AMES – The Iowa State football program added another outstanding junior college defensive lineman with the announcement that three-star prospect Matt Leo has signed with Iowa State.
Leo is rated among the top-50 junior college players in the nation by both ESPN (No. 42) and 247Sports (No. 47). He will enroll at Iowa State for the spring semester of 2017.
Matt Leo
Defensive End
6-7, 265, Jr.
Adelaide, Australia (St. Michael’s/Arizona Western CC)
Arizona Western CC: Chose Iowa State over Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi State and UCF … three-star recruit by Rivals, Scout, ESPN and 247Sports … rated No. 42 overall and No. 7 DE in the ESPNJC50 … ranked as the 47th-best JC player nationally and the fifth-best weakside defensive end by 247Sports … team finished the 2016 season at 9-1 and advanced to the NJCAA national championship game, falling to Garden City CC, 25-22 … posted 17 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks and one fumble recovery as a sophomore … was a reserve in 2015, seeing action in 11 games … coached by Tom Minnick
High School: Did not play football and competed in rugby growing up in Australia.
Coach Matt Campbell on Leo: “One word comes up with Matt, and it’s size. He’s got great length and really does a great job coming off the edge. He has the ability to rush the passer, but also the strength and ability to stop the run.”
