Iowa State Cyclones 2021 College Football Recruiting Class Overview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
Matt Campbell is one of the best young coaches in college football and is quickly turning Iowa State into a team that is not only capable of becoming a top team in the Big 12 but also a program that is making waves on the national scene. In 2020 the Cyclones finished 9-3 overall including 8-1 in conference play. After toppling Oklahoma during the regular season and clinching the top spot in the Big 12, Iowa State was unable to defeat the Sooners again in the conference championship game. However, the Cyclones capped off their great season by blowing out Oregon (34-17) in the Fiesta Bowl.
Coach Campbell is reloading their roster to go on another run to the top of the conference, something that will be exciting to watch. Was this a one-year wonder or can Iowa State become a perennial contender in the Big 12? How the 2021 recruiting class pans out will help dictate the future of the program.
During the early signing period last month, the Cyclones locked up 18 recruits who are looking to make an impact as this program is on the rise. The highest-rated recruit headed to Ames is four-star tight end Tyler Moore from Johnston (IA). Moore is a Top 10 prospect in the state. Iowa State also secured two of the best recruits in the Kansas City area in Lincoln College Prep defensive tackle Howard Brown and Park Hill wide receiver Jaylin Noel. Highly recruited athlete Eli Sanders, one of the top recruits in Arizona, is currently committed to Iowa State and should sign with the program next month during the next signing period.
Iowa State Early Signees
TE Tyler Moore, 6-5, 245, Johnston HS-Johnston, IA
OT Tyler Maro, 6-7, 260, Assumption HS-Davenport, IA
ATH Malik Verdon, 6-4, 205, Hamilton HS-Hamilton, OH
DT Howard Brown, 6-2, 288, Lincoln College Prep-Kansas City, MO
WR Jaylin Noel, 5-11, 170, Park Hill HS-Kansas City, MO
OT Jim Bonifas, 6-5, 255, Dubuque Senior HS-Dubuque, IA
S Beau Freyler, 6-2, 195, Pine Creek HS-Colorado Springs, CO
LB Carston Marshall, 6-3, 205, Wadsworth HS-Wadsworth, OH
S Ben Langston, 6-2, 190, Blin College-Brenham, TX
WR Tristan Michaud, 6-5, 200, Clarkson Football North-Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
APB Deon Silas, 5-6, 170, Steinbrenner HS-Lutz, FL
DE Myles Mendeszoon, 6-4, 195, Chardon HS-Chardon, OH
DE Jayden Gray, 6-3, 235, Eaton HS-Haslet, TX
DT Tyler Onyedim, 6-3, 277, Foster HS-Richmond, TX
CB Myles Purchase, 5-11, 170, Cherry Creek HS-Englewood, CO
OT Dodge Sauser, 6-5, 270, Grinnell Community Senior HS-Grinnell, IA
LB Aidan Ralph, 6-3, 195, De La Salle Institue-Chicago, IL
DE Joey Petersen, 6-4, 220, North Scott HS-Eldridge, IA
Photo credit: USA Today; Iowa State Head Coach Matt Campbell