Rivals rates Allen Lazard as the top receiver in the country. ESPN has him outside the top-thirty. On Sunday in Chicago at the NFTC, Lazard was determined to prove that the former service has it right.
"Yeah. It's a chip on my shoulder. But no matter what I was ranked, I was going to come out here and compete hard and show what I can do," Lazard said.
Consider it done.
The Urbandale (Iowa) High School star earned an invite to The Opening 2013. His athleticism and size combination are excellent. And Trent Dilfer told me that his ability to control his body and break routes sharply at his size is better than some NFL players.
Lazard is committed to Iowa State, and he considers his commitment to be extremely solid.
"It's the coaching staff and how I've connected with them," he said. "I've seen the progress coach [Paul] Rhoads has had in the past four years. And with my dad having played there, and my brother playing there now, It's just a chance for a special opportunity. It's always been my dream school, and getting to play with my brother again would be really big for me."
Lazard says his best connection is with Iowa State's Shane Burnham.
"I love him, and coach Rhoads and coach [Todd] Sturdy."
Other schools are getting the message.
"Most schools are kind of backing off, but Stanford and Iowa still come after me to take a visit and consider them," Lazard said.
While he is solid to the Cyclones, Lazard said that he will probably use an official visit to Stanford.
"I want to see the West Coast," he said.
Lazard is not an early-enrollee as he plans to play basketball during his senior year.
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