Iowa State Football Announces 2026 Spring Roster

After months of preparation and effort to rebuild their team, Iowa State football has officially released the Cyclones’ roster for the 2026 spring season. This year’s squad includes 101 players, with a mix of returning athletes and new additions.

The roster features 44 returning players, many of whom were part of the team in the 2025 season. Out of these 44, 21 were scholarship players, showing the continuity of talent on the team. The remaining 57 spots are filled by newcomers, signaling a fresh start for the program.

Early Enrollees Make an Impact

Eight true freshmen have chosen to enroll early for the 2026 spring season. These students are already participating in training and practices, giving them a head start as they prepare for the upcoming season.

On the offensive side, several players have joined the team early:

• Tight Ends: Drew Byrd and Luke Galer
• Offensive Lineman: Derek Worden
• Wide Receiver: Malcolm Watkins

These additions bring depth and versatility to the offense, which is crucial for any successful team.

Defensive Additions Strengthen the Squad

The defensive line also sees some early enrollment, with the following players joining the team:

• Defensive Lineman: Jake Jones
• Linebacker: Landon Kalsbeck
• Cornerback: Torrence Sanders

Additionally, punter Ethan Gurney has enrolled early, providing the team with another key position filled.

These early enrollees will have the opportunity to integrate into the team’s system and build chemistry with their teammates before the regular season begins.

Upcoming Commits

While the current roster is set, there are still 2026 commits who have not yet arrived. These players may choose to join the team during the summer after the academic year ends. This flexibility allows the coaching staff to evaluate and adjust the roster as needed.

What to Expect from the 2026 Season

With a mix of returning players and new talent, the 2026 season promises to be an exciting one for Iowa State football. Fans can expect to see a variety of new names and numbers on the field, as the team looks to build on its previous successes.

As the spring season approaches, it’s time to start learning about the new roster. The team is shaping up to be competitive, with strong representation across all positions.

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2026 Iowa State Cyclones spring football roster

* = indicates returning player from 2025

• #0 Zaimir Hawk, R-Jr., DT*
• #0 Cameron Pettaway, R-So., RB (Bowling Green)
• #1 Jaylen Raynor, Sr., QB (Arkansas State)
• #1 Keyon Washington, R-So., CB (Bowling Green)
• #2 Braden Awls, Sr., S (Toledo)
• #3 Seth Johnson, R-So., CB (Montana State, FCS)
• #4 Micah Harper, R-Sr., S (Montana, FCS)
• #4 Carter Pabst, So., WR (Washington State)
• #5 Connor Moberly, R-So., QB*
• #5 Beni Ngoyi, R-Jr., CB*
• #6 Zane Flores, R-So., QB (Oklahoma State)
• #6 Drew Surges, R-Jr., S*
• #7 Sullivan Schlimgen, So., LB (Washington State)
• #8 Evan Boyd, R-Jr., WR (Michigan State)
• #8 Tristan Exline, Sr., LB (UT-Permian Basin, D-II)
• #9 Omari Hayes, R-Jr., WR (Tulane)
• #9 Jaheim Singletary, R-Sr., CB (Arkansas)
• #10 Carson Willich, R-Sr., LB*
• #11 Willie Breland III, Jr., LB (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, JUCO)
• #11 Dominic Overby, R-So., WR*
• #12 Ethan Stecker, R-Fr., LB*
• #13 Cody Jackson, R-Sr., WR (Tarleton State, FCS)
• #16 Wyatt Bohm, R-Jr., QB*
• #17 Connor Welsch, R-So., S*
• #18 David Coffey, R-So., CB*
• #19 Tyler Fortenberry, R-Sr., TE (Arkansas State)
• #20 Trillion Sorrell, R-Fr., CB (Washington State)
• #21 Aiden Flora, R-So., RB*
• #21 Duhron Goodman, Sr., S (Washington State)
• #22 Ryver Peppers, R-Fr., RB*
• #23 Carson Robbins, R-So., WR*
• #24 Salahdin Allah, Jr., RB (Oregon State)
• #25 Easton Miller, R-Jr., RB*
• #26 Tyrone Cotton III, R-Fr., CB (Washington State)
• #27 Jayden Jackson, R-Fr., RB*
• #29 Torrence Sanders, Fr., CB (New Orleans, La./Edna Carr HS)
• #31 Montreze Smith Jr., R-So., LB (Austin Peay, FCS)
• #32 Angelo Jackson, R-So., CB*
• #33 Damarius Russell, R-Fr., S (Washington State)
• #34 Beau Goodwin, Jr., LB*
• #36 Brody Miller, R-Fr., S (Washington State)
• #37 Vince Benetti, R-Jr., TE*
• #38 Eddie Lemos, R-Sr., CB*
• #39 A.J. Petersen, R-Jr., RB*
• #40 Landon Kalsbeck, Fr., LB (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge HS)
• #41 Rylan Barnes, R-Jr., LB*
• #43 Caden Matson, R-Sr., S*
• #44 Wyatt Archer, R-Jr., S*
• #44 Trey Verdon, R-Fr., DE*
• #45 Ben Haulmark, R-Jr., TE (Central Arkansas, FCS)
• #46 Caleb Schmidt, Jr., LS (Minot State, D-II)
• #47 Cash Hayden, R-So., TE*
• #48 Jack Bjorn, R-Sr., TE*
• #50 Jack Limbaugh, R-Fr., DE*
• #51 Maasai King, R-Sr., OL (Akron)
• #52 Ka’Mori Moore, R-Fr., DT*
• #54 Cade Myer, R-Sr., OL (Colorado School of Mines, D-II)
• #55 Trevor Bindel, R-Fr., OL (Washington State)
• #55 Jace J. Gilbert, R-So., DE*
• #57 Gavin Schieler, R-Fr., LS*
• #60 Jacob Lyftogt, R-Jr., LS*
• #62 Braden Simonsen, R-Sr., OL*
• #63 Braden Smith, R-So., OL (Tarleton State, FCS)
• #65 Garret Rutledge, R-So., OL*
• #66 Derek Worden, Fr., OL (Queen Creek, Ariz./Queen Creek HS)
• #68 Makai Sat, R-Jr., OL*
• #69 Dontrell Holt, R-So., OL*
• #70 Gavin Proudfoot, R-Sr., OL (Northern Iowa, FCS)
• #71 Gabriel Greenlee, R-Sr., OL*
• #72 Austin Barrett, R-Jr., OL*
• #73 Colin Amick, R-So., OL (Montana, FCS)
• #74 Gavin Broscious, R-Jr., OL (Michigan State)
• #77 Caden Maas, R-Jr., OL (Sioux Falls, D-II)
• #78 DeAndre Carter, R-So., OL (Auburn)
• #79 Jake Taylor, R-Jr., OL (Oklahoma)
• #80 Malcolm Watkins, Fr., WR (Bakersfield, Calif./Frontier HS)
• #81 Luke Galer, Fr., TE (Loomis, Calif./Del Oro HS)
• #82 Trevor Fortenberry, R-Jr., WR (Copiah-Lincoln CC, JUCO)
• #83 Sam Zelenovich, R-Fr., WR*
• #84 Drew Byrd, Fr., TE (Meridian, Idaho/Rocky Mountain HS)
• #85 Keaton Roskop, R-So., TE*
• #86 Ray Coffey, R-Sr., WR (Oliviet Nazarene, NAIA)
• #87 Jordan Vyborny, R-Fr., TE (Oklahoma State)
• #88 Christian Greenlaw, R-Jr., TE (Hampton, FCS)
• #88 Isaac Terrell, Sr., DE (Washington State)
• #89 Ty Claiborne, R-Sr., WR*
• #89 Donovan Fitzmaurice, So., DT (Washington State)
• #90 Jareb Ramos, R-Sr., DT (Montana, FCS)
• #91 Blake Hawkins, R-So., DE (Iowa Western CC, JUCO)
• #92 Caden Crawford, R-Sr., DE (South Dakota, FCS)
• #93 Jonah DuPont, R-So., P*
• #93 Jack Janikowski, R-Jr., DE (Washington State)
• #94 Jake Jones, Fr., DT (Gilbert, Ariz./Campo Verde HS)
• #94 Chase Smith, So., K*
• #95 Ethan Gurney, Fr., P (Adelaide, Australia/Mercedes College)
• #96 Chet Andrews, R-Sr., DE*
• #97 Max Baloun, R-Sr., DT (Washington State)
• #97 Kyle Konrardy, R-Jr., K*
• #98 Adlai Lousberry, R-Fr., K (Washington State)
• #98 Malaki Ta’ase, Jr., DE (Washington State)
• #99 Bryson Lamb, R-Sr., DT (Washington State)

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football 2026 spring roster announced