Perkins makes it official at Iowa State
Dec. 15—NORWALK — Even with months to prepare, the reality had not always set in.
But on Wednesday morning, Tyler Perkins put a pen to paper and it became official.
"This is no joke or a fantasy," Perkins said. "I'm going to a Power Five program on a full scholarship."
The St. Paul senior punter inked his name to NCAA Division I Iowa State University prior to classes at SPH on Wednesday as part of National Signing Day across the country.
"Playing in college was always a goal of mine and something that I pictured would happen," Perkins said. "But I had no idea it would turn out the way it would. Did I ever see myself at a program like ISU? Probably not, but here we are."
Perkins first communicated with Iowa State assistant coach Rob Grande last February, both on the phone and via text messaging.
But in that communication was nothing that led the two-time All-Ohio first team selection to think he was on the verge of a scholarship offer from the Cyclones.
Ranked the No. 2 punter in the country for the Class of 2022 by Kohl's Kicking Camps, Perkins attended a Kohl's Showcase on May 16 in Chicago.
Two days later, despite what he described as what he felt was "just another camp" at the time, Perkins was offered the scholarship by head coach Matt Campbell in a phone call he received on May 18 inside the St. Paul athletic office.
He verbally committed less than two days later. After receiving the offer, Perkins and his family visited the campus in Ames, Iowa, the weekend of June 11-13. While there, Perkins was able to put on the Cardinal and Gold uniform of the Cyclones for some photos.
"Both from my conversations on the phone but then definitely on my visit there, it's really about the relationships," Perkins said. "Coach Grande and Coach Campbell will call just to touch base.
"Coach (Jon) Heacock, our defensive coordinator, came to our house a few weeks ago to visit. The relationships had a big impact on my decision."
Perkins will enter an Iowa State program that takes a 7-5 record after four one-possession losses this season into the Cheez-It bowl vs. Clemson (8-3) at 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 29 in Orlando.
The Cyclones finished No. 9 in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches poll last season after a Fiesta Bowl win over Oregon.
Perkins also noted the support he's already received on social media from the ISU fan base.
"They've been great," he said. "It's nice to know how many people are vested in your success."
After the 2022 signing class was announced, Campbell said the following about Perkins:
"It was important to our program to sign a punter in this 2022 class, and we identified Tyler as the best fit for our program early in the process. He is a talented, productive punter who has also excelled in his high school career as a baseball player. His character and leadership will allow him to compete immediately upon his arrival into our program in June."
After his freshman high school season for the Flyers, when he punted nine times for a 34.8-yard average for longtime coach John Livengood, Perkins started to believe that punting or kicking at the collegiate level was a possibility.
Livengood had also pulled his special teams standout aside and told him he believed he could play at a high level on Saturdays or Sundays one day — four years ago.
"I'm very proud of the work that Tyler has put in over the last four years," Livengood said on Wednesday. "He is naturally gifted as a punter. It is something that he has worked at very hard to put himself in position to play at the Division I level. His work ethic and commitment has put him among the elite.
"To be offered a scholarship to a program the caliber of Iowa State is something special," he added. "Coach Campbell is building a great program at Iowa State and it's really cool that Tyler gets to be part of it. I'm so happy for him to be a part of that culture."
As a sophomore in 2019, Perkins finished with a 32.2 average on 27 punts, with a long of 43 yards. He was also 53-of-55 on extra point attempts and made a 37-yard field goal as the team's kicker.
In nine games in 2020, Perkins punted 20 times for a 44-yard average, including a long of 67 yards against Crestview in Week 2 (Sept. 5, 2020). He was also 33-of-36 on extra points and 5-of-7 on field goals.
This past season, Perkins punted 24 times for 976 yards (40.7 average), including a season-best of 56 yards, in 12 games. He was also 39-of-43 on extra point attempts and made three field goals as a kicker.
Those numbers earned him All-Firelands Conference and OPSWA Northwest District and All-Ohio first team honors at punter in Division VII in both 2020 and 2021. He was also the first team selection at kicker in FC voting.
When asked to grade his 2021 season, Perkins said it was an 8 out of 10.
"My junior year I had a higher average, but had more touchbacks," he said. "But this season, I felt like I helped us win more games because I had plenty of more punts inside the 20, which isn't a stat in high school, but it is in college."
Perkins was in the unique position at St. Paul of only punting on average of twice per game over four years. That's because the Flyers won 34 of the 44 games in that span and didn't have to punt too often.
"It's about mental reps," Perkins said. "Even if I wasn't out there, I would think about where we were on the field and what I would do if I was punting in that situation.
"There was never any additional pressure when I did go out there," he added. "If anything, having the scholarship offer was more motivation."
Perkins will report to Ames in early June with hopes of competing for the starting position right away. He plans to work out four or five days per week and punt at least once a week as the weather allows during the winter.
He also thanks his parents, Pete and Jennifer, prior to Wednesday's signing.
"And really everyone at school," Perkins said. "From my parents and coaches, a lot of my teachers — they all played an important role in this. Every one of them played a part in this."
