Iowa State LB Sullivan Schlimgen’s “full circle moment” spanned 1,520 miles

By Rob Gray, correspondent AMES — Iowa State linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen’s self-described “full circle moment” came with a 1,520 mile-long plot twist. That’s the road-mapped distance between Pullman, Wash., and ISU’s campus — and it’s a path the former Sioux Falls O’Gorman standout unexpectedly traversed to join the Cyclones. But why dub his journey from Washington State to ISU a “full circle moment?” Let him explain. “Funny story,” said Schlimgen, a 6-1, 220-pound MIKE linebacker who started the final five games last season for the Cougars as a true freshman. “My junior year (of high school) I came to camp here hoping to get an offer from (then-ISU head) coach (Matt) Campbell and things didn’t work out.” Bummer? For sure, but Schlimgen’s backup plan involved going to Washington State and playing for current Cyclone head coach Jimmy Rogers, who was tabbed to succeed Campbell on Dec. 5. So everything worked out in the end. Perhaps even better for Schlimgen, whose defensive coordinator, Jessie Bobbit, also joined Rogers at ISU. “I love coach Bobbit and coach Rogers,” said Schlimgen, who initially chose Washington State over his lone Power Four offer from Texas Tech. “So to do that at a school here that I’d originally wanted to go to with those two coaches, I mean, it’s a full circle moment.” Schlimgen plans to turn that circle into a beeline toward success in cardinal and gold. He totaled 49 tackles as a part-time starter with the Cougars last season and his career high in stops (nine) came on his team’s biggest stage — a narrow 24-21 loss at College Football Playoff semifinalist Ole Miss. It’s the type of performance that even turned Bobbit’s head. “(On) his first play in, they ran a counter and he came back and ripped through, set the edge and made the tackle,” Bobbit said. “It was cool to see.” Now Bobbit’s seeing Schlimgen embody the “competitive maturity” Rogers has referenced to describe his first- and second-year players during fall camp. He’s not new to the scheme anymore. He’s playing like a veteran on a defense that aims to be one of the best in the Big 12 immediately under Bobbit’s direction. “Last year he was kind of just reacting post-snap,” Bobbit said of Schlimgen, one of 13 defensive players who chose to follow him to ISU from Washington State. “Now he’s seeing things, communicating, alerting it, which helps everyone around you. Emphasis of the day-to-day defense was empowerment. He does that. It’s how he lives his life.” As for the defense as a whole? Bobbit likes what he’s seen in the early stages of fall camp. “The last three days — today was day three of pads, it’s been really physical,” said Bobbit, whose Cougars defense held its last nine foes to an average of 13.5 points per game last season. “Just like it was in spring ball, but more of a controlled violence where guys are executing, trying to finish blocks, being smart, keeping each other up. That just shows that there’s been a lot of growth. That there’s the physicality mentality we want out of those guys on both sides of the ball, but they’re actually at a higher level, which means less bodies on the ground, too.” Schilmgen’s simply happy to be on the ground in Ames, while occasionally wrestling his offensive teammates to the turf, as well. The hours that preceded his eventual 1,520 mile trek back to his dream program proved to be tense and taxing, but eventually allowed him to come full circle as a young but trusted leader. “When I’m in and I turn around and see ‘Sully’ back there, I know we’re in good hands,” senior defensive tackle Bryson Lamb said. “He’s a young guy but one of the hardest workers I’ve veer met. I can’t wait for him to finish his college career and go to the next level because he’s a guy who definitely can do that.” The post Iowa State LB Sullivan Schlimgen’s “full circle moment” spanned 1,520 miles appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.