Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – At 6-foot-2 and nearly 240 pounds Coal Flansburg already looks like a college football player.

On Tuesday the Solon junior revealed where he plans to play when he becomes a college athlete.

Flansburg announced his verbal commitment to Iowa State on Twitter on Tuesday becoming the ninth commitment and third in-state pledge for the Cyclones.

“Would like to announce my Commitment to Iowa State!” Flansburg wrote on his Twitter account. “Huge thank you to everyone that’s helped me along the way!”

Flansburg is a three-star recruit by the 247Sports composite rankings which have the junior as the No. 61 inside linebacker in the 2019 class and the No. 12 prospect in Iowa.

“He has the physical prowess and the physical abilities, he’s 6-foot-2 and almost 240 pounds right now,” Solon head coach Kevin Miller said. “That is college size already. He’s college ready. There aren’t too many linebackers that are at 240 at the high school level. He’s already got those measurables and I think that was pretty appealing to Iowa State.”

In his first season as a varsity starter Flansburg helped Solon to an 11-1 record and a berth in the Class 3A semifinals.

Flansburg ranked second on the team with 42 tackles from his middle linebacker spot including five tackles for loss and two sacks.

He also picked off three passes and returned two for touchdowns while helping Solon post six shutouts while holding opponents to six points per game.  

While Flansburg already possesses the size and physicality of a college middle linebacker Miller isn’t 100 percent positive that is the spot he’ll play at the next level. That versatility is part of what made Flansburg such an intriguing prospect.

“I feel like he is going to be a linebacker but he also could play offense as well and I think that versatility is what made him so appealing to Iowa State,” Miller said. “I think he’s a linebacker but he played H Back and fullback for us a did a great job and I think that is what lends himself to having a good career at Iowa State.”

As a junior Flansburg rushed for 69 yards and seven touchdowns and caught three passes for 31 yards and two scores.

“Certainly, I think his ceiling is pretty high, he is still relatively young for his grade, he is still only 16 years old which is the crazy part,” Miller said. “His versatility obviously I think is a big factor. He can play linebacker but he can also play on offense whether it be fullback or even a tight end.”