Iowa State Football 2026 Defensive Player of the Year Prediction
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Let us be honest about something. The 2026 Iowa State offense is going to need some time to figure itself out. A new quarterback making his Big 12 debut, an entirely new offensive line, and a wide receiver room still sorting out its pecking order. Jaylen Raynor is talented but nobody should expect a fully functioning offensive machine to emerge on September 5th against Southeast Missouri. These things take time.
Which means the defense may have to carry this team early. And based on what Iowa State has assembled on that side of the ball, that is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact it might be the best kept secret in the Big 12 this summer.
The Pick: Isaac Terrell
Terrell is the crown jewel of Iowa State’s defensive haul and the most decorated player Rogers brought with him from Washington State. In 2025 he was named the Pac-12 Conference Top Defensive Line Performer, recording 28 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, six quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a safety. PFF graded him as the fifth best returning edge rusher in the entire Big 12 at 86.8.
Let that sink in for a moment. A player who was terrorizing Pac-12 quarterbacks last season is now in Cardinal and Gold. Opposing offensive coordinators are already circling his name in red on their scouting reports. Iowa State fans should be doing the same thing on their calendars.
The Supporting Cast: Caden Crawford
If Terrell is the headline Crawford is the fine print worth reading very carefully. The South Dakota transfer posted 78 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in his lone season with the Coyotes earning Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. PFF graded him as the fourth best returning edge rusher in the Big 12 at 88.1.
Yes you read that correctly. Iowa State has two of the top five rated returning edge rushers in the entire Big 12. On a roster that lost 50 players. Somehow. Jimmy Rogers apparently raided the discount rack and found two of the best items in the store.
Having Terrell and Crawford on the same defensive line is genuinely exciting. Double teams become a problem when both options are this dangerous. Big 12 quarterbacks are going to have a very long fall.
The Wildcard: Montreze Smith Jr.
Smith Jr. traveled a road less traveled to get to Ames. Duke. Western Kentucky. Austin Peay. Three programs in three years before landing in the Big 12. If college football had a frequent flyer program this man would have status.
At Austin Peay last season as a redshirt freshman he posted 74 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions including a pick six and a forced fumble. FCS Freshman All-American. UAC Freshman of the Year. PFF graded him as the second highest rated returning linebacker in the entire Big 12 at 90.0.
The jump from the FCS to the Big 12 is substantial and nobody should pretend otherwise. But a player with those kinds of instincts and that kind of production has a way of translating regardless of the level. If Smith Jr. makes that leap this season Iowa State’s defense becomes something genuinely special.
The Big Picture
The offense is going to take some time to gel and that is okay. Not every team needs to score 40 points to win football games. Sometimes you just need to not give up 40 points. Iowa State’s defensive line and linebacker corps give Jimmy Rogers a real identity to build around while Raynor and the offense find their footing.
As every Cyclone fan learned the hard way last season, availability is the best ability. If Terrell, Crawford and Smith Jr. stay healthy and on the field together this defense has a chance to be the backbone of a bowl eligible team.
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