For college football coaches, Wednesday is like a second Christmas morning. They’ll awake Wednesday morning — assuming they get any sleep — to text messages, phone calls, e-mails and faxes from across the country from the young men they’ve been courting for weeks, months and even years.

For ISU coach Paul Rhoads and his staff, Wednesday will be no different. Three recruits have already inked their National Letters of Intent and, along with Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom alumni Jevohn Miller, are currently enrolled in spring semester courses at Iowa State.

The ISU coaching staff has also received verbal commitments from 18 other recruits who have verbally agreed to sign their letters of intent either tomorrow when the Signing Period for Class of 2011 recruits begins; or soon thereafter so they can join the Cyclones for the 2011 season.

Enrolled Recruits:

Aaron Horne: wide receiver; 5 feet, 10 inches; 175 pounds.

Horne hails from Oakland, Calif., and will be joining the Cyclones following two seasons at City College of San Francisco where he caught passes from fellow ISU recruit Steele Jantz. Horne reeled in a team-high 51 catches for 1,176 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. As a return man, Horne racked up 410 kick return yards including a 76-yard touchdown return. Horne also averaged 19.2 yards per punt return as he garnered California Community College Football Coaches Association first-team All-America squad honors.

Steele Jantz: quarterback; 6 feet, 3 inches; 205 pounds.

Jantz threw for 3,075 yards and 23 touchdowns along with rushing for 601 yards and 14 touchdowns en route to an 11-1 season at City College of San Francisco. The Agoura Hills, Calif. native was named to the California Community College Football Coaches Association first-team All-America squad for his performance last season. Ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 40 junior college recruit in the class of 2011, Jantz figures to be a contender for the now-vacant starting quarterback position at Iowa State.

Jevohn Miller: linebacker; 6 feet, 2 inches; 225 pounds.

Named first-team All-State by both the Des Moines Register and the Iowa Newspaper Association, Miller graduated early from Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom and has enrolled at Iowa State for the spring semester. In 2010, Miller led BGM with 121 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and four fumble recoveries. Miller — who is expected to play linebacker at the college level — also ran for 840 yards and 11 touchdowns on only 85 carries and hauled in 10 receptions for 219 yards and one touchdown in his senior campaign.

Samuel Tautolo: offensive line; 6 feet, 4 inches; 305 pounds.

A two-time all-conference recipient at Saddleback Community College, in 2010 Tautolo played center for an offensive line that allowed just 21 sacks on the season, despite throwing the ball 463 times. Named a preseason All-American prior to last season, the team compiled a 17-5 record in his two seasons with the Gauchos. The Mission Viejo, Calif., native has quite the pedigree when it comes to collegiate and professional athletics. Tautolo’s father, John, played offensive line at UCLA and moved on to the NFL where he played for the New York Giants, 1982 to 1983; and Los Angeles Raiders, 1987. Tautolo’s older sister Emma played basketball at UCLA, 2002 to 2006; and sister Hannah played volleyball at Regis University, 2005 to 2009. He is also the cousin of Chicago Bears defensive lineman Matt Toeaina, Seattle Mariners third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo and Arizona Wildcats offensive lineman Conan Amituanai.

 

Verbally Committed Recruits:

Note: Thursday’s Sports section will have more information on the recruits below as well as any other recruits who commit to Iowa State on tomorrow’s National Signing Day.

 

Jared Brackens: defensive back; Mesquite, Texas.

Ernst Brun: tight end; Walnut, Calif.

Quenton Bundrage: wide receiver; Bradenton, Fla.

Darian Cotton: athlete; Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

Brock Dagel: offensive line; Cherokee, Iowa.

Ja’Quarius Daniels: athlete; Austin, Texas.

Tad Ecby: wide receiver; Houston, Texas.

David Irving: defensive end; San Jacinto, Calif.

Jamison Lalk: tight end; Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Teddy Lampkin: wide receiver; Omaha, Neb.

Devin Lemke: defensive end; Iowa Falls, Iowa.

Kenneth Lynn: defensive back; Dallas, Texas.

DeVondrick Nealy: running back; Monticello, Fla.

Oni Omoile: offensive line; Coppell, Texas.

Sam Richardson: quarterback; Winter Park, Fla.

Sam Richardson: defensive back; League City, Texas.

Donald Smith: linebacker; Riverview, Fla.

Robert Standard: running back; St. Louis, Miss.