After way too much time spent on the computer, and a little bit of thinking, I have decided the time is right for me to step away from CloneChronicles. My new job will have priority over my time, and I'll be looking to enjoy my last year in college. mplscyclone will take over as the head of the blog.

It's been awesome being a part of CloneChronicles. SBNation is a heck of a network, and the interaction with readers in unmatched. I'll truly miss it. Since I'm not really one for flowery goodbye statements, I'll end it here.

All the best. CC

I haven't posted much lately, since, well, it's kind of a dead time for Iowa State athletics. However, the Cyclone football staff has worked overtime in securing another commitment at a position of dire need, as JUCO linebacker Matt Taufoou (6-1, 235) of San Mateo Junior College committed to coach Paul Rhoads and staff over the Tennessee Volunteers.

Rivals Profile / Scout Profile / ESPN Profile

Taufoou averaged 6.7 tackles a game for San Mateo last season as a sophomore, as well as forcing two fumbles.

Randy Peterson's blog discusses how the commitment went down, with Taufoou ending up in Ames instead of Knoxville.

“It was between you guys and Tennessee,” San Mateo defensive coordinator Tim Tulloch told me. “Monte Kiffin (Tennessee defensive coordinator) loved him, but Iowa State got in on him first.”

Matt has three older brothers, including Will, a senior fullback last season at California.

"I have a pretty good relationship with coach Rhoads and coach Bleil," San Mateo head coach Larry Owens said of Paul Rhoads and line coach Bill Bleil. "I got an e-mail, asking if I knew of any linebackers, and I told them to look no farther than Matt. I sent them a tape, and the rest is history.

"They fell in love with him right away."

Taufoou also made the Cal JUCO All-American team.

Taufoou fits an area of immediate need for the Cyclones at linebacker, with the graduation of Michael Bibbs and the transfer of Cameron Bell. There's an opportunity for Taufoou to slide right into the starting lineup by the opener. Jesse Smith has the MIKE position secured, with the two other spots being fought for between Fred Garrin, Justin Rumple, Josh Raven, Derec Schmidgall and Taufoou.

Iowa State basketball took another roster hit today with the departure of freshman guard Wes Eikmeier. The scholarship chart will be adjusted accordingly.

Eikmeier's departure is the second of this short offseason, with the departure of Clint Mann. Obviously, this is nothing new, as over half of McDermott's commitments in his first three recruiting classes (9 of 17) will have left the team early.

The loss of Eikmeier might have a greater effect down the road, and is not likely to hurt the team much in the immediate future, but he may not be the last player to leave the team this offseason. Sources have told Clone Chronicles that Craig Brackins has indeed set in motion the process of declaring for the NBA Draft (without an agent involved at this point), as well as the possible loss of Cameron Lee from the team.

Player defections have haunted Greg McDermott at Iowa State, and he faces the very possible problem of losing the team's best player for the fourth straight offseason. While the defections of Mann and Eikmeier aren't team crippling, they are troubling. 

Monday came with some big news in terms of Cyclone basketball personnel. The Clones added a commit in the person of 6-9 JUCO PF LaRon Dendy, lost a commit in PG prospect Chim Kadima, and lost a current player in Clint Mann.

While the Mann departure and the Dendy addition do not come as huge surprises, the loss of Kadima is a slight surprise. 

Dendy will serve as a bit of a backup plan for a team that doesn't know if it will return All-Big 12 player Craig Brackins, and it can be expected that he'll see a good chunk of minutes this fall at the four. Dendy was a four star recruit coming out of high school, but was routed to Indian Hills due to grades. He's battled through injury this past season.

Kadima also dealt with injuries this past season, but it is rumored that his parting ways with the Cyclones was due to a desire to continue to look at other schools, which led to a mutual separation.

Mann had been rumored to be looking to transfer, and he will likely land at a mid major.

Ohio State 84.5

Iowa 81

ISU 71.5

Nebraska 69

These are really the only four teams that matter. Jake Varner is the lone Cyclone alive in a championship match. Not a good day.