AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State football program lost a pair of All-Big 12 performers in linebacker Jeremiah George and safety Jacques Washington due to graduation. Finding Big 12-ready replacements for the all-league duo was imperative for head coach Paul Rhoads and his staff. Mission accomplished.
Rhoads announced last week three junior college defensive standouts (Jordan Harris, Gabe Luna, Devron Moore) and one offensive lineman (Wendell Taiese [tie-ESSAY]) signed their letters of intent to begin school at Iowa State at second semester (Spring of 2014).
Jordan Harris
Linebacker
5-11, 233, Jr.
Clarksdale, Miss. (Clarksdale/Copiah-Lincoln C.C.)
Junior College
Chose Iowa State over Memphis, Southern Mississippi and Tulane … earned NJCAA Second-Team All-America honors in 2013 … ranked No. 168 in 247Sports’ Junior College rankings … led the NJCAA in tackles in 2013, averaging 13.8 tackles per game … posted 124 tackles, including 79 solo stops … named First Team All-MACJC and named All-Region 23 … tallied 3.5 sacks … had 48 tackles, including 29 solo stops, as a freshman in 2012.
High School
Two-time first-team all-district selection … had 88 tackles as a junior … earned second-team all-state honors as a senior, racking up 85 tackles and rushing for over 700 yards and six touchdowns … team finished the season at 7-5 … coached in high school by Charles Reid.
Personal
Born Jan. 4, 1994 … son of Howard Harris and Brenda Williams … went to the same junior college as former Cyclone All-Big 12 linebacker and NFL player Tim Dobbins … brother, Darren Williams, was a star defensive back at Mississippi State from 2002-04 … plans on majoring in engineering.
Rhoads on Harris
“Jordan Harris is a very exciting, physical football player. We got the opportunity to go down there and meet with him and talk football and it was almost love at first sight, if you would, on both sides. Jordan came up here for the Kansas game, the coldest game in the history of Iowa State football. He is a guy who was born and raised in the south and it did nothing to affect the enthusiasm and passion he felt for our football program. He took a quick look at the history of Iowa State linebackers, especially under the tutelage of Wally Burnham, and he knew he could immediately step in and fill a role equal to what he has witnessed in the past. He brings a level of physical play we are accustomed to here at Iowa State. He is a student of the game. He is the kind of guy that shows up at practice first and is the last to leave. We are very excited to have Jordan Harris as an Iowa State Cyclone.”
Gabe Luna
Defensive Line
6-1, 245, Jr.
Garden City, Kan. (Garden City/Butler C.C.)
Junior College
Chose Iowa State over California, Charlotte and Texas Tech … ranked as the 167th-best junior college player according to 247Sports … named second-team All-Jayhawk Conference and team captain … tallied 36 tackles, including 8.0 tackles for loss … also posted three sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception … had career best six tackles vs. Ft. Scott and Hutchinson … recorded three tackles for loss vs. Independence … helped team play in back-to-back Graphic Edge Bowl games, falling to Iowa Western both seasons … posted three tackles in the 2013 Graphic Edge Bowl … recorded 21 tackles as a freshman in 2012 to help his team go 11-1.
High School
Named First-Team Class 6A in 2011 … was also a First-Team All-Area pick … participated in the 2012 Kansas Shrine Bowl … as a senior, tallied 57 tackles and 15 tackles for loss … named team captain … led the team in sacks with six … was all-conference in track & field in the javelin.
Personal
Born April 8, 1994 in Garden City, Kan. … son of Alphonso Luna and Michele Castro … father, Alphonso, played football at the University of Houston (1989-91) … intends on majoring in kinesiology.
Rhoads on Luna
“Gabe Luna is a very well-coached, disciplined, physical defensive end. He is reminiscent to what Cory Morrissey already is for our football program. His junior college coach (Troy Morrell), who has coached many Division I football players, likens him to Cory. He coached against Cory, so he knows what he is talking about. He keeps his shoulders square, he is very good against the run and comes from a very successful junior college football program. This is a young man who graduated from high school early with a focus on playing Division I football. He is going to fit in very well with our swarm and punish attitude with our defense.”
Devron Moore
Defensive Back
5-11, 185, Jr.
Carthage, Mo. (Carthage/NE Oklahoma A&M J.C.)
Junior College
Chose Iowa State over Wisconsin, West Virginia, Utah, Texas Tech, TCU, Illinois and Kansas … three-star recruit … ranked 142nd nationally by 247Sports Junior College rankings … two-time First-Team All-Southwest Conference selection … did not receive any offers out of high school and joined NEO as a walk-on … led the conference in interceptions as a freshman in 2012 with seven … named national player of the week … ranked 12th in the in the league in solo tackles (54) and had eight pass breakups … recorded three of his interceptions vs. No. 5 Kilgore … team went 9-3 and played in the Citizen’s Bank Bowl … as a sophomore in 2013, returned two interceptions for touchdowns … was second on the team with 52 solo tackles with four pass breakups … returned three interceptions for touchdowns in his career … coached in junior college by Dale Patterson.
High School
Rushed for 1,432 yards on 157 carries in his career … as a senior, rushed for 695 yards and 14 touchdowns … earned all-state honors … caught 49 passes for 902 yards and eight touchdowns … also a member of the track & field team.
Personal
Born July 17, 1992 … son of Alan Davis and Angela Hunnell … went to the same junior college as former Iowa State All-American and NFL All-Star Matt Blair … intends to major in kinesiology.
Rhoads on Moore:
“Devron Moore took the long road to arrive at this scholarship. He has earned numerous honors and awards and he caught our attention very early. He’s got great ball skills and he’s a physical football player. He will come downfield and hit you. He’s a student of the game and I think he will provide great leadership you need at the safety position. He really loved the organization and attention to detail of our program, and I think that won him over.”
Wendell Taiese
Offensive Line
6-5, 357, Jr.
Oakland, Calif. (McClymonds/Laney C.C.)
Junior College
Enrolled at Arizona Western before transferring to Laney … named all-conference, all-region and all-state in his only season at Laney … chose Iowa State over Kansas, Fresno State, Cincinnati and Texas State.
High School
Originally signed with Washington State out of high school … named East Bay Lineman of the Year as a senior … earned first-team all-city and all-metro … team went 14-0 as a senior … played in the Holiday Classic All-Star Game.
Personal
Born March 2, 1992 … son of Wendell and Therese Taiese … brother, Lale, played football at UNLV … plans on majoring in kinesiology.
Rhoads on Taiese
“Wendell Taiese is a large human being. We are really excited about that knowing what Kelechi Osemele did for our football program and what he is now doing in the NFL. We think Wendell will come in and be the same kind of player. He was challenged by his coach to get 12 pancake blocks in one game. He upped that by one and got 13 pancake blocks in the game. If you are doing that at any level of football, you can bend and you have the fundamental technical skills to be very successful. He’s a guy that can play anywhere on the line. He can be a tackle and he can be a guard. He’s very good at pass protection and he is dominant at run-blocking.”
