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Jimmy Rogers speaks during his introductory press conference as Iowa State’s new head football coach on Dec. 8, 2025, at Iowa State University in Ames, IA. Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Iowa State Cyclones Football Transfer Portal Tracker

Originally posted on Iowa State Cyclones on SI
By Kenneth Teape | Last updated Jan 9, 2026 2:00 PM ET

The 2025-26 offseason and transfer portal cycle is the start of a new era for the Iowa State Cyclones football program.

After 10 years at the helm, Matt Campbell is no longer leading the way. The winningest head coach in program history accepted the head coaching position with the Penn State Nittany Lions, creating a massive void to be filled.

Tasked with taking over for Campbell is Jimmy Rogers. He spent one season with the Washington State Cougars, leading them to bowl eligibility before accepting the position with Iowa State. Before that, he found a ton of success with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, including a national title in 2023.

His defensive coordinator with the Cyclones, Jesse Bobbit, who was a former linebacker under Rogers at South Dakota, was the interim head coach. He got the Cougars to the finish line, leading them to a victory over the Utah State Aggies in the Idaho Famous Potato Bowl.

Iowa State has been busy on transfer portal

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

There were 75 newcomers on that Washington State team in 2025. Rogers could face a similar undertaking with Iowa State, given how things have transpired with the roster this offseason.

More than 50 players entered the transfer portal, including 16 starters, which is the most in the nation. Replacing all of that experience and talent will not be easy, but Rogers and his staff have been working hard to bring talent into Ames.

There won’t be many familiar faces on the gridiron for the fan base with key contributors such as quarterback Rocco Becht, running back Carson Hansen, safety Marcus Neal Jr. and cornerback Jontez Williams, multi-year starters for the Cyclones, following Campbell to Penn State.

However, there will be some familiarity on the roster for Rogers and Bobbit, who have successfully recruited players from the Cougars team to follow them from Pullman, Washington, to Ames, Iowa.

Under Campbell, Iowa State found success retaining talent and filling gaps in the transfer portal. The school is hopeful that Rogers can do the same, as he has the opportunity to make an imprint on the program right away with so many spots open on the roster.

There has been a ton of movement on the portal thus far, and there will continue to be. Continue checking back in below for all the updates on where your favorite former Cyclones have ended up and who is replacing them under the new regime.

Outgoing

Name	Position	Years Remaining	New School
Cooper Alexander	Tight End	3
Kai Black	Wide Receiver	2
Mason Miller	Linebacker	3
BJ Carter	Defensive Line	4	Marshall
Tripp Walsh	Tight End	2	New Mexico
Nick Reinicke	Linebacker	2
Abu Sama	Running Back	1	Wisconsin
Will Hawthorne	Linebacker	4	Nebraska
Dyllan Malone	Wide Receiver	4
Kuol Kuol II	Offensive Tackle	4	Penn State
Carson Van Dinter	Safety	3	Wisconsin
Dylan Lee	Running Back	3	UCLA
Chase Sowell	Wide Receiver	1	Penn State
Hunter Sowell	Cornerback	4	Penn State
Alijah Carnell	Defensive Line	3	Penn State
Carson Brown	Wide Receiver	1
Trevor Buhr	Interior OL	2	Penn State
Samuel Same	Edge Rusher	2
Cael Brezina	Linebacker	2	Penn State
Kooper Ebel	Linebacker	1	Penn State
Marcus Neal Jr.	Safety	2	Penn State
Ikenna Ezeogu	Edge Rusher	1
Jamison Patton	Safety	1	Penn State
Charlie Woleben	Defensive Line	4
Tre Bell	Cornerback	1	Michigan State
Alex Manke	Quarterback	4	Penn State
Ta'Shawn James	Safety	2	UCLA
Brendan Black	Interior OL	1	Nebraska
Michael Parkes	Wide Receiver	4
John Klosterman	Linebacker	1
Jace Gilbert	Punter	1
Drew Clausen	Long Snapper	2	Indiana
Vaea Ikakoula	Interior OL	4	Penn State
Benjamin Brahmer	Tight End	1	Penn State
Gabe Burkle	Tight End	1	Penn State
Caleb Bacon	Linebacker	1	Penn State
Will Tompkins	Offensive Tackle	4	Penn State
Deylin Hasert	Interior OL	2	Georgia State
Carson Hansen	Running Back	1	Penn State
Xavier Townsend	Wide Receiver	1
Brett Eskildsen	Wide Receiver	2	Penn State
Cameron Smith	Safety	1
Mason Ellens	Cornerback	4
Danny Inglis	Linebacker	3
Jeremiah Cooper	Cornerback	1
Daniel Jackson	Wide Receiver	1
Sione Perkins	Offensive Tackle	4	Northern Arizona
Jontez Williams	Cornerback	1	USC
Rocco Becht	Quarterback	1	Penn State
KhiJohnn Cummings-Coleman	Cornerback	3	Kansas
Zay Robinson	Wide Receiver	4	Penn State
Karon Brookins	Wide Receiver	4	Penn State
Quentin Taylor Jr.	Cornerback	3	Mississippi State
Joshua Patterson	Safety	4	Wake Forest
Markell Chapman	Defensive Line	2

Incoming

Player	Position	Years Remaining	Old School
Jack Janikowski	EDGE Defender	2	Washington State
Malaki Ta'ase	Defensive Line	2	Washington State
Bryson Lamb	Defensive Line	1	Washington State
Caden Crawford	Defensive Line	1	South Dakota
Caden Maas	Offensive Tackle	Potentially 2	Sioux Falls
Cade Myer	Interior OL	1	Colorado School of Mines
Gavin Broscious	Interior OL	Potentially 2	Michigan State
Brody Miller	Safety	4	Washington State
Adlai Lunsbury	Punter	4	Washington State
Braden Awls	Safety	1	Toledo
Braden Smith	Interior OL	3	Tarleton State
Carter Pabst	Wide Receiver	3	Washington State
Colin Amick	Offenisve Tackle	3	Montana
Sullivan Schlimgen	Linebacker	3	Washington State
Omari Hayes	Wide Receiver	1	Tulane
Jake Taylor	Offensive Tackle	1	Oklahoma
Damarius Russell	Safety	4	Washington State
Donovan Fitzmaurice	Defensive Line	3	Washington State
Trevor Bindel	Interior OL	4	Washington State
Duhron Goodman	Safety	1	Washington State
Trillion Sorrell	Safety	4	Washington State
Max Baloun	Defensive Line	1	Washington State
Tyler Fortenberry	Tight End	1	Arkansas State
DeAndre Carter	Interior OL	3	Auburn
Cody Jackson	Wide Receiver	1	Tarleton State
Montreze Smith	Linebacker	3	Austin Peay
Keyon Washington	Cornerback	2	Bowling Green
Maasai King	Offensive Tackle	2	Akron
Gavin Proudfoot	Offensive Tackle	1	Northern Iowa
Jaylen Raynor	Quarterback	1	Arkansas State
Tristan Exline	Linebacker	1	Texas Permian Basin

Class of 2026

Player	Position	Stars*	Hometown
Caleb Francois	Running Back	3	Minnetonka, MN
Jeffery Roberts	Wide Receiver	3	Ames, IA
Ajibola Afuye	EDGE	3	Stillwater, MN
Tayten Duncan	Safety	3	Mustang, OK
Daniel Howard	Defensive Lineman	3	Chicago, IL
Drake DeBaun	Tight End	3	Overland Park, KS