Skip to main content
Kansas State

Recruit of the week: Kansas State linebacker target Asa Newsom

On3 imageby: Derek Young09/15/22DerekYoungKSO
On3 image
Asa Newsom/Asa Newsom's Twitter

NAME: Asa Newsom
RANKING: ****
POSITION: Linebacker
HOMETOWN: Waverly, Iowa
HIGH SCHOOL: Waverly-Shell Rock
POWER FIVE OFFERS: Kansas State, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Stanford, Missouri
COMMITTED: N/A

RECRUITING SUMMARY

His recruitment has been full of visits. He had an older brother at Nebraska and, because of that, traveled to Lincoln many times. Four-star linebacker Asa Newsom has visited Iowa the most and has also made plenty of stops at Kansas State and Minnesota.

It is very surprising that he actually remains uncommitted. He operated throughout the Summer as if he would make a college decision before his senior season. In fact, that was his plan. He shared that desire, and Newsom took four official visits in June.

They were to K-State, Iowa, Minnesota and Stanford.

For a minute, the prevailing wisdom was that David Shaw and the Cardinal would win out for his services. He is an academically-inclined individual and that spoke to him for a while. In the end, those behind the scenes believe he and his family realized it was too far from home.

That leaves the Wildcats, Hawkeyes and Gophers. I’ll admit that I don’t feel great about Kansas State’s chances. There has been more chatter about the programs being led by Kirk Ferentz and PJ Fleck. Newsom even returned to Iowa City for another visit last weekend.

EVALUATION

Personally, I’m a bit stunned that Iowa State never offered the in-state prospect. Perhaps they knew it may be a slam dunk for Iowa. I don’t know. But it doesn’t make much sense to me when he may be the best linebacker prospect that K-State has chased in the entire 2023 cycle.

The combination of speed, size, burst and agility is very appealing. He has all of it in spades. While he probably needs to become a bit stronger, most prospects do when they are still in high school. He camped in Manhattan the Summer before his junior season and netted an offer from the Wildcats on the spot.

They’ve chased him ever since and for good reason. I believe they are up against the odds in their pursuit, but he would be a special addition for Chris Klieman and company. That is why On3 ranks him as a four-star prospect when no other service has made the same conclusion.

PREDICTION

Iowa. I’ve always been taught to follow what they do more than they say, and everything he has done suggests that the Hawkeyes have been in the lead. It may be an easier trip for him to make, but it’s one that he consistently has made each of the last three years and it hasn’t been quelled.

However, the only part of me that still gives Kansas State a glimmer of hope to land him is that he hasn’t been able to pull the trigger on a commitment to the Hawkeyes for whatever reason, after all those trips. We’re four days removed from another stop on the Iowa campus and no college decision has been made.

He has mentioned visiting both K-State and Minnesota for games this Fall as well, though nothing is firmly scheduled or on the books, yet.

You may also like