Iowa State continues to build on recruiting trail

By DANA BECKER

dbecker@messengernews.net

AMES — Matt Campbell introduced the newest members of the Iowa State football team here on Wednesday.

As part of the early signing period, the Cyclones welcomed 22 signees from the high school ranks, 12 preferred walk-ons and one four-year college transfer.

Iowa State went 7-5 this past regular season and will play Memphis on Dec. 29 in the Liberty Bowl.

Last year, the Cyclones brought in JJ Kohl, regarded as the top quarterback in the state. This season, they signed three-time state champion Connor Moberly from Southeast Polk to the roster.

Moberly is just one of several Iowa signees along with Linn-Mar’s Keaton Roskop, Kingsley-Pierson’s Beau Goodwin and Lewis Central’s Garret Rutledge. Goodwin had been committed to South Dakota State prior to a recent visit.

“We want to recruit the Midwest,” Campbell said. “We want to recruit young men (who) come from great high school football programs. And we want to recruit young men (who) know how to win and be successful.”

Kenard Snyder, a defensive lineman, joins the team after three years at ULM. He had 5.5 sacks his first season as a defensive end.

Moberly was just one of several players who won state titles for their respective high schools along with Rutledge, Cooper Alexander out of Oklahoma, AJ Burton from Colorado, Alijah Carnell of Nevada and Danny Inglis from Ohio.

Carnell played at Bishop Gorman, who was named the MaxPreps national champions after going 12-0.

Iowans who signed a letter of admission to attend ISU as preferred walk-ons include Logan Bacon of Lake Mills, Drew Clausen from Dallas Center-Grimes, Aiden Flora of Adel-ADM, Angelo Jackson out of Davenport Assumption, Lance McShane from Maquoketa Valley, Carson Robbins of Southeast Polk, Blaine Sandquist and Connor Welsch of Ankeny Centennial, and Isaiah Seymour from West Des Moines Dowling.

“I think our program has proven to show it’s really healthy,” Campbell said. “We’re gonna recruit high school student-athletes and we’re gonna try to do as good a job or better than anybody in the country (at) developing those guys into great players.”

Other out-of-state signees include twins Brent and Wade Helton, who are both 6-foot-5. The two played in California, with Brent weighing in at 310 pounds and Wade at 290.

The second signing day is set for Feb. 7.

Fort Dodge Senior High all-stater Asle Thorson, St. Edmond all-stater Nick Lawler, ex-Humboldt standout Caden Matson, Greene County’s Tyler Miller and Ankeny’s JJ Kohl, the son of FDSH grad Charlene (Blue) Kohl, are all on the current Cyclone roster.