How Iowa State football was able to beat out Iowa for Lewis Central's Hunter Deyo

INDIANOLA — Lewis Central finished pregame warmups and lined up on the east sideline of Indianola Stadium. Players rocked back and forth on cleats, waiting for the Indians to emerge from the opposing locker room, while seven players, mostly Titans captains, stepped slightly in front of the crowd.

Indianola ran through a tunnel of band members as all but one in Lewis Central’s line of seven stood completely still, game faces staring down their opponents.

That one player, Hunter Deyo, clapped for his temporary enemies from the moment the first player set foot in the end zone until the last player made it to the sideline.

"There’s respect to whoever you play," Deyo told The Register on Tuesday. "It doesn’t matter if they’re one-star, two-star, three-star, four-star, five-star. That’s how I grew up and that’s how I’ve been raised. Respect is everything."

MORE: Indianola 14, Lewis Central 9: What we learned from this Class 4A thriller

Playing in Iowa right now, a time in which there's an unprecedented amount of talent in this state, Deyo competes with and against some of the country's top prospects. That’s part of where the respect comes from. But he also acknowledges his on-field rivals are some of his good friends — and future teammates.

Those soon-to-be former foes include fellow Iowa State recruits in Sergeant Bluff-Luton linebacker Jacob Imming, Harlan linebacker Will McLaughlin and Cedar Rapids Prairie tight end Gabe Burkle. They compete on opposing teams now, but come next fall, they'll all be wearing Cyclones jerseys. 

MORE: Why Gabe Burkle is more college-ready than most high school tight ends

Those four make up an in-state group of talent that rivals the best home-state hauls in Iowa State football history. Cyclones fans were excited about each commitment.

But Deyo's was a little extra special.

A consensus four-star recruit with the likes of Oregon, Arkansas and Wisconsin offering him, Deyo eventually narrowed his list down to the Hawkeyes and Cyclones, and he committed to Iowa State in mid-July, becoming the highest-ranked recruit to choose the Cyclones over Iowa in the Matt Campbell era. He is No. 3 in The Register’s in-state 2022 rankings and is the No. 273 overall senior prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

It wasn’t an easy choice for Deyo, but he decided Iowa State was right for him during his official visit in June because it felt like home. Lewis Central head coach Justin Kammrad gave Deyo some advice that pushed the senior to the Cyclones.

"Coach Kammrad said it perfectly: That Iowa is a business and Iowa State is a family," Deyo said. "And I picked the family part."

The Titans dropped Friday’s game against Indianola 14-9, but Deyo was dominant. He recorded eight tackles, the most he's had in a single game this season. Five of those tackles were for loss, too.

A 2-2 start wasn’t what Deyo hoped for his final high school season, but he still believes the Titans have the potential to win the state championship. As for those two hard losses, Deyo isn’t quick to point the finger.

"The two losses we took were our fault completely," Deyo said. "We shot ourselves in the foot. We got stopped at the 1-yard line for false starts, which (you) can’t have that going on to win state championships."

Deyo’s ability to own his and the Titans’ mistakes are part of what made him a team captain. Regardless of the game’s result, Deyo is a player Kammrad is happy to have on his side.

"He’s a difference-maker, you know? He makes plays and sets our front on the offensive line, defensive line," Kammrad said. "He really brings the energy to our guys and we just keep asking him to keep leading us every week."

Deyo said he picked Iowa State because of the program's commitment to a family atmosphere, and the high-schooler's own family is just excited to have him close to home. Cyclones games in Ames are a little over 2 hours away, an easy day trip from the Council Bluffs area. Deyo’s older brother Damon — who Hunter says taught him everything he knows about football — will be able to cheer on his little brother and his favorite team.

"He’s excited because Iowa State is his college. He loves Iowa State," Deyo said. "He’s amped for me."

Alyssa Hertel is a college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.