Iowa State football incoming transfers and commitments tracker

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The Iowa State football program is replenishing the ranks.

With Matt Campbell at Penn State and most of the 2025 roster gone, first-year Cyclones coach Jimmy Rogers will have an extensive roster-building task ahead of him. Iowa State will be looking to add dozens of players both via the high school ranks and the transfer portal as it looks to not only field a competitive 2026 squad, but also build the depth and foundation Rogers will need going forward.

More: Players who left Iowa State football program after Matt Campbell’s departure

If there’s good news about this process, it’s that it’s one Rogers has already undergone. When he took over the Washington State program last winter, the Cougars’ roster was similarly depleted, and Rogers was able to wring a 6-6 campaign out of the Cougars.

Now, it’s a different sort of task at a winning Big 12 program than it was for a university left behind in the remnants of the Pac-12, but Rogers at least has experience and a blueprint. The transfer portal opened on Friday, Jan. 2, and the Cyclones have been working hard in the portal and on the recruiting trail.

As Rogers and Co. build out the roster, we’ll be keeping track of the additions here.

Transfers

  • Colin Amick, OL, Montana (FCS): He was a FCS Freshman All-American this past season, appearing in 11 games (with seven starts) during Montana’s run to the FCS Playoff Final Four.
  • Braden Awls, S, Toledo: A first-team All-MAC safety this past season, Awls had a conference-best five interceptions, with 52 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. He had a productive last couple of years as a starter for Toledo.
  • Max Baloun, DT, Washington State: A former four-year player at South Dakota State, Baloun transferred to Washington State where he was named co-captain. He started the first four games, tallying five tackles, including three for loss and a sack, before suffering a season-ending injury. He has one year of eligibility left.
  • Trevor Bindel, OL, Washington State: He redshirted this season after appearing in just three games at Washington State as a true freshman. He will have four years of eligibility left.
  • Evan Boyd, WR, Michigan State: The 6-foot-3, 208-pounder caught 21 passes for 302 yards as a freshman at Central Michigan before transferring to Michigan State, where he had three catches in 2025.
  • Gavin Broscious, OL, Michigan State: A 6-foot-4, 308-pounder who made four starts at guard for the Spartans in 2025. Missed the 2023 season with injury.
  • DeAndre Carter, OL, Auburn: A 6-foot-4, 345-pounder who spent two seasons at Auburn, where he played 12 games in 2025 mostly on PAT and field goal units. Was a four-star recruit in the 2024 class. Played under current Iowa State offensive line coach Jake Thornton with the Tigers.
  • Caden Crawford, DE, South Dakota (FCS): Six-foot-4, 265-pounder from Lansing, Kan. who had 27 tackles – including six against Iowa State – in 2025. Began his career at Iowa, where he appeared in four games over three seasons.
  • Tristan Exline, LB, UT-Permian Basin (D2): The 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker was named conference defensive player of the year and a two-time Division II All-American. He had 143 tackles, including 20 for loss, with six sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception last season.
  • Donovan Fitzmaurice, DL, Washington State: He played 128 snaps on defense, appearing in nine games as a true freshman for the Cougars. Fitzmaurice finished with 10 tackles, including a sack.
  • Tyler Fortenberry, TE, Arkansas State: He started his career playing two years at Copiah-Lincoln CC (JUCO) in Mississippi, before transferring to Vanderbilt, where he didn’t see any game action in 2024. He played this past season at Arkansas State, where he recorded 32 catcehs for 294 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Trevor Fortenberry, WR, Copiah-Lincoln CC (JUCO): The brother of Tyler Fortenberry, Trevor had 12 receptions for 136 yards as a redshirt sophomore this past season.
  • Duhron Goodman, S, Washington State: After previous stops at Portland State and College of the Canyons (JUCO), Goodman appeared in nine games in his first FBS season at Washington State this year. He had eight tackles, but missed the last four games of the season with an injury.
  • Blake Hawkins, DL, Iowa Western (JUCO): A first-team All-American, the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder had two-dozen offers from Group of 5 and FCS schools. He had 13 sacks for the national champion Reivers in 2025.
  • Omari Hayes, WR, Tulane: He originally began his career at FAU and posted 39 receptions for 590 yards and three touchdowns. Hayes transferred to Tulane for the 2025 season and had 39 receptions for 515 yards and a touchdown.
  • Cody Jackson, WR, Tarleton State (FCS): A former squad member at Oklahoma and Houston, Jackson revitalized his career with a productive two seasons at Tarleton State. He had 53 catches for 799 yards and six touchdowns this past season.
  • Jack Janikowski, DL, Washington State: A 6-foot-2, 240-pound defensive lineman with two years of eligibility remaining, Janikowski appeared in all 13 games for the Cougars this past season and recorded 10 tackles, including three for loss, and one sack.
  • Maasai King, OT, Akron: The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder has made 13 career starts for Akron. Began his career at junior college. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
  • Adlai Lounsbury, K/P, Washington State: A Van Meter native who redshirted after not appearing in a game in 2025 for the Cougars.
  • Caden Maas, OL, Sioux Falls (D2): The 6-foot-5, 305-pounder was a starter at tackle for Sioux Falls. A Watertown, Wisc. native.
  • Brody Miller, S, Washington State: The 6-foot-1, 178-pound Minnesota native redshirted in Pullman as a freshman, playing primarily special teams.
  • Cade Myer, OL, Colorado School of Mines (D2): Six-foot-2, 305 pounds from Frisco, Texas. Started 11 games at guard last season in which he was named first-team all-confernece.
  • Gavin Proudfoot, OT, Northern Iowa (FCS): The 6-foot-7, 300-pound offensive lineman has one year of eligibility remaining. He appeared in 11 games for UNI this past season.
  • Jaylen Raynor, QB, Arkansas State: A three-year starter at Arkansas State, Raynor completed 62.9% of passes for 8,694 yards, 52 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. He also ran for 1,183 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns throughout his time there. Raynor has one year of eligibility left. This past season, he completed 66.5% of passes for 3,361 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also had 423 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
  • Damarious Russell, S, Washington State: He redshirted this season, after appearing in five games as a true freshman. He had two tackles and will have four years of eligibility left.
  • Sullivan Schlimgen, LB, Washington State: He appeared in all 13 games, starting the last five contests for the Cougars as a freshman this past season. He had 49 tackles.
  • Caleb Schmidt, LS, Minot State (D2): 6-foot-3, 240-pound special-teamer
  • Braden Smith, OL, Tarleton State (FCS): Switched to offensive line and played 14 games for Tarleton State after appearing in five games as a true freshman on the defensive line in 2024.
  • Montreze Smith, LB, Austin Peay (FCS): A first-team all-conference linebacker as a redshirt freshman, Smith had 74 tackles, including 8.5 for loss, four sacks, three interceptions and a forced fumble. He is set to return to FBS after starting his career at Duke.
  • Trillion Sorrell, CB, Washington State: He redshirted this season, after appearing in five games as a true freshman. He made four tackles and had a pass breakup. He will have four years of eligibility left.
  • Malaki Ta’ase, DE, Washington State: Played in 13 games and made one start for the Cougars. The 6-foot-2, 265-pounder had 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2025.
  • Jake Taylor, OL, Oklahoma: A former four-star prospect and No. 1 overall recruit from Nevada, Taylor started four games for the Sooners in an injury-hampered redshirt junior 2025 season. Throughout his career, he’s appeared in 16 games for Oklahoma.
  • Keyon Washington, CB, Bowling Green: A former West Virginia signee, Washington spent the last season as a redshirt freshman at Bowling Green. He had 37 tackles, a sack, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Class of 2026 recruits

  • Amiri Barnes, CB: A 5-foot-11, 175-pound cornerback from Katy, Texas. A three-star prospect originally committed to Washington State.
  • Savion Barthelemy, DL: A 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman from Belle Chasse, Louisiana, Barthelemy is a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, 247Sports and Rivals.com.
  • Tyler Burnstein, DE: A Washington State signee who stands 6-foot-4, 235 pounds. The Arizona native also had offers from Arizona State and Nevada, among others.
  • Drew Byrd, TE: Another Washington State signee was expected to enroll in January. A native of Meridian, Idaho, was rated a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com.
  • Hudson Kurland, QB: Originally a Washington State signee, Kurland committed to Iowa State on Jan. 4. A three-star recruit, the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder also had offers from San Diego State and Idaha.
  • Bradley Esser, S: A 6-foot-2, 209-pound three-star recruit. South Dakota native who had signed with Washington State. Held an offer from Northwestern.
  • Kingston Fotualii, OL: Another Washington State flip. A 6-foot-3, 290-pounder from Washington.
  • Luke Galer, TE: Another Washington State signee was expected to enroll in January. A native of Loomis, Calif., was rated a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com
  • Brady Hummel, WR: A Washington State flip, Hummel is 6-foot, 185 pounds. Held offers from Nevada, Air Force and Army.
  • Jake Jones, DL: A 6-foot-2, 275-pounder who also flipped from Washington State. An Arizona native who had offers from Boise State and Colorado State, among others.
  • Landon Kalsbeck, ATH: A three-star recruit who stands 6-foot-1, 210 pounds. Previously signed with Washington State. Hails from Littleton, Colo.
  • Jamal Polite Jr., WR: A three-star recruit from Killeen, Texas, who previously signed with Washington State.
  • Torrence Sanders, CB: A three-star recruit from New Orleans, Louisiana, Sanders is another flip from Washington State.
  • Malcolm Watkins, ATH: A three-star prospect from Bakersfield, California, Watkins was the first high school commit of the Jimmy Rogers era. He flipped from Washington State and is projected to play wide receiver.
  • Derek Worden, OT: A 6-foot-5, 280-pounder from Rogers’ home state of Arizona. Previously signed with Washington State. Held an offer from Arizona. Three-star recruit.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football incoming transfers and HS commitments tracker

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