It started with Bobby Chalk at 7:05 a.m. Wednesday. By 2 p.m., ISU head coach Dan McCarney had inked R.J. Sumrall, giving the Cyclones the final piece of their 2004 recruiting class.

With the university itself and the people associated with it as his main selling points, McCarney announced the signings of 28 players from around the country.

“It’s a special day for all of us, we love signing day,” McCarney said. “It’s a culmination of a lot of people’s hard work. We involve everyone on this campus because the first thing we sell when the young men come here is Iowa State.”

McCarney sees great depth and talent in his new recruits.

“The class we signed today is a very balanced class,” McCarney said. “I think we addressed our needs. We had a lot of seniors graduate … which means we have a lot of scholarships available.”

Heading the list are Iowa high school standout running backs Jason Scales and Greg Coleman, along with three other running backs from around the nation.

Scales and Coleman hail from West Des Moines and Iowa City, respectively, and racked up impressive numbers throughout their prep careers.

“There wasn’t any question that Jason Scales and Greg Coleman were the two best skill players in the state of Iowa,” McCarney said.

Scales finished high school with 6,050 rushing yards and 78 touchdowns. He also led West Des Moines Valley to back-to-back state championships during his junior and senior seasons.

He enrolled in classes at Iowa State during the spring semester to help get a head start in academics and on the playing field.

“I think as far as academics, it allows me to get a head start with my school work,” Scales said. “As [for] football, it allows me to learn the system, meet the players and get introduced to the Cyclone football family.”

Coleman averaged more than 11 yards per carry as a senior, setting Iowa City West’s career rushing record with 4,673 yards.

McCarney also likes Coleman for his overall athletic abilities. Coleman is a three-time state wrestling qualifier.

“He’s a great football player and one of the top wrestlers in the country,” McCarney said. “If you remember, there have only been two other backs, since I’ve been here, that are running back-wrestler combinations.

“One was Troy Davis — he wasn’t too bad … the other was Darren Davis — he wasn’t too bad, either. I think Greg’s got a chance to have a great future.”

Scales and Coleman were two of 10 signees from Iowa.

“There were nine states represented with this class,” McCarney said. “Before we ever step foot anywhere in the country to recruit and attract young men to this program, we’re going to take care of business in the state of Iowa. There’s no question we did that again.”

Iowa State also tapped into junior colleges, signing six athletes to help fill some holes on a squad that lost its last 10 games in 2003 and answer the question as to what the 2004 Cyclone secondary will be like.

“We go out and sign the two defensive backs that led America in junior college interceptions in Hargis and Gair,” McCarney said. “These guys can play. Between the two of them they had 20 interceptions, and we are ecstatic to have both those kids coming in.”