and lean 3-star has been committed to Iowa State since April, so his offers are limited - at Kansas and Toledo. Again, look for Kelley to see time (just like all the rest of these defensive backs) on special teams in 2019.