Updated Dec. 29, 2025, 6:33 p.m. CT
The Iowa State football program is undergoing a full reset.
With Matt Campbell at Penn State and most of the 2025 roster hitting the exits, first-year coach Jimmy Rogers will have an extensive roster-building task ahead of him. Iowa State will be looking to add dozens upon 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.
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. When the transfer portal opens Friday, Jan. 2, expect the Cyclones to be busy adding players.
As Rogers and Co. build out the roster, we’ll be keeping track of the additions here.
Transfers
- Caleb Schmidt, LS, Minot State (D2): 6-foot-3, 240-pound special-teamer
Class of 2026 recruits
- 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.
- Landon Kalsbeck, ATH: A three-star recruit who stands 6-foot-1, 210 pounds. Previously signed with Washington State. Hails from Littleton, Colo.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.