St. Louis junior running back almost commits to Iowa
By Tyler Devine
allhawkeyes.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa football team apparently came close to getting a verbal commitment this past weekend from a high school junior running back from St. Louis.
“There was a possibility I was going to commit this weekend,” said 3-star running back Andrew Clair. “But I changed my mind and I’m going to wait until early August to make a commitment.”
Iowa is the only school to offer Clair a scholarship at this point. But other schools, including Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri, are showing interest in the 5-foot-9, 170-pound all-purpose back.
“They are (my favorite) right now,” Clair said of Iowa, which signed 25 players in it 2016 recruiting class on Wednesday. “I’m going to contact them this weekend (about a visit).”
Clair said he wants to attend Iowa’s junior day event in March, along with multiple camps over the spring and summer.
He already has taken one unofficial visit to Iowa this past November.
Clair said he plans to attend the Adidas Showcase next weekend in Atlanta. He also plans to compete at a prestigious 7-on-7 camp in which representatives from Rivals.com, 247 Sports and the Army All-American selection committee will be present, according to Clair.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is being more aggressive in recruiting, offering at least 200 scholarships nationwide in the 2016 class. All but two of the 25 players who signed with Iowa on Wednesday were committed before the 2015 season even started.
But with fewer than 20 scholarships to offer in the 2017 class, and with five players already committed to the class, the Iowa coaches have to be more selective.
Clair appreciates the early attention from the Iowa coaches.
And they seem to like his versatility.
“I could possibly play on the defensive side of the ball,” said Clair, who has been clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. “(They said) I’m just one of those types of athletes they could put anywhere, and I’ll be a good fit.”