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Isaiah Riddle |
Position: Linebacker Previous Colleges: Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College; Victor Valley (Calif.) Community College Projection: Third-String Status: On Scholarship |
Isaiah Riddle was quite the signing day surprise. He never took an official visit, so when his signed letter of intent was faxed to the coaches in February, most who follow recruiting were scratching their heads, asking "Who?"
Riddle prepped at Northgate High School in Newnan, Ga. He played his freshman season under head coach David Hoover at Victor Valley College in Novato, Calif., where he logged 30 tackles, including six for loss, in nine games.
After one season, Riddle transferred to Scottsdale Community College in the Arizona city of the same name.
He played one season for the Fighting Artichokes (greatest mascot name ever?) under head coach Doug Madoski, and came away with 61 tackles, including six for loss, one sack and a pair of interceptions.
Riddle helped SCC to earn a 10-1 record, which included a victory over Dodge City Community College in the Valley of the Sun Bowl, and a Western States Football League championship. Watch his JUCO highlights here.
With such a circuitous route to Kansas State and being somewhat of a late arrival, it's hard to know just how much impact to expect from Riddle this season. But it doesn't sound like he expects to redshirt, he told GoPowercat.com:
"They'll have me playing Will," explains Riddle. "Me and D'vonta Derricott will hopefully get in there and cause some havoc in the Big 12 because I fit really well. I occupy good in space and I can blitz even better. I can cover receivers in that conference, too. I think we'll have a bright future in my two seasons at K-State."
I expect Riddle at least to play on special teams a little. His playing time at linebacker will depend mostly on how fast he can pick up the playbook, where our freshman crop of preferred walk-ons should have the advantage.
Riddle picked K-State over offers from Memphis and Louisville. But that latter offer came only because of K-State:
"The loyalty factor was big," admits the defender, who has 4.46 speed. "Coach Cox could've easily brought me on a visit, but we already had something set for me to see Louisville.
"(Cox) was actually the one who told Louisville about me and the situation. He had enough faith in me and what I can do that even if K-State couldn't give me a scholarship, he wanted me to land somewhere safely and I can't explain the respect I have for him doing that."